Goal Setting: The Control Test

Striking a balance between encouraging goal setting for older youth and discouraging them from aiming too high can be very tricky. The Control Test for setting goals can help youth identify goals where they have control over the action and the outcome, making successful attainment of their goal achievable.

Use these two questions to help youth determine if a goal is sure to be accomplished:

Does the youth have control over what they want to do?

Does the action part of the goal tell what they will do?

Good examples of the Goal Setting Control Test might be:

• “I will shoot 50 foul shots every day.”
• “I will learn to identify ten kinds of trees this fall.”

Poor examples of the Control Test might be:

• “I will make furniture out of an oak tree this fall.”
• “I will win the MVP award at the basketball state championships.” 

If the action mentioned in the goal is what someone else will do, it does not pass the control test. If the outcome is based on other people's efforts or judgement, then the goal also does not pass the control test. It is good to aim high, but it is also important not to focus solely on the outcome.

Watch this video of Rocky Balboa as he trained for his big fight. All he had control over was his own effort…not the outcome of his boxing match!