Gymnastics Blogs - David Bellinger

Are you setting effective goals? Here’s the test to find out if you are setting effective or ineffective goals. Ask yourself, “Do I set big goals that I struggle to achieve because they are either too big or take too long?” If you answered yes, then keep reading to learn how to set goals more effectively.

Draw out a large pyramid on a piece of paper. Divide the pyramid into 3 sections. The top of the pyramid is your big, long-term goal. Then, you need smaller goals to help you get to the top. Those smaller goals are your short-term goals and are located in the middle of the pyramid. Then, the very bottom of the pyramid is made up of your daily goals. These are the smallest goals that you can set. Let me explain what each of these 3 types of goals are.

For your long-term goal (the top of the pyramid), write down the big goal that you really want to work toward for the next season or year. An example may be learning the big upgrades you need to move up to the next level. 

Then, to create your plan for how you will slowly work your way to achieving that big goal, set smaller goals. These are your short-term goals. An example may be making a list of all the upgrades you need to get in order to be able to compete at the next level. Set deadlines for when you want to be able to do each element of your routine perfectly in practice, 10 times in a row.

Finally, you have daily goals. These goals help you focus on what you are supposed to be working on each and every day of practice. Ask yourself, “what do I need to do TODAY to get a little bit closer to accomplishing my short-term goal?” Your daily goal is based on the next short-term goal that you want to achieve. So if it is the first element of your routine and you want to be able to do it perfectly 10 times in a row by the end of the week, then your daily goal is to work on specific components of doing that element perfectly. For example, break the element into 3 parts: the beginning, middle, and end. On Monday, your daily goal is to work on the beginning. On Tuesday, your daily goal is to work on the middle. On Wednesday, your daily goal is to work on the end. On Thursday and Friday, your daily goal is to do all three parts of the element together – which is your short-term goal. Once you achieve your short-term goal, your daily goal changes and is then focused on achieving your next short-term goal.

Keep in mind that every daily goal that you achieve helps you achieve your short-term goal and begin climbing up the pyramid. And every short-term goal that you achieve is bringing you closer to achieving your long-term goal at the top of the pyramid. Once your long-term goal is achieved, you can celebrate and then repeat the process to help you reach the next level once again. This is the secret to consistent improvement over time and maintaining your motivation and focus during practice.

If you wrote everything down as you read this blog, then you have a plan for how to get better every day this season. Start with your big goal and then work backwards until you have a specific focus for each day of practice. You will find that your big goal is no longer too difficult to achieve because you will get a little bit better every practice.

Try this strategy over the next week and let me know if it is helpful for you. Also, let me know if you use any other good strategies to set your goals? Your feedback will help everyone else reading this blog!