1. SMART GOALS for Archery
What are they
Why use them
How do you write them
June 2007
By Coaches L. D. Falks & Steve Cornell

2. Goal Setting & Goal Getting
“Without goals, training is unfocused and ineffective. Clearly defined and realistic goals mark the pathway to success for the athlete and the coach.”
Coach Laval D. Falks
“You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there.”
Yogi Berra

3. Types of Goals Short Range: Attainable in less than a year
Can be goals that have been worked on for years and are now soon attainable
May be goals which lead, in the short term, to longer range goals
Many short range goals are sub-parts of larger longer range goals

4. Types of Goals Intermediate Range: Attainable in 1 to 3 years
Made up of many short range goals
Take time to develop
May be dependent on greater maturity or increased skill

5. Types of Goals Long Range: Not attainable in less than 3-5 years
Big goals
Things which take much work
Formed by combinations of intermediate range goals
Career oriented

6. Types of Goals
As goals are reached, students and coaches must reevaluate stated goals and decide upon new short, intermediate and long range goals
The student and coach must constantly reevaluate their stated goals and decide upon new and more elevated long range goals over time

7. Goal Characteristics Outcome Based Goals Performance Based Goals
Process Based Goals

8. Outcome Based Goals Usually result oriented Out of your direct control
They point to where you want to go…they don’t show you how to get there
Must be joined with Performance Based Goals
Example of Outcome Based Goals
I want to win the National Target Championships.
I want to make the US World Team at the next selection shoot
I want to win the ASA Classic

9. Performance Based Goals
Generally score oriented
Result of Process Based Goals
Must be joined with Process Based Goals to work
Are where you want to go
Characterized by achieving “personal bests”
Example of Performance Goals
I want to beat my 70 meters in The Gold Cup this year
I want to shoot a personal best FITA National Target Championships
I want to shoot above 400 at the ASA State Championship

10. Process Based Goals The path to success
Lead to your Outcome Based Goals
Must start with honest self-assessment
Characterized by mastering certain skills
Improve weak and strong areas alike
Can be easily measured and defined
Example of Process Based Goals
Within the next month, I will finalize my bow hand position
I will execute every shot in both practice and matches by properly using the BEST Method in less than six month

11. Why SMART Goals?
Goals give us something to work toward and to keep us focused on an outcome
SMART Goals help us define exactly what the future will look like and what steps we need to take to get there

12. Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely/Trackable
SMART Goals Are
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely/Trackable

13. Making SMART Goals Specific
Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen
Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do
The What, Why, and How of the SMART model
WHAT are you going to do-Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build
WHY is this important to do at this time-What do you want to ultimately accomplish
HOW are you going to do it
Ensure the goals you set are very specific, clear and easy to define
Instead of setting a goal to shoot better, set a specific goal to increase your average score by 10 points

14. Making SMART Goals Measurable
If you can't measure it, you can't manage it
The goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, the project is a success
Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change
Be specific! "I want to increase my average score by .5 points per arrow in the next 12 months." shows the specific target to be measured. "I want to shoot better scores" is not as measurable.
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15. Making SMART Goals Measurable
Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set
When you measure your progress, you stay on track, meet your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals

16. Making SMART Goals Attainable
Do I have the ability if given enough time
If a goal is too far out of your reach, you probably won't commit to it
Your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from giving it your best
Will I have support from family and friends
Do I have access to proper coaching
Will my resources (equipment, money, place to shoot, time, etc) be enough
Set goals so that they are arranged as stepping stones to the next level

17. Making SMART Goals Realistic
Do I have the work ethic to complete the goal
The goal needs to be realistic for you given the time and resources available
Do I believe in myself enough to persist
Set goals that you can attain with some effort
Too difficult : you set the stage for failure
Too easy: reaching the goal is meaningless
Do I have the time and money
Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement

18. Making SMART Goals Timely/Trackable
Set a timeframe for achieving the goal
A deadline gives you a clear target to work towards
Without a deadline the commitment is vague
You feel you can start at any time
There's no urgency to start taking action
Time must be measurable and realistic
Making specific goals allows you to track them

