How to Set Goals in Sports

Determine your sport goals. For example, your goal might be to become a better three-point shooter in basketball, or maybe your goal is to run a faster time on the track.

Set a short-term goal to help you reach your overall goal. Continuing with the above example, a short-term goal might be lifting weights to build strength and working out on the basketball court for four to six weeks to improve your three-point shot. Running timed sprints three times a week for a month or two to build up your time is another short-term goal. Make these short-term goals within reach but enough of a challenge to get results.

Measure your success. Review your sports goals each month to make any needed adjustments. As you improve, modify your short-term goal to make it more challenging so you can continue to improve and reach your overall goal. Your goals should be a work in progress -- as you change for the better, your goals may need adjusting, so be flexible. Ask yourself if are you heading in the needed direction to complete each goal or if you need to change frequency, intensity or another aspect to achieve the goal.

Put your goals in ink. When you write down your goals, you increase your accountability. Put your written goals someplace you will see every day.

Don't give up. Persistence is important if you expect to achieve your sport goals. Keep your focus on your goals and remind yourself they will take time.

Reward yourself each time you reach a short-term goal. Your short-term goals are those goals that will help you reach the bigger goals. For example, you might reward yourself after reaching a weekly goal or monthly goal.