Why do performers set goals, and what makes a SMART target effective?
The reasons for setting goals, the SMART principle for writing effective targets, and the difference between outcome and performance goals.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE PE topic on goal setting, covering why performers set goals, the SMART principle (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound) for writing effective targets, and the difference between outcome and performance goals.
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What this dot point is asking
WJEC wants you to explain why performers set goals, apply the SMART principle to write effective targets, and explain the difference between outcome and performance goals.
Why performers set goals
Setting goals helps a performer because it:
- gives direction and focus to training,
- raises and maintains motivation by giving something to aim for,
- helps monitor progress against a clear target,
- gives a sense of achievement and confidence when a goal is reached, and
- can reduce anxiety by breaking a big aim into smaller steps.
The SMART principle
A SMART target is effective because it is clear and measurable, so the performer knows exactly what to do and can track progress, and because being achievable, realistic and timed keeps them motivated.
Outcome and performance goals
Two types of goal are useful at different times.
- Outcome goals: focused on the end result, often compared with others (winning a match, finishing first). These can be motivating but are partly outside the performer's control, so missing them can be demotivating.
- Performance goals: focused on improving your own standard regardless of others (beating your personal best, raising your pass completion). These are within the performer's control and are usually better for confidence and motivation.
Many coaches set mainly performance goals because the performer can always influence them.
Short-term and long-term goals
Goals also work over different time frames, and the two support each other:
- short-term goals are set for the near future (this week or this session), such as completing a set number of practice shots; they give quick, regular success that keeps motivation high,
- long-term goals are set for further ahead (the end of the season or a major event), such as making the first team; they give overall direction.
The best practice is to use a series of short-term goals as stepping stones towards a long-term goal, so the performer can see steady progress on the way to the bigger aim. This is exactly how a personal fitness programme is planned.
Why this matters
Goal setting is a key part of mental preparation and motivation: clear SMART targets keep a performer motivated and confident. It also underpins the principles of training, where a training programme is planned around a performer's goals, and it is central to the Unit 2 personal fitness programme, which is built on a SMART target.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC style5 marksExplain what each letter of the SMART principle stands for and why using SMART makes a target more effective.Show worked answer →
A 5-mark question: a mark for each SMART element and a mark for why it helps.
S is Specific: the target says exactly what is to be achieved, not something vague. M is Measurable: it can be measured so you know if it has been reached. A is Achievable: it is within the performer's reach with effort. R is Realistic: it suits the performer's situation, time and resources. T is Time-bound (timed): it has a deadline to work towards.
Using SMART makes a target effective because it is clear and measurable, so the performer knows exactly what to do and can track progress, and an achievable, realistic, timed goal keeps them motivated and gives a sense of achievement when it is met. Markers reward all five elements and a clear reason for using SMART.
WJEC style4 marksA coach sets a swimmer the goal 'get better at swimming'. Rewrite this as a SMART target and justify your changes.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark question: marks for an improved SMART target and marks for the justification.
A SMART version would be: "reduce my 100 m freestyle time from 70 seconds to 67 seconds within eight weeks." This is specific (the 100 m freestyle time), measurable (in seconds), achievable and realistic (a small three-second improvement over a sensible period), and time-bound (within eight weeks).
The justification: the original goal "get better at swimming" is too vague to act on or measure, so the swimmer would not know what to do or whether they had succeeded. The SMART version gives a clear focus and a deadline, which guides training and keeps the swimmer motivated. Markers reward a genuinely SMART rewrite and an explanation of why it is better than the vague original.
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Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Physical Education specification (from 2016) — WJEC (2016)