“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” — Tony Robbins

A new season or offseason is a new opportunity to become better, and one of the best ways athletes can hold themselves accountable is by setting goals. 

For some athletes, setting goals can be as simple as saying you want to work out a certain number of times per week. Another goal could be that you want to make the varsity basketball team. But for other athletes, setting goals can go well beyond that. Maybe you want to score a certain amount of points per game, or maybe you want to be able to bench press a specific amount by the end of the offseason. No matter what goals you set, they are always there to help hold athletes accountable for getting better every day. 

At Warren Academy, we offer a variety of offseason training programs designed to help athletes improve their strength, speed, agility and overall athleticism in whichever sports they play. Below, we go over some ways athletes can set goals and why goals are important!

What do athletes’ goals accomplish

Athlete goals can be viewed in a few different ways, all depending on the specific sport and who the athlete is. However, no matter what goals are set or which sport is played, setting goals can help athletes optimize their performance. It can help athletes focus on the important things and give them a sense of control and positivity. Ultimately, setting goals allows athletes to improve their performance during games and training sessions, maintain high motivation and reach their full potential. 

Different types of goals

When athletes set goals, there are many different directions they can go, with very few limitations. Both short-term and long-term goals are effective in helping athletes stay focused and motivated throughout an entire season or offseason. Below, we dive into the differences between short-term and long-term goals. 

Short-term goals

Short-term goals are ones that can be completed during a short period of time and are usually less difficult to accomplish. Oftentimes, short-term goals only last for a week, month or even just a single game. However, short-term goals are essential in helping athletes establish a foundation to build upon. They provide a short-term vision of what they want to achieve and ultimately help them work harder for their long-term goals. 

Some examples of short-term goals include: 

• Working out 20 times this month
• Staying after practice every day this week to shoot free throws
• Having four pancake blocks next game
• Increasing your squat by 20 pounds this month

Long-term goals

Long-term goals are ones that are stretched over a longer period of time, usually over an entire season or offseason. Long-term goals are usually more difficult to accomplish, as athletes have to work every day to accomplish them. But long-term personal goals are great for athletes to stay focused throughout an entire season or offseason. 

Some examples of long-term goals include:

• Scoring a certain total of points during a season
• Gaining a specific amount of weight during an offseason

For athletes of all sports and ages, setting goals helps them stay focused on what they want to achieve. Like the great Lou Holtz once said, "If you're bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things, you don't have enough goals".  Whenever you start a new season or offseason, setting goals will not only hold you more accountable but help improve your overall performance and keep you chasing your dreams. 

At Warren Academy, we offer offseason training programs for athletes of all ages and sports. If you are interested in learning more about our offseason training programs, visit our website today!