At the first team meeting, at the beginning of the season, the coach should discuss personal goal setting. The most important advice the coach can give is to make sure that each goal is (1) attainable and (2) important enough to make the athlete focus on it.

Such goals as "improve my shooting percentage" or "work for a faster sprint time" can help build a successful team, because they emphasize personal improvement rather than competitive rivalry.

To be most beneficial, the goals must be specific. Such generalities as "I just want to do my best" are rarely motivational. Improvement can be made only after the athlete's abilities have been assessed and the specific area needing improvement addressed.

The athletes should list their individual expectations for the season on index cards, both long-range goals (why am I playing?...what do I want to achieve?) and short-term goals (what must I work on every day to reach my goal?) should be kept on file in the coach's office.

The coach should, in addition, discuss the importance of immediate goals (what is the purpose of today's practice in relation to my goal?). The coach may also want each athlete to list daily or weekly goals.

Many athletes will set realistic long-range goals. Others will have trouble setting attainable goals because they haven't correctly assessed their abilities or because their goals are non-specific. The coach may help this group revise their goals or set new ones.

As a reminder, the coach may post a finalized copy of personal goals in each athlete's locker. The coach and athlete should periodically meet to discuss the athlete's progress and update the goals.

The coach may use several approaches. First, instead of constantly pointing out athletes' weaknesses, the coach should stress the strengths of their performance. Since the athletes confidence is constantly being challenged, the coach must be consistently positive. The coach must acknowledge individual achievement as it happens and should occasionally set up situations that will allow each player to be successful.

Awards for achievement sometimes work well, but they should not be doled out too freely.

As a second approach, coaches may stress the importance of imaging. The athlete can help achieve specifically stated goals through a simple three-step process: relaxation, concentration and visualization. The technique can be used before and during competition to encourage achievement and relieve self-doubt.

Whenever the athlete fails, the coach should suggest rethinking the competition and visualizing a successful finish.

Once the athletes have experienced the satisfaction of "seeing" a goal accomplished, they will find it easier to set and visualize the accomplishment of future goals. Each success, however, minor will produce increased self-confidence.

Ultimately, the athlete's ability to set a realistic goal and then work to achieve it may take on an importance that extends far beyond the athletic realm. It may last a lifetime.

Kathy Halloway,a health and physical education instructor at Bolton High School in Alexandria, LA, has received numerous educational and teaching honors, including Teacher of the Year, District Coach of the Year, and Louisiana HSAA Certification of Appreciation.