Player Resource · Mental Skills

Goals & Reflection

Create goals that are actionable and trackable, ensuring every session and game makes you better.

BuildsDriveAdaptability

💡 What is it?

Goal setting is choosing clear targets for what you want to improve. Reflection is reviewing your progress, analyzing what is and isn't working, and learning from experiences.

The key: focus on process goals - things that are controllable and actionable, like stamina, shots attempted, or passing technique - not just outcome goals like winning or scoring.

⚡ Why it helps

It gives you direction. A clear and actionable target means you train with a purpose, not just to "play" - that's Drive.
It makes progress visible. Tracking a goal lets you monitor your progress - which increases motivation.
It keeps you confident. Judging yourself on actions you can control puts your confidence in your hands, instead of other variables like the scoreboard.
Reflection speeds up growth. Turning each session or game into a lesson allows you to improve faster than just playing - that's Adaptability.

🛠️ How to do it

Set a big season goal (where you want to be) and a small weekly goal (your focus right now).

Make goals process-based and specific: not "pass better" but "scan and know where I will pass each time before I get the ball"

After each session or game, reflect on three questions (see the example) - keep it short and honest.

Pick one thing to work on for next time. That becomes a part of next week's focus.

👁 What it looks like

🎯 Example

Season goal: "Become more confident and brave on the ball."
This week's process goal: "Demand the ball at least 5 times each half/drill."

After-game/session reflection (the 3 questions):

✅ What went well? "I received the ball with a clean touch often."
🤔 What was hard? "Finding my next pass."
➡️ One thing for next time? "Scan for my next pass before I receive the ball."

💡 Tip: Writing down your goals and reflections helps you remember and focus on your progress.

🗓️ When to use it

🌱 Through the season

Set a new process goal each week.
Do the 3-question reflection after most trainings and every game.
Check your season goal monthly to see if you are making progress.

🎯 Before you perform

Focus on your one process goal for the day.
Repeat it as an action: "today I demand the ball."
Judge your performance on that focus - not just the outcome.