ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information on how coaches can set both individual and team goals for their athletes. L.C. Dohme and colleagues reported that goal setting allows athletes to evaluate themselves and their performance, which may explain why setting goals helps facilitate the development of talented young athletes. D. Burton and S. Naylor found that athletes have goal-setting styles. That is, athletes will set particular types of goals depending on their personality without any help from their coach. It is very important that coaches help their athletes set a variety of short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. Coaches can help and encourage their athletes set their own goals by adopting the SMARTS goal-setting principle as proposed by M. J. Smith. Coaches can work with athletes to set individual goals or to help teams set goals. Athletes within team sports believe that setting team goals and clarifying roles and responsibilities of all athletes are crucial for success.
