The MLB season his here which means high expectations from fans and players alike.
A great way for athletes of all sports to control some of these expectations and pressures is to set controllable and realistic goals.
One of the more reliable techniques is to set three types of goals – Outcome, Performance and Process goals.
Research shows that by setting these three types of goals impacts an athletes motivation, confidence and resilience.
These goals should be set out in the following order:
1 – Outcome Goals
Think of this as your ultimate goal, the one goal that you want to achieve.
This also needs to be a realistic goal.
Sticking with baseball as an example, sure a batter may want to hit .325 (for non-baseball fans that’s considered elite) but that may not be realistic and places greater pressure upon them.
Constantly failing to reach a goal like this will only dent motivation and confidence.
A more realistic goal to aim for would be to have a bat average of .260. Achievable, but also something that is able to be exceeded.
2 – Performance Goals
These goals are benchmarks you set for yourself within each match to try and achieve your outcome goal.
So, for this instance, if you want to achieve a goal of a batting average of .260, you’ll need to aim to get a hit at least once per-game.
This may be easier said than done – you’ll be tested within games so you’ll need additional mental skills to ensure you stay confident, focused and motivated when you may be struggling to get a hit!
3 – Proces Goals
These are the specific actions and habits you focus on to help achieve your performance goals. For example, if your performance goal is to get one hit per game, your process goals might include:
- Getting 8 hours of sleep to ensure you’re physically and mentally ready
- Setting clear objectives for practice, like working on pitch recognition or improving swing mechanics
- Sticking to a pre-at-bat routine to stay focused and confident By focusing on these controllable actions, you set yourself up for success without getting caught up in external pressures.
Setting goals isn’t just about aiming high—it’s about creating a structured plan to get there.
By breaking your goals into Outcome, Performance, and Process goals, you take control of your progress, stay motivated, and build confidence along the way.
