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Setting Goals for UNT Center for Sport Psychology Website can be reached at: http://www.sportpsych.unt.edu SUCCESS: the smartest sYSTEM (continued from front page) for helping you stay motivated and unmotivated. They can help you remain reached my goal? If not, how might I focused. Although many goals have a focused and energized even when faced change how my goal is stated? Performance built-in timeframe, such as a competi- with seemingly insurmountable obsta- • Have I identified all the behaviors I tive season, other goals do not. Without cles. need to implement to actually reach Excellence a timeframe, athletes may procrastinate Target Obstacles to Achieving Your my goal? VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 CENTER FOR SPORT PSYCHOLOGY NEWSLETTER FALL 1999 and put off their goal until some unde- Goals – even with well-developed • Does my goal challenge me to work termined point in the future. Whenever goals, obstacles may still exist. You can’t beyond my current capabilities? What Trent A. Petrie, Ph.D. possible, make sure that you know by plan for all of them, but you can iden- percentage chance do I have of Setting Goals for Director, Center for Sport when you want to achieve your goal. tify in advance and develop strategies reaching my goal? Psychology Exhibit Your Goals – writing down for overcoming them developed. • Have I identified a clear and specific Editor’s Note Courtney Albinson, M.A. and keeping your goals visible can Whenever possible, plan for the obsta- timeframe for completion of my goal? SUCCESS: the smartest sYSTEM increase motivation and accountability. cles that may interfere with you making • Have I made my goal visible so I am Welcome to the new academic year Goals that are left only in your mind can progress toward your goals. reminded each day of what I want to The most important factor for motiva- motivated and focused on something and to the fall issue of our newsletter! be easily forgotten or changed. When By using the SMARTEST system for accomplish? tion is goal setting. You should always that may be months or even years into Inside, you will find information on setting goals, find a place to exhibit setting goals, you increase your chances • Have I told a supportive person about have a goal.” Francie Larrieu Smith, the future can be difficult. Short-term important topics such as goal setting, your goal so you have a daily reminder of attaining what you want. Whenever my goals? If not, who might I tell? Champion Runner goals, though, help by acting as daily or motivation, and developing a winning of what you want to achieve. you set goals, apply the eight guidelines • What might interfere with my being Most athletes and coaches set goals weekly stepping stones toward the program. This issue is the first of three Seek Support for Your Goals – outlined in the SMARTEST system. able to reach my goals? because they know that goals are vital to long-term goal. They are the markers issues we will be producing this year - staying focused and motivated as you When you do, ask yourself the Information on the SMARTEST system success in competition and improve- against which you can evaluate your by becoming a Center member, you work toward your goals can be difficult following questions to make sure you was drawn from Trent Petrie and Eric ments in performance. By setting and progress toward your long-term goal. can look forward to future issues and lonely at times. So share your goals are setting the SMARTEST goals Denson’s (1999) book entitled: “A working toward goals, athletes and Measurable Goals – goals need to be coming this winter and spring. with friends, family or teammates who possible: student-athlete’s guide to college coaches generally hope to: specific and measurable as opposed to The Center’s inaugural year was are supportive. These individuals can • Do my short-term goals lead me success: Peak performance in class and 1. Increase attention and focus – setting vague and ambiguous. Everyone wants filled with activity as our sport offer support and encouragement and toward my long-term goal? life”. Wadsworth Publishing in goals helps you stay focused on the task to “do well” or “win a lot” but such psychology consultants gave presen- listen when you are feeling down or • Would another person know when I Belmont, CA (ISBN 0-534-54792-3) at hand and avoid becoming distracted goals make it difficult to evaluate tations and consulted with local by other internal or external demands, performance and make needed college teams, high school programs, such as self-doubts or other work. “You improvements. Instead, make your and athletic clubs. The Center’s staff have to expect things of yourself before goals specific and measurable, such as members have also been actively you