SMART targets and examples in sport
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. These targets should be used to both improve and optimise performance and the targets also need to be constantly reviewed as they may have to be reset.
Goals that are SMART are:
- Specific 鈥 state exactly what will need to be done
- Measurable 鈥 clear what success will look like
- Achievable 鈥 know it is possible
- Realistic 鈥 know it is practical
- Time-bound 鈥 state when it will be achieved
Examples of SMART targets
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 A | Person B | |
S | I will increase how much exercise I do | I will attend a Para-swimming talent identification day |
M | I will do an average of 60 minutes of moderate intensity activity a day | I will swim the 50 m freestyle in under one minute |
A | I can see myself doing it | My times are close to the selection criteria |
R | I can do it by walking daily and going to the gym twice a week | I can do it by improving my technique |
T | I will achieve it by the end of this summer term | I will attend next year's talent identification day |
S | |
---|---|
Person A | I will increase how much exercise I do |
Person B | I will attend a Para-swimming talent identification day |
M | |
---|---|
Person A | I will do an average of 60 minutes of moderate intensity activity a day |
Person B | I will swim the 50 m freestyle in under one minute |
A | |
---|---|
Person A | I can see myself doing it |
Person B | My times are close to the selection criteria |
R | |
---|---|
Person A | I can do it by walking daily and going to the gym twice a week |
Person B | I can do it by improving my technique |
T | |
---|---|
Person A | I will achieve it by the end of this summer term |
Person B | I 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?
SMART targets should be measurable. For example, 'I will be able to run ten miles in three months' time'.