Setting Short and Long Term Goals

This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week comes from Dr. Suzie Tuffey-Riewald, former associate director of coaching with the United States Olympic Committee. Tuffey-Riewald offers some advice on setting short- and long-term goals.

Tuffey-Riewald’s Tip:
I want you to picture a staircase in your mind, one with many, many steps leading to the top. Can you see it?

The very top of the staircase is your long-term goal; it represents where you want to be as a swimmer years from now - swimming on a college team or qualifying for Nationals, for example. Each stair leading to the top represents the small goals you set along the way.

Most athletes think of these short-term goals as being faster times, such as your breakthrough swim or getting an “A” time. But, these goals can also relate to others areas you want to improve in such as technique (bilateral breathing, turn, or stroke rate), dry-land training (crunches, bench press) or mental skills (self-talk, concentration).

Each time you achieve one of these short-term goals, you are a step closer to your long-term goal. You need to congratulate yourself for working hard to reach the goal. But, look at all the other “steps” (goals) that you still have ahead of you. Each goal gives you something new to focus on, something to train hard to achieve.

Every day before practice ask yourself this question, “What am I going to work on today to make myself a better swimmer?” This is what you need to work on to have your next breakthrough swim.

This week’s Speedo Tip of the Week comes from Dr. Suzie Tuffey-Riewald, former associate director of coaching with the United States Olympic Committee. Tuffey-Riewald offers some advice on setting short- and long-term goals.

Tuffey-Riewald’s Tip:
I want you to picture a staircase in your mind, one with many, many steps leading to the top. Can you see it?

The very top of the staircase is your long-term goal; it represents where you want to be as a swimmer years from now - swimming on a college team or qualifying for Nationals, for example. Each stair leading to the top represents the small goals you set along the way.

Most athletes think of these short-term goals as being faster times, such as your breakthrough swim or getting an “A” time. But, these goals can also relate to others areas you want to improve in such as technique (bilateral breathing, turn, or stroke rate), dry-land training (crunches, bench press) or mental skills (self-talk, concentration).

Each time you achieve one of these short-term goals, you are a step closer to your long-term goal. You need to congratulate yourself for working hard to reach the goal. But, look at all the other “steps” (goals) that you still have ahead of you. Each goal gives you something new to focus on, something to train hard to achieve.

Every day before practice ask yourself this question, “What am I going to work on today to make myself a better swimmer?” This is what you need to work on to have your next breakthrough swim.