More Than A Goal!
by Jeremy Boone
It’s that time of year again and the fall season is upon us. You probably thought this article was going to be about goal scoring. Well, it’s not! It is about goal setting. As I began to plan my fall season I came across the following quote:
"Goals can be energizing- when you win. But a vision is more powerful than a goal. Vision is about shared energy, a sense of awe, a sense of possibility." -Benjamin Zander
Goal setting is important and gives players something to strive for. However, we must look at the bigger picture. This can be achieved by establishing a vision for yourself and for your team. Vision is a desired future. For example, where your team wants to be by the end of the season. It serves as the purpose for where you want to go and what you want to achieve. The following are a few characteristics of a vision:
If you watched the recent World Cup it was impossible to not get emotional. Predicting the outcome of a game transferred into the present excitement of watching the entire game. The result? Commitment.
- Vision provides direction
A clear vision helps to establish a plan. It forces you to know where you are so you can get to where you are going. Without a plan, it is easy to get sidetracked and distracted. Never train for the sake of training. Always train with a purpose!
- Vision requires dedication.
Being dedicated means training when you want to and when you don’t want to. Going to all of those soccer practices are fueled by the possible outcome of becoming a champion. You can taste the victory it will be so sweet. So what does this possibility allow you to do? Get motivated!
Now is the time to define a vision for yourself and for your team. Share it with your players, your parents, and even fellow coaches by taking the following steps:
- Begin by writing down a one to two sentence summary of how you can make a difference on your team. Think about the needs of your team and how you best meet those needs. What will be the result of making that difference? Will you raise the level of your teammates play? Will you contribute to the reason why your team wins?
- Second, ask yourself what will you have to sacrifice in order to follow through with your vision. Is it worth the cost of not staying out late with friends one night? Is it worth giving up eating junk food all of the time? Is it worth giving up watching television a few nights a week?
- Third, define who will be your support system. Is mom or dad prepared to be your number one fan? Are your friends willing to support your vision and encourage you along the way? Does your coach help to provide you with the tools necessary to achieve your vision?
- Fourth, keep a training journal of all that you do. Visions require a lot of attention and it is easy to get distracted. Once you have accomplished your vision you will want to look back on the wonderful road you took to get there!
Good luck!
Jeremy Boone is the owner of the Carolina Athletic Development Institute™ and conditioning consultant for the Atlanta Beat.
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