If for example, you were deciding to visit someone by car and you did

not know the way, you would take a map and carefully plan your route.

Setting your goals is just the same.

Consider this your very first step along the route to your tennis ideals.

Success in any endeavour does not happen by accident. It is the result

of deliberate decisions, conscious efforts, and immense persistence.

A dream is just a dream until you write it down, then it becomes a goal.

Written goals are the first step towards commitment, it means you are

serious about its achievement. Written goals force you to think – to

accept how realistic your goals may or may not be.

• Write your goal in sspecific, measurable and time limited terms.

• Write your affirmative goal statement.

This is what you will be able to say once you have achieved your goal.

write this as though you have already accomplished the goal.

• Identify the time period during which you plan to achieve your goal.

• No goal is etched in stone. Our goals change as time changes, as our

Our physical abilities change and as our personal circumstancies change.

We break our goals down into three time periods, more will be said about this later:

                        Short-range Goals                1 –  90 days

                        Medium-range Goals  3 -  12 months

                        Long-range Goals                1 -  5 years

Analyze your current situation

You must honestly identify your current strengths and assests as well as behaviors, limitations fears and weaknesses that prevent you from achieving your goals immediately.

Use the SWOT Analysis.

Exercise:  Select a goal you would like to achieve and then complete the SWOT analysis.

Goal: …………………………………………………………………………

Strengths ……………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………….

Weaknesses …………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………….

Opportunities ………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………….

Threats ……………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………

We are now almost ready to set our goals.

people who set goals, generally achieve more than those who don’t.

They focus your attention and set a routine which worked on daily – over a predefined period achieves more than not setting a goal at all.

See S.M.A.R.T. reference later.

There are two types of goals in tennis.

Performance goals  -   setting the short term  

                                        requirements in order to

                                      achieve the final outcome goals.

Outcome goals         -   The result of all the work put

                                        in to achieve your Aims.

You should set long term goals and then break these down into medium term goals then into daily or weekly tasks (short term goals). Goals should be reviewed and adjusted regularly depending on the progress made.

You should use the goal setting forms at the end of this article and you should discuss your goals with someone else (probably your coach and perhaps also your parents).

SELECTIVE EXAMPLES OF PERSONAL GOAL STATEMENTS

IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES HAVING TO DO WITH TENNIS

AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

                                Mechanical

                                To improve the accuracy of my first serve

                                To increase the percentage of my first service return

                                To get more depth oin my groundstroke rallies

                                To win more first points in a game

                                To improve my fitness so that I can perform fully in long matches

                                To add variety to my second serve

                                Mental

                                To relax better on important points

                                To become more disciplined oin preparing for my matches

                                To remain focused in between sets

                                To become more disciplined in my approach to losing points

*Select no less than three or four goals and no more than six or seven at any one time.

S. M. A. R. T.  GOALS

You should tell someone else about your goals, it helps to focus on them.

Perhaps your Coach or Sponsor- your Parents (Or do you have a Mentor?)

S   pecific        -           You (and your mentor) know exactly what the

                                     goal is!

M  easurable  -           your progress towards the goal can be measured

                                    by yourself and others.

A   ttainable    -           you are able to make progress and attain the

                                    gioal.

R   elevant      -           by attaining the goal, you will have achieved your

                                    desires, the GOAL is relevant to  your development.

T   ime frame  -           you have a clear understanding of when you

                                    expect to attain the goal.

You should also establish a “benchmark” to know where you started so

you can begin to measure your progress.

Know where you are now.

You will find worksheets below

these will help you to define your goals.

You will also be able to download these

so that you can print them out.

ACHIEVING SELF-MOTIVATION.

Goal setting will also help you achieve self motivation.

When you are self-motivated, you have the interest and desire to attain important goals.

The more personally aware of yourself you are, the more self-motivated you will be.

Self-motivation means that you have taken the personal initiative to set goals for

Yourself and to do what is necessary to attain them.

You do not want other people to be your primary source of motivation.

Others can help you set conditions for improvement, but they can’t make you take

advantage of them

Desire is instilled in you because your motive for action comes primarily from within,

not from an external source.

Develope an increased focus on what is important both on and off the tennis court.

When you are self-motivated, you have positive energy helping you control all aspects

of your training.

Being self-motivated allows you to block out negative distractions.

Being self-motivated will give you more physical and mental energy.

Identify personal goals.

A personal goal has meaning to YOU.

You will be able to remain self-motivated when your goals are ones YOU can control.

The driving force to attain a goal comes not from outside yourself but from within

yourself.

Create a master list of goals and select the ones especially important to YOU.

Select enough goals so that you can stay focused and motivated.