Five Key Steps for Setting Clear Expectations and Goals for Young Athletes

Coaching teenagers can sometimes feel like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle with half the pieces missing.

You know the picture you want to create, but how do you make it happen? Setting clear expectations and goals is crucial, especially when working with 13 to 19-year-olds.

Let’s dive into five actionable steps to help you guide your young athletes towards clarity and achievement.

1. Understanding Each Athlete’s Starting Point

Before you set goals, it's vital to know where each athlete is starting from.

This isn't just about their physical abilities, but also their mental and emotional readiness. Have one-on-one conversations - think of them as casual coffee chats minus the coffee. Ask about their previous experiences, current skills, and personal interests in sports.

Understanding their baseline is like finding the ‘On’ switch before attempting to operate any machinery.

2. Defining Clear, Specific Goals

“Get better” is a great intention but a terrible goal.

Specificity is your best friend here. Work with your athletes to set goals that are clear and measurable. For instance, “Improve free throw shooting accuracy to 80%” is a goal that's as clear as a sunny day.

This specificity gives them a tangible target and helps you track progress effectively.

3. The Goldilocks Principle: Not Too Hard, Not Too Easy

Goals should be challenging enough to motivate but not so daunting that they seem impossible.

Find that sweet spot - the Goldilocks zone of goal setting. Building on the above example. If a player is averaging 30% from free throw shooting, getting to 80% may be too hard. If they’re averaging 78%, then getting to 80% is too easy.

It’s about striking the right balance to keep them engaged and avoid the 'this is impossible' or 'I can do this in my sleep' scenarios.

4. Roadmaps and Milestones

Setting a goal without a plan is like expecting a plant to grow without watering it.

Break down each goal into smaller, manageable tasks or milestones. Create a roadmap with your athletes. This could look like setting weekly targets or specific drills. Examples include “make 15 free throws at the end of every practice” or “swish ten free throws in a row at the end of every practice”.

Celebrating these small victories keeps morale high and motivation even higher - it’s the confetti along the path to their ultimate goal.

5. Regular Check-Ins and Adaptability

Regular check-ins are like GPS for goal navigation.

They help you and your athletes see if you're on track or need to recalibrate. Be prepared to adjust goals as needed. Athletes grow and change, and so should their goals. These check-ins are also great opportunities for feedback and encouragement.

They may need a boost and a helping hand, or they may need some hard-to-hear truths about their work ethic and commitment. Getting this right can fuel them for miles.

The Art of Goal Setting

As coaches, our role extends beyond teaching sports skills.

We are mentors, guides, and sometimes even part-time philosophers. Setting clear expectations and goals is an art, and with these steps, you’re well on your way to mastering it. Keep in mind, that while the journey might have bumps, it’s the growth and progress along the way that count.

So, here’s to setting goals, reaching them, and then setting some more – after all, isn't that what life (and sports) are all about?