can do them.” Michael Jordan, “run a 4:30 mile” or “shoot 85% at the involved with some interesting Basketball Superstar free-throw line,” so you can accurately research projects. Most recently, Nonprofit University of North Texas 2. Increase motivation and effort – gauge your progress. Center members traveled to Myrtle Organization Center for Sport Psychology and goals act as markers against which you Achievement Strategies – without Beach, SC (at the Dupont World U.S. POSTAGE Performance Excellence evaluate your progress and determine if achievement strategies, a goal is almost Amateur Handicap Tournament) to PAID your current efforts are satisfactory. worthless. Achievement strategies P.O. Box 311280 Denton, TX 76203 study golfers use of physical and 3. Increase confidence – as you attain a represent the specific behaviors in Denton, TX 76203 Permit No. 455 mental skills in practices and competi- goal, your confidence in your abilities to which you need to engage to actually tions and how these skills related to be successful and to overcome obstacles reach your goal, such as staying after successful performance. Another and adversity increases. As Stan Smith, practice for one hour each day to work research project being conducted Tennis Champion, noted “Experience tells on corner shots or adding one weight concerns the influence of psycholog- you what to do; confidence allows you workout per week to improve your leg ical factors (e.g., stress, social support) to do it.” strength by 20%. As Tom Landry, Football on injuries in college and high school Clearly, there are many benefits to Coaching Legend, has noted “Setting a football players. The results of this setting, working toward, and ultimately goal is not the main thing. It is deciding study will be used to help prevent achieving goals. In fact, the difference how you will go about achieving it and injuries or rehabilitate those athletes between a champion and a runner-up staying with that plan.” who do become injured. may depend on the types of goals that Realistic Goals – goals need to be The Center is sponsoring a booth at were set and worked toward. To challenging, but realistic in chance of the UNT Homecoming pregame activ- improve your chances of setting attain- being attained. Goals that are too diffi- ities on Saturday, October 23 (activi- able, success-producing goals, consider cult or too easy may lead to decreases in ties begin at 4 p.m.). We hope you will using the SMARTEST system: motivation and confidence. Thus, be able to join us and then cheer UNT Short and Long Term Goals - long always set goals within the context of to victory! You will also have the term goals act as the endpoint you want what would be challenging yet realistic opportunity to meet the staff and visit to reach, such as winning the conference for that individual or team. our facilities at our second Open championship – they provide direction Time-Bound Goals – setting a time- House to be held in early December, for your energies. Even so, remaining frame for completing a goal is important 1999. Look for more information (continued on back page) about the Open House in our next Inside This Issue issue. We look forward to meeting with you and working with your • Motivating Your Athletes • Interview With Coach Darrell Dickey sport teams in the near future! Please contact us at http://www.sportpsych.unt.edu or by phone at (940) 369-SPORT if you have questions. • Membership form COACHES CORNER: Keeping Motivation in the Game By Karen D. Cogan, Ph.D. By: Peggy A., UNT HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Richardson, Ph.D. We’ve all seen this one before: Tyler for you and your teams (adapted from Respect individual differences. an interview and Scott B. is an exceptionally talented basketball Anshel, 1990): They may be part of a team, but each with DARRELL DICKEY Martin, Ph.D. player who loves to play. He does well Make it fun! Fun is one of the main athlete has a unique personality char- UNT Head Football Coach, Darrell must believe that they have a chance to mistakes are made, the head coach takes in the first part of the season, and reasons children participate in sports, acteristics and needs. For example, Dickey, enters his second season at the win and believe in what they are doing. responsibility for them. In so doing, everyone thinks he is going to be the and the lack of it is a primary reason not all athletes learn in the same helm of this NCAA Division I program. They must remain committed, particu- players can compete without fear. next Michael Jordan. But then some- children drop out. Even for older manner. Some athletes might like lots His number 1 GOAL is to develop a larly when the game hangs in the Coaches must make a plan for the game, thing changes.

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