An Intervention: Application of Goal Setting Theory to Elevate Weightlifter’s Post-Covid Performance

Abstract

During the Covid-19 lockdown domestically the young weightlifters of a Lion’s Heart Weightlifting Club located in northeast Lahore Pakistan were forced to limit their regular systematic training which results in lost interest and intrinsic motivation to elevate their desired performance targets in a post-covid era. The objectives of the study were (a) to examine the impact of Goal Setting Theory on young weightlifters’ post-covid performances, and (b) to engage the young weightlifters in the routine mental practice strategy of setting and procurement of short-term goals for daily training predetermined performance. An experimental method based on pre and post-intervention was employed to compare the results of the sample. The result of an experimental group’s Paired Sample t-test, using the statistical package SPSS version 23, showed a significant impact of ‘GST’ (short-term goal-setting skills) on an elevation of the young weightlifter's post-covid performance. Therefore, it is concluded that to keep young weightlifters intact and focused on elevating their performance standards, coaches should help young weightlifters by allocating their daily performance training targets (i.e. short-term goal acquisition) moreover, teaching and giving them time for mental practice and strategy for the fulfillment of allocated daily training targets.