The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), the country’s top developmental and competitive platform for elite female youth soccer players, has partnered with EXACT Sports, the pioneers in helping coaches improve understanding of their athletes’ character and mentality, to improve development of elite athletes.
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Richmond, VA, September 5, 2012 – The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has entered into a partnership with EXACT Sports to provide new resources to help players and coaches understand the psychological component of player development. The partnership
will provide ECNL coaches and players with scientific behavioral measurement and assessment tools to provide insight into multiple cognitive and psychological performance traits, including motivation, confidence, competitiveness, leadership and mental toughness.
The ECNL partnership with EXACT will begin with a pilot program of 14 #GoMental clubs across the country. Players within these clubs will complete EXACT’s online Mental Achievement Program (MAP) to obtain a comprehensive assessment of their mental and competitive psychological profile. The profile can be used by the player and their coaches to improve performance by understanding how better to manage stress, deal with adversity, or in a multitude of other areas. EXACT will provide instruction to ECNL coaches as to how to use the information in the MAP to improve the development and performance of their players.
“After reviewing a player’s unique MAP profile, coaches will better understand how to help each player better achieve their potential,” says Simon Clements, Soccer Director at EXACT Sports. “Coaches will then be able to use the information from the MAP and discussions with EXACT staff to maximize player development and performance.” EXACT’s MAP was developed by a team of scientists with expertise in neuropsychology, predictive modeling, and adolescent development. The MAP is used by the US Soccer Development Academy and over 60 professional teams in baseball, hockey, and soccer. More than 100 NCAA soccer teams also use the MAP to aid coaching staff and elevate player performance
“The ECNL is committed to finding new and innovative ways to help speed the development of the next generation of American elite female soccer players,” said ECNL Executive Director Jay Howell. “The EXACT Sports MAP provides another tool for coaches and players in achieving this goal.” The #GoMental program will be expanded to additional ECNL clubs after the conclusion of the initial pilot program.
EXACT Sports develops tools contracted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and has a scientific advisory board that helped develop the MAP tool. The EXACT technical team consists of experts in neuropsychology, predictive modeling, and adolescent development. The MAP is been used by the US Soccer Developmental Academy and various US Soccer Youth National Teams.
About ECNL
The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through improved competition, player identification, and club development platforms. The ECNL consists of the top 73 girls soccer clubs in the country.
About EXACT Sports
EXACT Sports, founded in 1997, provides a comprehensive understanding of the athlete so that all stakeholders in development – the athlete, coach and parent – are armed with tools to improve the athlete’s performance. EXACT is best known for tools that provide objective feedback to coaches on athlete behavior.