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Goal setting - EduqasThe SMART principle of goal setting

Setting targets helps participants develop strategies for success. This has an impact on health, wellbeing and performance and helps focus attention and enable improved effort and concentration.

Part of Physical EducationSport psychology

The SMART principle of goal setting

Sometimes people's goals are too vague or distant. Participants lack commitment or get demotivated because their goals appear too difficult to reach. Setting SMART goals can make that goal seem – and be – more achievable. Targets provide focus or act as stepping stones towards the final goal.

Goals that are SMART are:

  • Specific – state exactly what will need to be done
  • Measurable – clear what success will look like
  • Agreed – make sure others share it, eg coach, team
  • Realistic – know it is practical – steps can be taken to do it
  • Time-phased – state when it will be achieved

Examples of SMART goal setting

In this example, Person A's target is 'I want to be fit' and Person B's target is 'I want to compete at the Paralympics'.

Person APerson B
SI will increase how much exercise I doI will attend a Para-swimming talent identification day
MI will do an average of 60 minutes of moderate intensity activity a dayI will swim the 50 m freestyle in under one minute
AI'm going to do it with a friendMy coach and I agree
RI can do it by walking daily and going to the gym twice a weekI can do it by improving my technique
TI will achieve it by the end of this summer termI will attend next year's talent identification day
S
Person AI will increase how much exercise I do
Person BI will attend a Para-swimming talent identification day
M
Person AI will do an average of 60 minutes of moderate intensity activity a day
Person BI will swim the 50 m freestyle in under one minute
A
Person AI'm going to do it with a friend
Person BMy coach and I agree
R
Person AI can do it by walking daily and going to the gym twice a week
Person BI can do it by improving my technique
T
Person AI will achieve it by the end of this summer term
Person BI will attend next year's talent identification day

Question

'I will be a better runner in three months' time.' How could you turn this into a SMART target?

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