Goals & Targets
Physical Education: AQA GCSE, topic 6.1.3
Goals
Goals can be split into performance goals and outcome goals.
Performance goals
- The performer compares their performance against a previous performance to find out what they have done or what they are going to do in the future.
- This does not involve a comparison with somebody else.
- For example, a golfer may hope for a better drive off the tee than their last one.
Outcome goals
- The focus here is on the end result. The goals are usually compared against other competitors.
- The standard of the performance does not matter because the aim is purely focused on the outcome.
- For example, a footballer may just want to win the match without caring about how he performs individually.
Setting Performance Goals
It is NOT always useful for performers to use performance goals and outcome goals together.
Beginners
- For beginners, it is very important to focus on the performance rather than the outcome. This is because beginners can lose motivation through poor outcomes.
- This is because outcome goals can rely on the performance of others, rather than just your own.
Elite athletes
- Elite athletes are usually only driven by the outcome of winning.
- Athletes use performance goals to develop specific areas of focus.
- The outcome goals motivate them to succeed.
Top performers
- The top performers are the most resilient (recover quickly). If they fail, they become even more determined to succeed. But if a beginner fails, they might not want to try.
Smart Targets
Regardless of the goals being set, we should always follow the SMART principles.
Specific
- Your goals should be specific to the demands of your sport, the muscles that you use and the movements and techniques involved.
- For example, there is no point in setting the goal of improving your speed if you are a golfer.
Measurable
- Your goals should be measurable so that you can clearly see whether you have achieved them or not.
- If your goal is to improve your speed, you need to carry out regular speed tests to measure your progress.
Accepted
- The performer and the performer’s coach must agree on the goals that are set.
- If a performer accepts the goals, they will be more motivated to achieve and work towards them.
Realistic
- Your goals must be achievable. If they are too difficult to achieve, then the performer could lose interest and give up on them.
Time-bound
- Your goals must be set over a fixed period of time.
- This gives a performer enough time to achieve them. There is no point in asking a performer to improve their speed by an unrealistic amount in just one week.
Test yourself on Goals & Targets
What are the 2 categories of goals?
Which of the following is not a category of goals?
What characteristic generally defines top performers?
For which type of performer is it more important to focus on the performance rather than the outome?
Which acronym is useful for remembering the principles for setting goals?