Goal setting is an extremely important and valuable practice, especially as an athlete, in order to excel at whatever it is we chose to do.  Setting a goal is choosing a target, or desired outcome, and narrowing in and focusing on it in order to achieve it. Setting a goal requires a mental process in which one must probe his or her own internal capabilities and desires, along with the external challenges and opportunities. After selecting a desired outcome as a goal, you should then ask yourself some follow up questions, such as: “What obstacles are standing in the way of accomplishing that goal?”, and “What steps can I take to overcome these obstacles?” Once arriving at the answers to these questions, you can focus on the task at hand. This process of setting a goal can help mollify, or even eliminate unnecessary, negative, and often harmful thoughts or anxieties inherently experienced by athletes while playing a sport. For example, we all know that when we make mistakes during a game it can take a mental toll, and can be hard for us to put it behind us and maintain our confidence and motivation. Succeeding at any sport is a process. Without the motivation to keep trucking through the game, we can find ourselves losing all confidence, and therefore do not play to the best of our abilities.  Motivation and confidence come with seeking out the goals we set: whether they are for the next play, the next game, or even in our career as a whole.  Just as each athlete is unique in his or her style of play, so too are the goals they set. For example, some make goals to score a goal during the next game, or to not commit any fouls, or to learn and practice a new move to perfection, or even to extend a career and become the star player on a college, or even professional team. When we set these goals, it prepares us and motivates us to do better during each game, building our confidence along the way.  Motivation takes self-discipline and a strong desire for success, and can be aided by inspiring words and performances from your coach and teammates as well.  Whether it be by a motivational speech during a half time huddle, or by boosting your own confidence by telling yourself you’ll do better next time, each little thing helps a great deal.