Learning to Set Process Goals as a Junior Athlete
Helping Young Athletes Build Confidence, Skills, and Positive Habits
With the Junior National Championships in Brisbane now complete, the season has come to an exciting close for many young athletes. For some, it was their first experience at a major competition. For others, it was another step forward in their development. Either way, this is an important moment, not to rush straight into the next phase, but to pause, reflect, and begin thinking about what comes next in a simple and positive way.
For our junior athletes, this stage is not about detailed planning or complex performance analysis. It is about building awareness, confidence, and good habits. This is also where parents and coaches play a key role in guiding the conversation and helping young athletes make sense of their season.
Looking Back: What Did We Learn?
Reflection is the first step, but it should feel simple and open.
Rather than focusing on results alone, it can help to guide young athletes with questions like:
What did you enjoy most this season?
What do you feel you got better at?
What did you find challenging?
What would you like to improve next season?
These types of questions encourage athletes to think about their own development. For parents, the goal is to support the conversation, not control it. When athletes start to express their own thoughts, they begin to take ownership of their journey.
Shifting the Focus: How, Not Just What
It is natural for young athletes to think about outcomes, winning races, running faster times, or placing higher in competitions.
However, at this stage, it is more important to focus on how performance happens, not just the result.
This includes areas such as:
Effort and attitude in training
Learning and refining movement skills
Trying new things without fear of failure
Showing consistency over time
These are often called process-focused goals, and they are far more valuable for long-term development than early results.
What Makes a Good Goal?
Instead of simply telling young athletes to “set goals,” it is more useful to help them understand what a good goal actually looks like.
A helpful goal is:
Clear – easy to understand
Realistic – appropriate for the athlete’s current level
Specific – focused on one thing at a time
Controllable – linked to effort or skill, not just results
For example, rather than saying:
“I want to win next season”
A more helpful approach might be:
“I want to improve my running technique and stay tall when I sprint”
These goals give young athletes something they can work on every day.
Why This Matters for Next Season
Focusing on simple, process-based goals helps young athletes build the right foundation.
Over time, this approach supports:
Greater confidence through small improvements
Better movement skills and coordination
More enjoyment in training and competition
A stronger understanding of how effort leads to progress
These are the building blocks that support long-term development within athletics.
