PLAY #11 | Setting Your Academic Game Plan: How to Define Goals That Score
Setting Your Academic Game Plan: How to Define Goals That Score
Game Plan for Scholarly Funding
“I know what I want… I just don’t know how to make it happen.”
Ever had that thought float through your mind—maybe while staring at a college brochure or listening to someone else talk about their “5-year plan”?
Here’s the thing: knowing what you want is important. But knowing how to shape that vision into action—that’s where the shift happens.
Let’s Get Real: Big Dreams Need Small Structure
You want to go D1. Or be the first in your family to get a degree. Or finally pull up that science grade so you don’t feel your stomach drop when someone says “report cards.”
Those are good goals. Huge ones, even.
But if you leave them floating around in your head without structure… they just sort of stay there. Intimidating. Out of reach. Like trying to run a touchdown with no end zone.
So, let’s give your goals something more solid.
What Even Is a SMART Goal?
You’ve probably heard this in school already, right? SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. It’s one of those frameworks that sounds boring until you realize it can actually change how you move through your day.
Let’s break it down—not textbook-style, but in a way that makes sense for how your life actually works:
Specific: “I want better grades” is too vague. Try “I want to raise my history grade from a C to a B by the end of the quarter.”
Measurable: Can you track your progress? “Turn in all assignments on time for three weeks” is something you can measure.
Achievable: Be honest. If your last test was a 72%, jumping to 100% next time might be too much, too fast. Go for progress, not perfection.
Relevant: Does this goal matter to you? Like really? If you don’t care about the outcome, you won’t care about the process either.
Time-bound: Without a deadline, it’s just a wish. Put a date on it—even if you need to adjust later.
Let’s Try One
Here’s a loose goal:
“I want to be more consistent with my schoolwork.”
Now, let’s make it SMART:
“I will complete all my English assignments on time for the next 21 days to raise my homework average and build better habits.”
See the shift? Same energy, but way more doable.
Why This Matters for Student-Athletes
Sports already teach you this without calling it “SMART.”
You train for game day. You review film. You do drills. You practice consistency. And guess what? That mindset transfers.
You don’t need to become a whole different person to succeed in school. You just need to apply the same level of structure you use on the field—in a way that doesn’t burn you out.
SMART goals help you do that.
The Audible
You don’t have to fix everything at once. One focused, structured goal at a time can shift how you feel about school—and about yourself.
Because goals, when done right, aren’t just checkboxes. They’re reminders that you can do hard things… with a plan.
Reflection & Action Step
Before you go, write down one academic goal you’ve had in your head. Then rework it using the SMART format. Need help?
Take the Game Plan for Scholarly Funding Assessment to get clear on where your strongest areas (and biggest growth zones) are.
NEXT PLAY PREVIEW:
PLAY #12: Study Hall Strategy — How to Align Academic Goals with Sports Schedules
