Professional Development for Performance Coaches
Designed for practitioners looking to implement neurocognitive training within their roles as mental performance consultants, strength and conditioning coaches, sports and performance coaches, sports scientists, team coaches, and tactical professionals working with first responders and members of the Armed Forces.
In Phase 1 you'll learn how to build and implement a research-informed neurocognitive training program for your athletes that improves vision, decision-making, and execution under pressure.
Level Up Your Coaching
with Athlete Cognition
Performance coaches know that how athletes see, decide, and execute can make the difference between winning and losing. Translating this understanding into a structured neurocognitive training program can be complex — even the most skilled coaches benefit from a clear, research-informed framework. This course provides the initial roadmap to take your coaching to the next level and help your athletes or tactical professionals reach their full cognitive potential efficiently and effectively.
A Research-Informed Roadmap
Build a Program That Delivers Results
In Coach the Cognitive Edge: Phase 1 you’ll build a structured neurocognitive program designed to give your athletes a competitive edge. Learn to identify cognitive and visual demands, target the skills that matter most, and structure your training so it translates directly to performance on the field, the court, the ice, or on the front lines.
Understand the Foundations
Master the 3 core pillars of neurocognitive training and explain why they matter for performance.
Identify Athlete Demands
Identify the visual and cognitive skills critical for your athletes’ sports and positions.
Train the Skills that Matter
Become familiar with science-backed methods and low-tech and high-tech exercises to develop the skills that drive performance.
Design a Training Session
Learn how to structure a neurocognitive training session.
Build a Structured Program
Use a research-informed template to stack your training sessions and design a program quickly and efficiently.
Integrate Progressions
Investigate how to progress your training as athletes improve their neurocognitive skills.
What to Expect
Six Virtual Sessions
Six 1-hour live education calls with Justin will walk you through the foundations, frameworks, and resources you need to build a research-based neurocognitive training program you and your athletes can trust.
Flexible Scheduling
Book the times on Justin's calendar that work for you. We recommend one session per week for six weeks, but you can also space sessions out to two per month.
Take it for a Test Drive
Plan to spend an extra 30-60 minutes on independent exercises between calls. These will help you practice and apply what you're learning. Justin will give you feedback to help you refine and further develop your knowledge, skills, and programming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is neurocognitive training? Why is it the "next frontier" in athlete performance?
Cognition drives performance. When athletes see, decide, and execute better than their competition, they have the edge. All athletes train physically, technically and tactically. More athletes are now training their mental game; yet few are training cognition. However, recent research and technological development makes it possible. Elite teams worldwide are looking for an edge and beginning to implement neurocognitive training into their development and training programs - and so can you!
Are neurocognitive training and cognitive training the same thing?
For our purposes, yes. Often these terms are used interchangeably. However, there is not a well-defined consensus term in existing research and publications. We typically use "neurocognitive training" because we feel it denotes more rigorous training than the term "cognitive training", which some associate with simple memory and reasoning tasks.
What level of athlete does neurocognitive training benefit?
Neurocognitive skills are most applicable to club, high school, and top ranked junior athletes, and collegiate up to professional and Olympic athletes. The skills are also applicable to first responders and members of the Armed Forces.
Are there continuing education credits (CEUs) available?
Yes. CMPCs may receive up to 8 CEUs from the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). You will receive a certificate of completion.
What if I already have a Neurocognitive Training Program?
Our Neurocognitive Training Audit may be perfect for you. Check it out here.
Do I need prior experience with neurocognitive training to participate in the course?
No experience? No problem. Whether this is your first exposure to neurocognitive training or you’ve already been incorporating aspects of it into your training, this course will give you the structure and confidence to bring it to the next level.
What if I am not working with athletes right now?
While you will get the most of the program if you can use it with athletes now, you are welcome to participate even if you are not working with athletes. Be a lifelong learner and pad your resume at the same time.
Does this course require special equipment or technology?
No, it does not. While Justin will introduce you to some high-tech tools you can use in your training, he will also teach you low-tech and no-tech ways to train.
Is the program I will build in the course meant for team or individual sport settings?
The choice is yours. We recommend focusing on individual training as there are less variables to consider and doing so enables you to personalize the program.
How does neurocognitive training fit into existing strength or sport-specific programs?
Various teams and settings approach this in different ways. Some train neurocognitive skills separately (as its own training block) while others integrate it into existing workouts or practices. Justin advocates for integration in order to maximize both efficiency and effectiveness. He will touch on this during Phase 1. Later phases of Coach the Cognitive Edge will cover more details about structured team training.
Can I purchase Coach the Cognitive Edge for my staff or team of coaches?
Certainly! If you want to get your staff on the same page, we offer team package pricing for up to 6 coaches. Please contact us here.
Does this course contain everything I need to know, or is there a Phase 2?
You can implement what you learn in Phase 1 right away to move the needle for your athletes. When you're feeling confident with your program, we recommend that you return for Phase 2 to learn about the science behind neurocognitive training, assessment and progress tracking, and the latest technologies to keep you on the cutting edge. Phase 2 is currently under construction.
What is your refund policy? Is there a set amount of time that I have to complete the program?
You have 14 days or 48 hours after completing the first session (whichever comes first) to decide if Coach the Cognitive Edge is right for you and request an 80% refund. The course must be completed within 90 days of purchase.
How do I contact The Excelling Edge if I have any other questions?
You can contact us here.
Meet Justin
Justin Foster, M.A., founder of The Excelling Edge LLC, is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant with over 15 years of experience working with elite performers from sport, tactical, and corporate arenas. Justin helps high performance teams and training facilities create neurocognitive training programs that reduce injuries, optimize performance, and accelerate recovery and return to play. His training strategies have helped thousands of high performers including elite military units, professional teams and NCAA Division 1 collegiate teams, nationally-ranked junior athletes, and more.
