Setting Goals for an Athletic Scholarship and More!
October 31st, 2008 - byWhen coaches do their college athletic recruiting, they are looking for individuals who will be a good fit for their program. Most often, the coach has established what the goals are for the upcoming season and want to be certain that the student-athletes they bring in will be on board to reach those same goals. During the recruiting process, the coach may also ask the student-athlete to have some personal goals they would like to meet. Perhaps earning a college scholarship is one of the first goals you’ll set in your collegiate career. So, what happens if you meet and EXCEED the goals you set, but ultimately fall short of the grand prize? I am sure that the biggest goal for any team in Major League Baseball is to win the World Series. But, as my college coach taught me, goals have to be realistic! They have to be measurable (so you know if you reached them or not) and they have to be realistic. We never started a season by saying, “Let’s try to win the Women’s College World Series this year.” We worked toward something we knew was attainable: a conference championship. When the Tampa Bay Rays came into Spring Training this year, manager Joe Maddon presented them with this goal: 9=8. Nine Players playing hard for nine innings would be enough to gain one of the eight playoff berths. This was not going to be easy, but was certainly realistic. The year before, the Rays finished 66-96 and last in their division. The goal was to make it to the post season, either by winning their division or earning a wild card spot. I think it’s fair to say that very few had their eyes on that ultimate prize – winning the world series. But, there they were. Fighting for their chance to take home the coveted prize. 1 of only 2 teams left in all of Major League Baseball. So, when the final out was recorded and the Phillies rushed to the mound in celebration this past week, what do you think the Rays were thinking? They met their pre-season goal. They far exceeded their pre-season goal. But they sat in that dugout in Philadelphia and looked totally disappointed. I think when the dust settles and they have some time to process everything and reflect on their season, they will see that all of those smaller victories add up to one amazing victory. Even if they are missing that ultimate prize. And now, they go into the off-season and soon after, a new spring training, with new, bigger and definitely realistic goals. I am certain it will have something to do with winning a World Series! So, be realistic. Set attainable goals. You will find that it’s much easier to work toward new goals when you have already been successful in the previous ones. It’s a process. And if you meet them and perhaps even shatter them, as the Rays did, then celebrate! And when its time to start planning for next season, you’ll know that it’s time to aim higher!
