Balance, Bounce & Believe A Practical Guide for Young Gymnasts
Part Nine · Tracking
Chapter Twenty-Seven

Goal-Setting Framework

A goal kept only in your head is a wish. A goal written down, broken down, and reviewed is a plan.

Written goals outperform mental ones because they force clarity and allow review. The most useful structure separates goals into three time horizons that feed each other.

The Three-Level Goal Structure
LevelHorizonExample
Dream goal12 to 24 monthsCompete at Senior Nationals
Performance goal3 to 6 monthsHit the bars routine 8 of 10 times in practice
Process goalThis weekPoint the toes on every giant

The dream goal gives direction. The performance goal is the measurable milestone. The process goal is the only one you fully control day to day, and stacking process goals is what quietly produces the dream one.

Make Every Goal SMART

Test each goal against five words: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. “Get better at beam” fails the test. “Connect beam acro series 9 of 10 times by the end of this term” passes it. Review and adjust goals every quarter: keep what is working, rewrite what is not, and promote process wins into new performance targets.

My Goals (Fill In)

Dream goal:

Performance goal:

This week’s process goal:

Review date: