Pat Summitt at win over O. D. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Few have achieved the goals that Pat Summitt has garnered over the years, and her accomplishments did not occur by chance.  Outstanding coaches are masters of setting and achieving goals.  Their techniques can help you reach your fitness and sport performance goals.

1.   Develop a vision.  Imagine what it would be like to live your dreams.  See, feel, and believe that you can do it.  "Conceive, believe, achieve!"

2. Set both long-term and short-term goals.  In order to realize your vision, set concrete, realistic long-term goals.   Use short-term goals as mile markers--shorter steps to long-term goals. 

3.  Be specific.  State your goals in terms of performance outcomes by a certain date.  To achieve a long-term goal like, make the varsity basketball team in October, you might use specific short-term goals such as, I will achieve a 25-inch vertical jump (VJ) by March 1, a 28-inch VJ by June 1, and a 30-inch VJ by Sept. 1. 

4.  Use multiple short-term goals and find ways to measure progress on them.   To stay on track, choose several goals and indicators of your progress.  In addition to testing the vertical jump for basketball performance, for example, test maximums on the power clean and monitor body composition.   Also check improvements on other fitness and skill tests used for basketball tryouts.

5.  Mentally connect your vision and goals with daily activities.   If you don't clearly see how your daily workout routine builds toward your goals and vision, you may end up just going through the motions and eventually quit.  Commit to your well-directed plan, and know that every workout builds toward realizing your vision. 

Winning doesn't stop at setting goals--that's just the first step.  See 6 Key Training Steps to Peak Performance to learn about the next steps toward realizing your vision.

For more information, see Setting Goals and How to State Goals and Achieve Them