Goal Setting

What Goal Setting covers

Goal Setting is examined in Component 02, Psychological factors affecting performance. It covers outcome, performance and process goals, how goal setting improves performance and the SMART principle.

The 3 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Outcome, performance and process goalsOutcome, performance and process goals, anxiety from outcome goals, a 1500 m runner and a novice gymnast, short-term and long-term goals, agreeing goals with the performer, and outcome goals for an elite sprinter.Open →
• How goal setting improves performanceGoal setting for attentional focus, persistence, confidence and self-efficacy, arousal control and anxiety, monitoring a swimmer's season, reviewing goals, motivation and rehabilitation from injury.Open →
• The SMART principleSpecific, measurable, achievable, recorded and time-phased goals, goals set too high or too low, SMART goals for a sprinter and a rugby player, the Sunday league team, and planning training.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Goal Setting further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Outcome goal vs Performance goal

  Outcome goal: a target based on the result of a competition against others. Performance goal: a target judged against an individual's own previous standard.

• Short-term goal vs Long-term goal

  Short-term goal: a stepping-stone target reached within days or weeks. Long-term goal: a final target set a season or more ahead.

• Specific vs Measurable

  Specific: stating exactly which aspect of play is to be improved. Measurable: able to be checked against a figure such as a time.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is goal setting in sport?

   Model answer

   Goal setting is agreeing a target for a performer to reach within a set time. A clear target gives training a direction and a purpose.

2. 2

   What is an outcome goal?

   Model answer

   An outcome goal is based on the result of a competition, such as winning or finishing in the top three. The result depends partly on the opposition.

3. 3

   What is a performance goal?

   Model answer

   A performance goal judges the performer against their own earlier standard. A swimmer aiming to beat her personal best has a performance goal.

4. 4

   What is a process goal?

   Model answer

   A process goal targets the technique needed to perform well. A tennis player might aim to toss the ball higher on the serve.

5. 5

   Why can relying only on outcome goals raise anxiety?

   Model answer

   A win depends partly on opponents and luck, which the performer cannot control. A performer who plays well but loses may still feel a failure.

6. 6

   Explain why performance and process goals are usually more effective than outcome goals.

   Model answer

   Performance and process goals are within the performer's own control. Progress can be achieved even in defeat, which protects confidence.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Goal Setting revision questions

What does Goal Setting cover in OCR A-Level Physical Education?

3 subtopics: outcome, performance and process goals, how goal setting improves performance and the smart principle. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Goal Setting organised?

By the OCR H555 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.