There are few things more critical to success than setting goals. Countless studies have been done and a near-infinite amount of research published to back up this statement. This is true in any facet of our lives, but today we are going to look at basketball.
Play Smarter Basketball
So often, players step on the court with the idea that they are going to practice. Some of them even plan to practice "really hard". But the fact is, very few of them walk onto the court with a clear plan made up of measurable goals and a system of reaching them. It is extremely important for players to know what they are going to work on, how they are going to work on it, and what they are trying to achieve with this work.
The mentality of focused practice doesn't just apply to workouts. You can improve any time you step on the court. That could be in the gym at lunchtime, a pick-up game after school, or in the driveway with your mom or dad. Heck, even playing against your little brother can be a chance to work on something new. You could challenge yourself to only shoot left-handed! Or play without dribbling! Defend someone who is faster than you, or bigger than you. Step out of your comfort zone and make a concerted effort to improve a specific part of your game.
Another great way to use goals as a means to improve your skill level is to pick an area of the game that you are weaker in and challenge yourself to focus on it. Perhaps you miss a lot of great passing opportunities. You could set the goal of making 8 or more assists in the game. Or you could choose rebounds, turnovers, fouls... it really doesn't matter what you choose, as long as you know what the goal is and why you want to reach it.
So, what makes a good goal? This is probably where most young players struggle the most. The key to creating effective goals is to make them SMART. That means they must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let's break that down a little more.
Specific - Your goal needs to be clearly defined. Simply saying, "I want to play better defense today" doesn't cut it. Change it to something more actionable like, "I won't get beat baseline today". To help you clarify your goals ask yourself the five Ws. What do you want to achieve? Why is it important? Who is involved? When/where does it happen? Which resources do I need?
Measurable - If you can't measure your progress, how will you know when you have reached your goal? Being able to track your progress is integral in keeping you focused and motivating you to achieve success.
Attainable - Goals have to be realistically achievable. If you are a benchwarmer who plays 2-5 minutes each game, don't set a goal of 10 rebounds or 5 forced turnovers. You will be setting yourself up for disappointment, and that just leads to lower motivation and effort. Set yourself up for success. Start with small, reachable goals and slowly increase them over time. You don't have to become the best player on your team overnight. Be patient. Scouts and coaches will see your steady improvement and work ethic.
Relevant - Here it is important to figure out if this goal really matters to YOU. Does it align with your other goals? Farther reaching plans that are broader in scope. There is no problem in getting help with your goals, but be sure that you maintain control over them. It is also important to ensure that your goals line up with the philosophies of your coach and team. If your coach wants everyone to get back in transition defense, setting a goal of 5 offensive rebounds probably isn't the right way to go.
Time-bound - This one is probably more suited to training goals than in-game goals, but that doesn't change its importance. The goal of shooting 90% from the FT line is an excellent objective. But if you don't set a time limit there is no pressure driving you to improve. Having a timeframe for your goal will help you avoid getting distracted. Maintaining focus on your goals is imperative to achieving success.
The next time you walk out onto the court, have a plan. Have clear objectives and a strategy for reaching them. Be SMART in your training. Success won't come overnight, but if you continue to train well and get a little better each day, you will be a lot better a year from now.