Perhaps we are instilled at a very early age with the idea that life proceeds in some sort of direction. The concept of time is a perfect example of this. Past, present, and future are human “constructs”as far as I can tell. I don’t believe, for example, my sister’s beagle, Petey, gives much thought to how he will be spending his golden years, or for that matter, what part of the neighborhood he’ll be exploring this evening when the sliding glass door is opened–not that there isn’t something to be said for spontaneity. Still, it seems that many of our experiences are more satisfying if there is a sense of direction or progression.
Setting goals can often help us to sharpen our focus a bit, which can often add some motivation to whatever activity in which we are involved. Sometimes we may find ourselves in the midst of a task or activity and have no clear idea of what we want to “get out of” it. Over the past 35 years that I have been coaching, I have had swimmers who shared their goals with me. In some cases where I thought it would be appropriate or helpful, I helped them either modify their goals or suggested some intermediate “stepping stones” which would help keep them motivated on their path toward their major goal. Somehow, forming your thoughts or goals into words, whether spoken or written, gives them a more concrete “reality”.
Back in September, I encouraged the swimmers in our upper 2 groups to set some goals for the upcoming season and to share them with me if they desired. From a coach’s perspective, if the coach knows what kind of goals the swimmer is striving for, the coach can do a better job of guiding that swimmer in the direction of their goals. This year, I had 4-5 swimmers who actually submitted goal sheets. It is interesting to note that these particular swimmers had significant improvements, some despite physical issues. I think it is also important to note that particularly in the case of those who set time goals, those goal times were not always met—but that’s really not the point! I think the important aspect of this is focus and motivation. I cannot say this with absolute certainly, but I have a feeling that those swimmers who had some goals in mind really “got alot” out of their season. It may have been a more satisfying experience.
Goals can run the length of the spectrum, from very specific to more general. As a swimmer, you may have specific time goals or, perhaps you have some technical issues with a particular stroke, turn, or start. Your coach can help you identify 1 or more aspects that you can work on in practice. Maybe your biggest challenge is completing the workout. I think a great goal for any swimmer is to complete every length of a workout. If a swimmer knows they are making a conscious effort to be a “better swimmer” than they were previously, that is going to make them a much more confident swimmer. Why? Taking responsibility, i.e. “ownership” for the decisions that you make ( for instance “Shall I rest on the wall and wait for the rest of the swimmers in my lane to pass me, or shall I keep swimming?” ) creates self empowerment. One of my favorite sayings is “If you do what you’ve always done, you are going to get what you’ve always got.” If you are looking for a different ( or more desirable) result, CHANGE the process. Setting goals can be an effective way to do this.
Charlie