Neuro is a shortened version of ‘Neuroscience’, which in basic terms describes the scientific study of the mechanics of the central nervous system such as its structure, function, genetics, and physiology.
Ultimately Neuro Performance in an athletic concept is Brain Performance – Our brain functioning at its maximum possible capacity for more of the time during athletic performance.
The fact is that your brain is being trained all the time. Either by you, or by the world around you. You can either be passive and let it be trained by events, situations, and feelings as they happen, or you can be proactive in making sure you train your brain for elite performance just like you train the other 3 areas of the performance wheel – technical, tactical, and physical.
As athletes, we place a lot of focus on the physical, technical, and tactical skills required for our sport, but generally place less weight on the fourth area of the performance wheel – Mental & Cognitive skills. Or in other words - your brain.
All four elements are present to varying degrees in every moment of sport. They are also present during all forms of practice and preparation. They are called “coactives” because they both complement and rely upon each other. These four coactives must come together in a synchronised manner for the player to execute effectively. They cannot exist without each other. They are complementary, co-dependent, and co-reliant.
And when we think about Brain Performance in sport, we usually look at it from a Brain/Body perspective – The brain serves as the central command centre for the body, orchestrating complex movements, processing sensory information, and coordinating physiological functions.
The brain-body connection is vital for athletes, as it allows for precise motor control and optimal performance. Through the seamless integration of neural pathways, the brain communicates with the muscles, enabling athletes to execute movements with precision and efficiency.
And here’s the key bit. It can be trained.
Some of the best athletes on the planet are already doing it. Now you can too.