19. To see if your goals are realistic try the bracketing method
Goal Bracketing
To see if your goals are realistic try the bracketing method
What’s easy for you to achieve right now
Too Low
In between
Realistic
What’s impossible for you at this point in time
Too High
What’s easy for you to achieve right now
305
Too Low
In between
312
Realistic
What’s impossible for you at this point in time
355
Too High

20. Smart Goal Example Short Range Goals (1 year)
Commit this summer to shoot 4 days a week, and average 150 arrows each practice
Meet with my coach at least once a week
Do SPT every week night for ½ hr
By the end of this year I want raise my average by 5%
Last year’s average:
90M: M: M: M 293
Average FITA: 995
Average 3D 378
Average Field 498

21. Smart Goal Example Intermediate Range Goals (1 to 3 years)
I want increase my personal best by 10%
Take the Basic Instructor Course next summer
Increase my FITA score to 1100 in the next 2 years
Place in the top 3 at the ASA Classic

22. Smart Goal Example Long Range Goals (3 or more years)
Earn a position on the RA Program
Make the World Team 4 years from now
Make the next Olympic Team
Become a Community Coach
Win the NFAA Outdoor nationals

23. Coach’s Role in Goal-Setting
Advise athletes and help with setting goals
Guide athletes to set appropriate goals
Review athletes’ goals
Insure that athletes’ goals and parents’ goals for athlete don’t conflict
Set certain goals for athletes
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24. Coach’s Role in Goal-Setting
Make sure that goals are clearly defined and understood
Review goals with athlete to insure that athlete understands them
Make sure that the goals are appropriate for the athlete
Monitor performance and keep track of achievements
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25. Coach’s Role in Goal-Setting
Maintain training logs and advise students when goals are reached
Athletes may want to check off a goal too early
The goal must be reach and the achievement must be sustained before the goal can be checked
Training logs are empirical data that can be used as evidence of accomplishment
Use training logs to track goals and determine where more effort is needed

26. Athlete’s Role in Goal-Setting
Set realistic goals and work toward reaching them
Athletes must set and own their goals
Athletes must not allow influence of what family, friends or what they think the coach wants to influence their goal setting
If athletes don’t own their goals they won’t work as hard to achieve them
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27. Athlete’s Role in Goal-Setting
Monitor goals and reevaluate or change them when necessary
This is the key to advancing through the goals list
It gives a sense of accomplishment
Allows for a reward system for recognizing achievement
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28. Athlete’s Role in Goal-Setting
Confer with the coach about goals and make sure that they are clear and timely
Athletes must feel that they can talk about their goals with their coach
The coach’s ideas and advice should give the athlete a clear vision of the path to success
The coach should know the athlete’s ability and whether the goals are appropriate
Keep personal log to track progress

29. Good Goals Goals must be realistic and attainable
Goals should be arranged as stepping stones
Goals must be related to performance and advancement in the sport
Goals must be SMART

30. Goal Setting Worksheet
Create 5 goals of each Type (Short Range - Intermediate Range - Long Range)
For each Goal, in the box to the right of the Goal write the Characteristic of the Goal. Is it based on Outcome, Performance or Process?
After you list each Goal’s characteristic, prioritize it within its group.
Archer’s Name: _____________________________________ Date: __________
Coach’s Name: _____________________________________
Priority
Short Range Goals
Characteristic
Priority
Intermediate Range Goals
Characteristic
Priority
Long Range Goals
Characteristic

31. Remember Keep personal log to track progress
Goals must be realistic and attainable by the student
Goals should be arranged as stepping stones so one goal advances the student to the next set of goals
Goals must be related to performance and advancement in the sport
Achievement as measured by reaching specific goals is measurable and affords a greater satisfaction than just winning a tournament or beating another archer
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32. Remember
Shooting a personal best score during a tournament is more satisfying and measurable even if the archer doesn’t win while doing it
A specific goal can be checked off and another can be set
Goal setting can be used for more than just Archery
Setting goals that are too easy to reach is as bad as not having goals at all
Goal setting can be use in all aspects of your life
School
Work
Relationships
Keep Your Goals SMART