Background: A decisive factor in performance environments is the coachs ability to set different types of goals in collaboration with his/her athletes (i.e., outcome, performance and process goals). This is especially important at major championships. Consequently, this study was conducted during the European Championships in Athletics among Swedish national team coaches (n=20). Aim: To study how coaches experience and practice goal setting strategies at Championship Methods: Data was collected during the championship using a questionnaire with a mix of fixed and open-ended questions. Results: The perceived pressure of participating at a championship is in itself very high. Therefore a majority of the coaches (60 %) used a process-oriented goal setting strategy, which according to the coaches provided a safer environment for the athletes compared to setting outcome goals. "As a coach you have to know what kind of goal setting approach that suits every individual athlete...this athlete, as a I coach now, acts far more differently than previous athletes Ive had at any Championships before " Most coaches set outcome goals when preparing for the championship, however in this study only a minor group of coaches (20 %) used outcome goals as a strategy during the Championship. "We always work with outcome goals because thats what competition is all about,...." However, as seen in our results, and in line with earlier research, coaches tend to focus more on process and performance compared to outcome goals when being at a championship. Discussion/Conclusion: According to the coaches in our study, it is important to constantly be permissive and reflective, to consciously affirm the athlete no matter what happens. There are great improvements to be added by learning and reflecting on the experience of being at an international championship, rather than only appreciating the performance outcome. Athletes are looking forward to compete and therefore they are also ready to work with outcome goals and performance goals. Hence, in our result coaches expressed that a sustainable development benefits from having process-oriented goals as "their main track". Further the coaches emphasized the importance of working with a process-oriented goal setting in close collaboration and involvement with the athletes.
© Copyright 2022 27th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Sevilla, 30. Aug - 2. Sep 2022. Published by Faculty of Sport Science - Universidad Pablo de Olavide. All rights reserved.