Hey Team,
This is Coach Max from Athlete Goals Weekly, your trusted guide for turning young athletes into resilient champions through smart, actionable coaching. As we roll into November, and the offseason deepens for youth baseball players, it's the ideal time to shift focus from the diamond to development. Last week, we covered essential stretches to keep bodies limber and injury-free. Today, we're diving into goal setting specifically, how to use S.M.A.R.T. goals to transform vague dreams like "get better at hitting" into concrete plans that lead to real progress. Drawing from my years coaching undefeated teams, I'll break down S.M.A.R.T., provide a baseball-specific example, and share practical tips to keep kids active and sharp. Let's build habits that not only win games but foster lifelong teamwork and grit.
First, what exactly are S.M.A.R.T. goals? This framework, widely used in performance coaching and personal development, stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It's designed to make objectives clear and trackable, turning aspirations into achievements. "Specific" means defining exactly what you want to accomplish – no fuzzy language. "Measurable" involves data or metrics to track progress, like numbers or milestones. "Achievable" ensures the goal is realistic given resources and skills. "Relevant" ties it to bigger picture aims, such as improving team performance or personal growth. Finally, "Time-bound" sets a deadline to create urgency and focus. In youth baseball, where kids aged 8-14 are still building fundamentals, S.M.A.R.T. goals prevent burnout and promote steady gains, aligning with my philosophy of tough but fair coaching that emphasizes effort OVER perfection.
Here’s a S.M.A.R.T. goal example tailored to offseason baseball training. Imagine a 10U player who struggled with hitting consistency last season perhaps popping up too often or missing pitches. A vague goal might be "improve my swing." But using S.M.A.R.T., we refine it: "By December 31, 2025, I will practice hitting line drives at a local batting cage twice a week for 30 minutes each session, aiming to hit the L-screen 5 out of 10 pitches per round, to build better contact and get on base more often next season." Here's how it breaks down:
Specific: Focus on hitting line drives using an L-screen drill (a protective screen placed in front of the pitcher during practice to simulate game-like pitches).
Measurable: Track success by hitting the L-screen 5/10 pitches a clear metric that's easy to count.
Achievable: Twice-weekly sessions of 30 minutes are doable for busy families; start with slower pitches and build up.
Relevant: Line drives equal base hits at this level forget home runs; a ball past the pitcher between shortstop and second base gets you on base.
Time-bound: Deadline of December 31 creates a short-term push, with progress checks weekly.
This goal isn't just theory it's rooted in real coaching. In my experience, staying active is non-negotiable. There's nothing worse than showing up to the first practice with an athlete who hasn't touched a ball in 6-9 months; they lose timing, confidence, and edge. That's why I always urge players to find a batting cage near them, even if it's a drive. Next commit to 10 minutes stretching plus 30 minutes of hitting weekly. Make this part of your S.M.A.R.T. goal to maintain swing mechanics and eye-hand coordination. For gear, I recommend a simple Tanner Tee and pop-up net setup, affordable and effective for home practice when cages aren't accessible.
A little background from coaching days: Take a 10U player on one of my undefeated teams who was average at the plate, often grounding out weakly. We set a S.M.A.R.T. goal: "Over the next month, practice in a batting cage three times a week for 20 minutes, focusing on line drives by aiming at the L-screen, hitting at least 4 out of 10 pitches squarely, to increase on-base percentage." After a month, to challenge him, we used 12U speed pitches in the cage training his mind and eye to react faster. It made his regular 10U games feel slower and easier. By season's end, he was hitting .450, with most hits being sharp line drives between the infielders. This not only boosted his confidence but taught the team about perseverance. As I always say, at this level, homers are rare and risky focus on consistent contact. Hitting that L-screen 5 out of 10 pitches in practice translates directly: In a game, that ball zips past the pitcher, through the gap, and you're safe on first.
My opinion? Too many young players chase flashy goals like "hit more homers," ignoring fundamentals. It leads to poor habits and frustration. Instead, S.M.A.R.T. goals emphasize smart work like incorporating stretches before hitting to prevent injuries, as we discussed last week. For multi-sport kids like my son (football, middle infielder in baseball), these goals balance sports without overload. Private coaching has its place, but team play builds character; avoid over-reliance on travel ball, which I've seen cause burnout and arm issues.
To get started, sit down with your athlete and brainstorm one S.M.A.R.T. goal today. Track it in a journal or app progress builds momentum. For more examples, like tailoring goals for pitchers with great command but average speed.
Stay committed, team. What's your S.M.A.R.T. goal this offseason? Reply and share!
Coach Max