New Year’s Goals for Kids: Building Success Step by Step

 A new year is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and set new goals. Whether you run with EDT or just enjoy being active, learning how to set goals can help you grow as an athlete—and as a person.

There’s a well-known quote that says:

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

What you believe about yourself matters. Confidence helps you try, effort helps you improve, and consistency helps you succeed.

Big Goals Start Small

Big goals are exciting—but they are not achieved by one huge effort.

They are built by:

Small steps

• Repeated effort

• Showing up every day

• Trusting the process

Progress happens over time, not overnight.

How to Set Smart Goals

Use these guidelines when setting goals for the new year:

• Be ambitious but realistic: Goals should challenge you without feeling impossible.

• Look at previous marks: Past races and workouts show where you are now and help guide where you can go next.

• Ask trusted people for advice: Coaches understand training and development and can help set healthy, achievable goals.

• Expect setbacks: Bad races, missed goals, and tough days will happen—and that’s okay.

• Learn from mistakes: Setbacks only become failures if you ignore the lesson.

What Really Leads to Success

Success doesn’t come from one great workout. It comes from mastering the basics.

Consistency

Showing up and not missing practices matters more than being perfect.

• Fueling your body: You need both quality food and enough food to support growth and recovery. Yes—chocolate milk counts as great recovery fuel.

• Rest and recovery: Your body gets stronger when you rest, especially during sleep.

• Strength training: Lifting, plyometrics, agility, and coordination help improve performance and prevent injuries.

Fun Is Not Optional

Running is hard. Really hard.

You won’t see many people laughing during tough repeats.

But fun and enjoyment matter!

• Bonding with teammates

• Feeling proud after a hard workout

• Traveling to meets

• Earning a new PR

• Sharing a joke with a coach

When you enjoy the process, improvement follows.

Take the First Step

Set goals. Trust the process. Keep showing up.

You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to start.

EDT is here to help guide you, support you, and grow with you every step of the way.