Step 8: Set Goals for Your Skating

Long Term Goal
This should be your ultimate skating goal. Your long term goal should be something that will be difficult to achieve but is also attainable. Set a realistic date for this goal; it could be as long as 5 or 7 years in the future. Examples of this could be: passing your Senior Freestyle test or Gold Dance test, qualifying for a national level competition or going to Adult Nationals. Be specific, do you want to win or just attend the event?

Intermediate Goals
Next, begin to set the goals for the steps that it would take to get to your ultimate goal. These intermediate goals will span the time between now and the date you hope to reach your final goal. They could be yearly goals or span more than a year. Examples of these might be:
2001- pass Intermediate freestyle test;
2002- pass Novice freestyle test;
2003- pass Junior freestyle test;
2004- pass Senior freestyle test and compete at Regionals;
2005- qualify for Sectionals in Senior Ladies;
2006- qualify for Nationals in Senior Ladies.

Short Term Goals
These goals will be more specific requirements for reaching your intermediate goals. In order to pass you intermediate freestyle test you must have two double jumps and a single double combination. So, one of your first short term goals might be to land your double salchow and double toe loop four out of five times on a daily basis. Short term goals must be updated on a regular basis.

Daily or Weekly Goals
Finally, you need to set daily or weekly goals. This week you might plan to focus on one jump and one spin. This does not mean that you don’t practice other elements, but it means that you focus in on one or two particular elements. If you were preparing for a competition, you might set goals for the number of program “run thrus” or the number of elements completed in each program.

Remember that goal setting is a guideline for getting to a specific point. You will need to update your goals on a regular basis. Be flexible, since you may have to make changes in the time span due to illness, injury or for other unforeseen reasons. Don’t be disappointed when you have set backs; just reorganize your timeframe and get focused on getting back on track. Goal setting is an important part of every successful athlete and business, so get started today and see how much it can help you achieve your goals.

• Marta Nilsen helps answer the Ask The Pros questions here at IceSkatingWorld.com. She is a master-rated coach teaching at the Lexington Ice and Recreation Center in Kentucky.