THERE ALWAYS ARE those players who don’t reach their full potential. They could have been bigger, stronger, quicker and more dominant. But, for some reason, they just didn’t push themselves to become the player they could have been. One way to combat the problem of malaise is to set goals for individual players and enable them to then reach those goals.
Reaching full potential starts in the weight room. Players first need to get past the sense of entitlement many of them have. Working for a starting position, playing time, respect or game victories all are things some players believe are their rights as an athlete instead of an accomplishment determined by hard work. In fact, this sense of entitlement has led many players to not know how to set goals. For players who do take the time to set goals, most players don’t have the first idea on how to set goals, what is realistic or the importance of making, reaching and sometimes excelling past goals. If players are asking you as a coach what their goals should be, then you know it’s time to teach them some lessons in goal-setting.
know your base
The first lesson in goal-setting is for a player to know his base. Before a player truly understands what his potential is, he first honestly must assess his ability.
Importance
Many players walk into the weight room with hopes of growth. At the same time, they have no idea where they stand with regard to strength, speed and conditioning. Without a proper assessment, a player is allowed to establish an artificial reality about his preparedness for the upcoming season.
coach’s role
The coach helps the player set a baseline from which to build. This is accomplished through one-on-one meetings, as well as combines and testing days (having the team test at the same time forces each player to measure honestly with his peers with less talk and more action). For your better players, find other venues for them to find humility. Have them work out at college combines or weight-lifting competitions. This forces them to assess where they stand relative to other top players and helps them target weaknesses. Giving players a reality check is the first lesson in goal-setting.
know your potential
Potential is a great thing for players to believe in themselves. However, having a false sense of potential or thinking potential lies in other positions on the football team sets players up for failure.
Importance
Every year players enter your practice field with unrealistic ideas of their potential — linemen who think they are running backs or receivers who are confident they are quarterbacks. Or, bench players sometimes think they belong with the starters. For a high school athlete to realize his full potential, a person (coach) with more perspective should help him articulate his ability. Once the player understands his role, then he begins to take the necessary steps to fitting into that role.
coach’s role
Coaches must be honest with their players. Trust is built on players knowing their coaches are going to be honest with them when setting goals and preparing for the upcoming season. If a coach has a history of telling everyone they will be a starting quarterback, the players quickly learn to discount advice from that coach.
However, when the coach has an honest interaction with players and an approachable nature, he earns the trust and respect from players about any advice he might give them.
know your goal
Goals simply aren’t picked out of the blue. Thought, research and past experiences lead to setting goals. Don’t let your players become enamored with some magic number.
Importance
This is where players really struggle. They all want to bench 300 pounds tomorrow. The idea of putting in the work to reach such a goal is a hurdle that many do not want to jump and others find unattainable.
Ask your players to answer these two questions: Where do you want to be? When do you want to be there? With guidance, a player determines a number that is realistic for him to gain by next season. Additionally, have the player put a date on his dream before making it a goal for him to work toward.
coach’s role
As the coach, you must be actively involved in this process to make sure the goal numbers the player decides to set actually will push him while not being unattainable. Nothing kills a player’s motivation faster than a goal he thinks he never will achieve. The same holds true for an easily attainable goal.
Be sure to discuss each goal with the player and create excitement about the player’s different milestones.
Break down each player’s goals into smaller increments, so he works toward mini-goals on the way to the larger goal.
At right is an example of a sheet used to show smaller goals leading to a larger goal. Give a form like this to a player and ask him to put it by his bed, so he crosses off each step as he achieves it. The form shows mini-steps in achieving a weight goal, a bench-press goal and a squat goal.
know you’re not alone
Every team has a few players who have the inner strength and drive to achieve their goals on their own. The rest of your players need people around them to encourage them through the gain and plateaus that come while striving toward weight-lifting goals.
Importance
Pair these two types of players together. The forces players to gain accountability and understanding of how to support their teammates.
coach’s role
You must create a culture of excitement and encouragement in the weight room. The player won’t do it on their own. Actively participate in the weight room to make sure this culture persists. Here are five ways to make it happen:
1. Work the room. Discuss weight-lifting goals with each set of partners to help them gain a deeper understanding of where their lifting partner wants to go.
2. Goal posters. Post players’ goals in a visible location where teammates and coaches can provides accountability and encouragement. An example is at the right.
3. Milestone boards. List the players that have reached certain milestones for each of the core lifts.
4. Goal-breakers’ time. All players stop and encourage players who are lifting to meet a goal on their
posters or milestones on their board.
5. Excitement. Show genuine excitement and joy for every player’s gains from the starting linemen to the backup punter.
Creating a new excitement and energy in the weight room starts the process of being successful in your games. Plus, goal-setting and achieving goals are skills that prepare players for subsequent life events. If players leave your program with a greater understanding of how to set goals, how to follow through on commitments and how to encourage those around them — then you have done your job as a coach.