Goal Setting and SMART Targets

This lesson covers goal setting and SMART targets as required by AQA GCSE PE specification 3.2.1. Goal setting is a psychological technique used to improve and maintain motivation, build confidence, and focus training. Understanding the different types of goals and how to set effective targets using the SMART principle is essential for both the written exam and your own sporting development.

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Why Set Goals?

Goal setting is important in sport because it:

• Increases motivation — gives the performer something specific to work towards.
• Improves focus — helps the performer concentrate on what matters most.
• Builds confidence — achieving goals provides a sense of accomplishment.
• Monitors progress — allows performers and coaches to track improvement over time.
• Provides direction — ensures training has a clear purpose rather than being aimless.
• Controls anxiety — breaking a large challenge into smaller goals makes it less overwhelming.

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Types of Goals: Performance vs Outcome

AQA requires you to understand two types of goals and to know when each should be used.

Performance Goals

A performance goal is a target set against your own previous performance. It does not depend on the result of a competition or on what anyone else does.

Examples:

• "I want to improve my 100m time from 13.5 seconds to 13.0 seconds."
• "I want to complete 8 out of 10 free throws in training, up from 6 out of 10 last week."
• "I want to reduce my 5km running time by 30 seconds within the next month."

Outcome Goals

An outcome goal is focused on the end result of an event, usually in comparison to others. It depends on factors outside the performer's control, such as the quality of the opposition.

Examples:

• "I want to win the 100m race at sports day."
• "I want our team to finish in the top three of the league."
• "I want to beat my opponent in the next badminton match."

Comparison Table

Feature	Performance Goal	Outcome Goal
Focus	Personal improvement	End result (winning/losing)
Depends on others?	No — entirely within the performer's control	Yes — depends on the opposition
Motivation	Provides consistent motivation regardless of result	Can be demotivating if the goal is not achieved
Measurability	Easy to measure against previous personal bests	Measured by the competition result
Example	"Beat my personal best in the long jump"	"Win the long jump competition"

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When to Use Each Type of Goal

Beginners Should Use Performance Goals

Performance goals are especially important for beginners because:

1. They are within the performer's control. A beginner cannot control how good their opponents are, so an outcome goal of "winning" may be unrealistic and demotivating.
2. They focus on personal improvement. A beginner who improves from 3/10 to 5/10 successful basketball shots has made genuine progress, even if they still lose the match.
3. They build confidence gradually. Achieving small, personal improvements provides regular positive reinforcement.
4. They reduce anxiety. A beginner who is focused on their own technique rather than winning will feel less pressure.

Exam Tip: A very common exam question is: "Explain why a beginner should set performance goals rather than outcome goals." Always make the point that performance goals are within the performer's control and that beginners may become demotivated if they set outcome goals and fail to achieve them because of stronger opposition.

When Outcome Goals Are Appropriate

Outcome goals are more appropriate for elite or experienced performers because:

• They are more likely to achieve them, having already developed their skills.
• They can use outcome goals alongside performance goals.
• The competitive drive of an outcome goal can push elite performers to raise their game in high-pressure situations.

However, even elite performers should not rely solely on outcome goals. A combination of both types is the most effective approach.

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SMART Targets

The SMART principle is a framework for setting effective goals. Each letter stands for a criterion that a well-set goal should meet:

Letter	Stands For	Meaning	Example
S	Specific	The goal must state exactly what is to be achieved	"Improve my forehand accuracy" not "get better at tennis"
M	Measurable	There must be a way to measure whether the goal has been achieved	"Score 7 out of 10 forehand winners in a drill"
A	Accepted (or Achievable/Agreed)	The performer must agree to the goal and believe it is possible	The goal is discussed and agreed between the performer and the coach
R	Realistic	The goal must be challenging but attainable given the performer's current level	A beginner should not aim to serve at 200 km/h
T	Time-bound	There must be a deadline by which the goal should be achieved	"Within the next 6 weeks"

Exam Tip: AQA uses "Accepted" for the A in SMART (not "Achievable" or "Attainable," though these are sometimes seen in textbooks). Use "Accepted" in the exam to match the specification. The idea is that the performer must agree to and accept the goal for it to be motivating.

Applying SMART to a Sporting Example

Scenario: A Year 10 student wants to improve their badminton serve.

SMART Element	Application
Specific	"I want to improve the accuracy of my short serve in badminton so that 8 out of 10 serves land in the correct service area"
Measurable	The student can count how many serves out of 10 land in the target area in each training session
Accepted	The student and their PE teacher discuss the goal and both agree it is appropriate
Realistic	The student currently lands 5 out of 10 serves, so 8 out of 10 is challenging but achievable with practice
Time-bound	"I want to achieve this within 4 weeks of focused practice"

Why Non-SMART Goals Are Ineffective

Consider this goal: "I want to get better at football."

• Not specific — which aspect of football? Passing? Shooting? Fitness?
• Not measurable — how will the performer know if they have "got better"?
• Not necessarily accepted — was this imposed by a coach or chosen by the performer?
• Not necessarily realistic — "getting better" is vague and could be interpreted as anything.
• Not time-bound — there is no deadline, so there is no urgency to work towards the goal.

A SMART version: "I want to complete 15 consecutive short passes in training without losing possession, up from 10 currently, within the next 3 weeks."

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Goal Setting in Practice: A Step-by-Step Process

graph TD
    A["Step 1: Assess Current Level"] --> B["Step 2: Identify Area for Improvement"]
    B --> C["Step 3: Set a SMART Goal"]
    C --> D["Step 4: Plan Training to Achieve the Goal"]
    D --> E["Step 5: Monitor Progress"]
    E --> F{"Goal Achieved?"}
    F -->|Yes| G["Set a New, Harder Goal"]
    F -->|No| H["Adjust the Goal or Training Plan"]
    H --> D

    style A fill:#2c3e50,color:#fff
    style B fill:#2980b9,color:#fff
    style C fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style D fill:#8e44ad,color:#fff
    style E fill:#d35400,color:#fff
    style F fill:#c0392b,color:#fff
    style G fill:#16a085,color:#fff
    style H fill:#e74c3c,color:#fff

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Common Exam Mistakes