I've been thinking a lot about how we sport psych types typically talk about goal-setting in January and then put the topic back on the shelf to collect dust until the next New Year. For many athletes, however, the "new year" starts in the spring with a new season of baseball, outdoor track, lacrosse or spring soccer, just to name a few. So, now is a good time to think about what goals you have for the season and make a plan about how to reach them.

I've described the process of goal-setting in a training article on this site, so I won't repeat all that here. Instead, here's a quick tip about how to get the spring sports season off on the right foot:

You should make both short- and long-term goals. Most athletes think of their ultimate goal for the year, but they often leave out the steps they need to take to get there. To jump start your season, think of something you can do right now, something that can be completed in the next two week, and make a commitment to meet this goal. You might want to lose five pounds, get to the gym four times each week, or stay after practice for fifteen minutes to work on a specific skill.

There's nothing that builds confidence and a positive attitude like the feeling of having successfully completed a step towards your goal for the season, and making short-terms goals is a great way to start.