This is part of a five part series on Psychological Skills Training, covering the education, acquisition and practice of psychological skills.
Other posts in this series include:
- Arousal Regulation – Psychological Skills Training
- Imagery – Psychological Skills Training
- Self Confidence – Psychological Skills Training
- Concentration – Psychological Skills Training
Education:
1. Goal: Aiming to attain a specific standard of a task within a specified time.
- Outcome goals: Goals pertaining to a result. Depends not just on your performance, but that of your opponents.
- Performance goals: Achieving a standard independent of other competitors.
- Process goals: The actions an individual must engage in to perform well.
2. Why goal setting works:
- Goals direct attention to important elements of the skill being performed.
- Goals increase performer efforts.
- Goals prolong performer persistence.
- Goals foster the development of new learning strategies.
- Goals affect psychological state: Confidence, anxiety and satisfaction.
Acquisition and Practice:
Principles of goal setting:
1. SMART:
- Specific
- Measureable
- Action-orientated
- Realistic (but moderately difficult)
- Time based
2. Set short and long term goals.
3. Performance, process and outcome goals.
4. Set goals for practice and competition.
5. Record goals.
6. Evaluate goals and provide feedback.
