Sports psychology - Goal setting — OCR GCSE Physical Education
Verified courseTeaching note checked against the official specification.
Sports psychology - Goal setting explained
Sports psychology - Goal setting covers 3 specification points, including • for exercise/training adherence • to… and Understand the SMART principle of goal setting….
Read the full explanation
Open a point below for its explanation and revision guidance.
understand and be able to apply examples of the use of goal setting: • for exercise/training adherence • to motivate performers • to improve and/or optimise performance
This criterion asks you to understand why performers and exercisers set goals and to apply that understanding to realistic examples. Three uses are named. First, goal setting supports exercise or training adherence: a runner who sets a target of three runs a week is more likely to keep attending than one with no target. Second, goals motivate performers by giving a clear focus and a sense of progress. Third, goals improve or optimise performance by directing effort and attention towards what matters. In a multiple-choice question you will usually be given a scenario and asked which use of goal setting it best illustrates, or which statement about goal setting is correct. Read the scenario carefully, identify whether it concerns keeping to a programme, raising motivation or raising performance, then choose the option that matches that use.
understand the SMART principle of goal setting with practical examples (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Recorded, Timed)
SMART is a checklist for writing a goal so that it can actually guide training. In this specification each letter stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Recorded and Timed. A Specific goal names exactly what is to be improved, such as a performer's shooting accuracy in netball rather than 'get better'. A Measurable goal states how success will be judged, for example scoring 7 out of 10 shots in a set practice. An Achievable goal is realistic for that performer's current level, so a beginner targets 5 out of 10 before 8 out of 10. A Recorded goal is written down and logged so progress can be reviewed against the baseline. A Timed goal sets a deadline, such as reaching the target within six weeks. A multiple-choice question may ask which element is missing from a stated goal, or which example best matches one element, so check each letter against the wording given.
be able to apply the SMART principle to improve and/or optimise performance.
Applying SMART means turning a vague ambition into a goal a performer can act on and review. Take a footballer whose aim is 'to be better at passing'. Make it Specific by naming short passing under pressure; Measurable by setting 8 successful passes out of 10 in a small-sided drill; Achievable by pitching it just above the current baseline of 6 out of 10; Recorded by writing it in a training log with the baseline; Timed by setting a four-week review. The performer then trains towards it and reviews progress at the deadline, adjusting the target if it was met too easily or proved unrealistic. Improvement comes from a clear, checkable target that directs practice, while optimisation means refining an already good performance towards a higher standard.
Your focus
- State the three uses of goal setting named in the specification.
- Match a given scenario to the correct use of goal setting.
- Explain how a goal can support adherence, motivation or performance in a practical example.
Show all 9 objectives
- State what each letter of SMART stands for in goal setting.
- Match a practical sporting goal to the SMART element it demonstrates.
- Identify which SMART element is missing from a stated goal.
- Apply all five SMART elements to rewrite a vague sporting goal.
- Justify a revised goal as achievable relative to a stated baseline.
- Explain how a timed, recorded goal supports improvement or optimisation of performance.
Sports psychology - Goal setting exam tips
Marking Points
- Identifies that goal setting can increase exercise or training adherence by giving a target that encourages regular attendance.
- Explains that goals motivate performers by providing focus, direction and a sense of progress.
- Explains that goals improve or optimise performance by directing effort and attention towards specific aspects of performance.
- Applies the correct use to a given scenario, matching the example to adherence, motivation or performance improvement.
- Rejects an option that describes a use of goal setting not supported by the scenario.
- Identifies Specific as naming the exact skill, component or behaviour to be improved rather than a vague aim.
- Selects Measurable when the goal states a quantity or standard that can be counted or compared, such as a score out of ten.
- Recognises Achievable as matching the goal to the performer's current ability so it is realistic but still challenging.
- Chooses Recorded when the goal is written down and progress is logged against a baseline for review.
- Matches Timed to a stated deadline or review date within which the goal should be met.
- Applies all five elements to a practical example and rejects an option that omits one of them.
- Rewrites a vague aim as a Specific goal that names the exact skill or component to be improved.
- Adds a Measurable standard, such as a number of successful attempts out of ten, so progress can be judged.
- Sets the target as Achievable by pitching it just beyond the performer's current baseline.
- Includes a Recorded element by writing the goal and baseline into a log for review.
- Attaches a Timed deadline so the performer knows when to review progress.
- Selects the option that applies all five elements to improve or optimise the performer's performance.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Underline the key detail in the scenario that shows whether it is about keeping to a programme, motivation or performance.
- 💡Eliminate options that describe a different use of goal setting from the one in the scenario.
- 💡Check that the chosen option is supported by the whole scenario, not just one word.
- 💡Revise all three named uses so you can recognise each in an example.
- 💡Read the stem and underline which SMART element the question is testing before looking at the options.
- 💡Test each option against all five letters and eliminate any that miss the element named in the stem.
- 💡Use a concrete sporting example in your reasoning so the element you choose is clearly justified.
- 💡Compare each option letter by letter against Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Recorded and Timed.
- 💡Reject any option that misses even one element, since the question asks for full application of SMART.
- 💡Anchor your choice in the scenario's stated baseline so the achievable element can be judged.
Common Mistakes
- Chooses an option because it sounds positive rather than matching the specific use shown in the scenario; identify whether the scenario is about adherence, motivation or performance first.
- Confuses adherence with performance improvement; adherence concerns keeping to a training or exercise programme, while performance concerns the quality of the action.
- Ignores the scenario and picks a general statement about goals; apply the use that the example actually demonstrates.
- Treats 'Achievable' as meaning easy; correct this by explaining that an achievable goal is realistic for the performer yet still stretches them.
- Confuses 'Recorded' with 'Measurable'; correct this by separating counting the result from writing it down and logging progress.
- Accepts a vague goal such as 'improve fitness' as Specific; correct this by requiring the named component, such as cardiovascular endurance.
- Ignores the deadline when judging a goal; correct this by checking whether a time frame is stated.
- Chooses an option that names a skill but gives no measurable standard; correct this by requiring a countable target.
- Sets a target far beyond current ability and calls it motivating; correct this by pitching the goal just above the baseline so it is achievable.
- Leaves out the review date when applying SMART; correct this by adding a timed deadline for checking progress.
- Treats optimisation as identical to improvement; correct this by distinguishing raising a weak area from refining an already strong performance.