🔒Lock in: Set Goals. Stay Accountable.

Most athletes want to improve, but few have a clear system to guide their progress. Goal setting isn’t flashy, but it’s what separates consistent growth from wasted effort. If you’re serious about getting better, your goals should be too.

July 12, 2025

📰 COLLEGIATE ELITES WEEKLY

Issue 004 — July 12, 2025

Most athletes say they want to succeed.
But without a goal, success becomes a gamble.

We’re not saying you need to have everything figured out.
But if you’re serious about getting better, you need to be working towards something.

When there’s no target, it’s too easy to say “today doesn’t matter.” When you’ve got real goals? Every rep counts.

🎯 THE ATHLETE GOAL SYSTEM:

From Daily Grind to Long-Term Growth

Having a goal isn’t just about writing something down.
It’s about building a system that makes progress inevitable.

Use this framework to check in at every level — from everyday habits to long-term impact.

✅ DAILY — Win the Day

Focus on what you can control today.

Daily goals keep you present, intentional, and consistent.

  • Complete your workout with focus — no coasting

  • Hit your recovery drills (mobility, ice, sleep, hydration)

  • Log your training — reps, weights, times, effort levels

  • Track your nutrition and habits (what did you eat, how did you sleep?)

  • Ask: Did I get 1% better today?

🗣️ “Stack wins. Don’t let the day slip.”

📆 WEEKLY — Check Your Intensity

Zoom out and assess how you’ve been showing up.

  • Was I locked in, or going through the motions?

  • Am I training at the level I say I want to play at?

  • What part of my game felt strong this week? What felt weak?

  • Review your notes/logs — where’s the trend?

  • Recommit to one small focus for next week (e.g., mobility, mindset, leadership)

🗣️“Don’t just show up — show progress.”

📈 MONTHLY — Measure Momentum

Start connecting effort to outcomes.

This is where progress starts becoming visible.

  • What’s getting easier? What’s still hard?

  • Are your times, weights, or reps improving?

  • Is your confidence building or slipping?

  • Revisit your season timeline — how far are you from your peak?

  • Adjust: Do you need more work, more rest, or more direction?

🗣️“Don’t just grind. Know where the grind is taking you.”

🏁 YEARLY — Align with the Bigger Picture

Now ask the real questions:

Did all your effort move the needle?

  • Did you hit your goals? (Team made, starting spot, recognition, scholarship)

  • If not — why not? What was the gap?

  • What did you learn this year — about yourself, your process, your limits?

  • What needs to change next year? New goals? New approach?

  • Who achieved what you’re chasing? Learn from them.

“Great athletes don’t just train hard. They train with purpose.”

🧠 Pro Tip: Learn From the Ones Ahead of You

Identify someone who’s achieved goals similar to—or above—where you want to be.

Congratulate them. Share your goals. Ask what it took to get there.

🗣️The gap between where you are and where you want to be is filled with information. Close it by staying curious.

🔁 Turn Your Progress Into Outcomes:

  • Write your goals down

  • Review and update them at the start, midway, and end of each season

📣 COACHES CORNER

“You can’t hit what you don’t aim at.”

Derrick Daigre Jr., Founder — Collegiate Elites

Set a target. Stay locked in.

🎯 FINAL THOUGHT

At the end of the day, goal setting isn’t just about ambition — it’s about ownership.

It’s about taking responsibility for your path and doing the work it takes to get there.

Write your goals down. Track your progress. Ask questions. Seek feedback. Stay consistent.

The athletes who reach the next level aren’t always the most talented — but they’re always the most intentional.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start.

Keep showing up.
Keep closing the gap.
And we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.

✅ TAKE ACTION

📍 In Seattle?

Come train with us in person at the Collegiate Elites weight room.
Get hands-on coaching, structured training, and the same environment our college athletes trust to stay sharp. 👉

🧠 “Goal setting is one of the most overlooked tools in sports — but it’s the foundation of steady progress. Without a target, effort has no direction.”

🌐 Want to work with a coach who’s been through it?
🎯 Book a session with a former college athlete today at NILSportsTraining.com