January is a time for goal-setting and planning for the year ahead. Whether you are looking to make your high school varsity girls lacrosse team for the first time or looking to add speed to your shot or your sprint, it is important that you make your goals realistic and measurable. Anything is possible as long as you follow a few general guidelines for achieving success.

The first step is to define your goals. Have you ever heard of a SMART goal? This is a way to clearly state what it is that you’d like to achieve. Make it Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Putting your goals in writing makes them more tangible and easier to track. Make sure to keep your written goals in a place where you can see them daily to remind you of your goal. Share your goals with friends, family, or a mentor. They can provide support, encouragement, and accountability.

Top Threat Tournaments is here for you! Write out your On-Field and Off-Field SMART goals using our story templates and share them with us at @topthreattournaments, your club, and your friends on Instagram to hold yourself accountable.

Before you set your goal in stone, it is important to evaluate how realistic it is. You want to make sure you are challenging yourself, but not setting your sights too high. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are All-Americans!

Now let's break your goal down into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make it easier to focus on one task at a time and measure progress. Work backward from your achievement goal date and lay out what steps you should be taking each month in order to make it a reality, including smaller goals and milestones along the way. If your goal is to be fluid with both hands before tryouts, you should lay out a wall ball routine and practice plan that will get you there. 

Make sure to track your progress, evaluating and celebrating along the way. There may be setbacks or you may realize you need to make adjustments as you progress, and that is ok! Remember to celebrate your successes. Recognize your hard work and effort and use it as motivation to reach the next goal.

By following these steps, you will be able to set realistic and measurable goals for yourself that will help you achieve success. Remember, setting and achieving goals takes time and effort, but with persistence and dedication, you can reach your desired outcome.

About Top Threat Tournaments: Providing a platform for the nation's girls lacrosse players and teams, Top Threat Tournaments hosts premiere girls lacrosse tournaments and showcases predominantly located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and beyond. With a staff who has been in the industry for over 15 years, Top Threat Tournaments sources marquee facilities to best serve the lacrosse community. Each event is unique including options for full field play with top-level college recruiting opportunities, small-sided competitions, and showcases to learn and grow as an athlete. Our focus is on building a quality player experience to help athletes reach their full potential.