Goal setting is one of the most widely used psychological skills that practitioners incorporate with athletes.
Techniques like SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) have been especially popular and have shown clear benefits for improving performance and motivation.
However, much less research has explored the use of non-specific goals — goals that are intentionally broad or flexible.
Recently, a study by Williamson et al. (2024) took a closer look at this topic, using semi-structured interviews with practitioners to better understand how non-specific goals are used in practice and what effects they might have.
The findings were fascinating.
Non-specific goals were found to offer several unique benefits, including:
- Reducing maladaptive psychological responses (like fear of failure or overthinking)
- Increasing positive psychological responses (such as enjoyment and confidence)
- Facilitating personal growth
- Promoting flexibility and freedom in performance
Two types of non-specific goals stood out in the study:
- Open goals, like “see what you can do”
- Range goals, like “run between 40–50 minutes”
Both types offered different advantages.
Open goals tended to foster greater enjoyment and freedom by focusing less on outcomes and more on the experience itself.
Range goals provided a steady source of motivation and helped alleviate perfectionistic tendencies, allowing athletes to feel successful across a range of outcomes rather than only hitting a narrow target.
Why Non-Specific Goals Matter
Overall, non-specific goals can relieve pressure, encourage personal growth, and help athletes move away from maladaptive thinking patterns.
They create a more flexible, athlete-centered approach to goal setting — offering another powerful tool for practitioners who want to support both performance and well-being.
While specific goals absolutely have their place, this research shows that non-specific goals deserve more attention, especially when working with athletes who struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, or burnout.
