With the year coming to a close, it is time to start looking ahead to the new year and set some goals for the coming twelve months, especially from an athletic standpoint. While there are no wrong or bad goals, it is very important to set attainable goals that you will be able to achieve. This is extremely important because if you do not do that and set goals that are out of reach, chances are that you will quit halfway through the year and get very frustrated along the way. So what are some of the goals that we recommend for this coming year, that should not only be attainable, but that should help you become a better athlete (and person)?
- Be more structured: This is something that most athletes struggle with! However, having a daily routine and a structured practice schedule, can lead to much better results and will also help you balance school and your sport better. Our advice here is to start writing down your daily schedule before each week and try to be as detailed as possible without leaving anything up to chance.
- Work harder: Sounds very simple, but yes, you can always do more! You can always add another 30 minutes to the end of your practice session or get up a few minutes earlier each day for a quick workout. This also applies to your academics. You can always add another 15 minutes of studying on the bus to school or spend a few extra minutes on your homework!
- Be more invested: Here, we are talking mainly about the recruiting process! And the same applies here, you can always do more! You should always try to stand out compared to other recruits and your goal for this coming year should be to do more than you did this year and do more than your competition. Some examples of how you can improve are showing more interest and enthusiasm during conversations with coaches, stay in contact with coaches better, or do more research about the schools you are talking to so that the coaches see that you are interested in their program.
- Play in bigger events: This applies more to individual sports such as golf or tennis and a bit less to team sports. However, you should always aim to reach the next level by playing against stronger competition. As a golfer, for example, if most of your tournaments this past year were in your home country, try to travel abroad for events whenever you can. Or if you played exclusively in junior events in 2025, try signing up for some men’s or women’s tournaments where you will face older and better players!
- Be kind: Last but not least! And this applies to both the recruiting process and life in general. If you are kind to people who you encounter and you treat everyone with respect, that will go a long way and produce a better outcome in every aspect of life. First of all, it will make you feel better knowing that you are doing the right thing. Secondly, in terms of the recruiting process, you will get better results. Coaches do not only recruit the best possible athlete, they also try to find the best possible person and teammate. So keep this in mind for the new year and try to be polite, humble, and kind whenever you speak with coaches and we can guarantee you that it will lead to great scholarship offers coming your way in 2026!