Athlete Performance Testing - Part 2

In Part 1, we established that regular performance testing creates a baseline to evaluate your progress as you train. In this next installment, we’ll examine another important reason to test – goal setting.

As we have discussed before, athletes are unique and have varying levels of athletic ability. Regardless of whether you are a second stringer or second-to-none on the playing field, you have the ability to improve your athletic performance. This is where goal setting comes into play.

And just so we’re clear, “getting better” is not a goal.

   You need to make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T.

                              Specific – What exactly do you want to accomplish?

                              Measurable – How will you know when you have accomplished it?

                              Attainable – Can you realistically achieve this goal?

                              Relevant – Is the goal specific to improving performance in your sport?

                              Time-Bound – When will you accomplish the goal?

Training with S.M.A.R.T. goals is like having a GPS telling you where you are on your journey to your destination. You’ll know where you’re heading, how far you’ve gone, how far you have to go, and when you’ll get there.

Yes, we use these at the facility. No, you can’t have one. They’re proprietary and we’re still working the bugs out.

Training without S.M.A.R.T. goals is like to not even knowing where you want to go.  You are a performance training vagabond. Really, we can’t even say you’re training, because training involves having specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound objectives that you are trying to achieve!

Keep Training!

Coach Anthony & Akron General Sports Performance