Progressing an athlete’s cognitive training plan is key to continued development. Once baseline data is collected and assessed, refine the plan to match their evolving needs. This keeps the brain challenged and adapting — just like physical training.
When to Progress
If an athlete performs well across all tasks, their brain has adapted to the current load. That means it’s time to increase difficulty. The goal is to keep pressure high enough to stimulate change without overwhelming the system.
How to Plan the Next Phase
Use the data to guide adjustments.
If the last phase targeted attention and inhibition but progress in attention tasks is still low, focus there first.
A useful structure is to apply a task ratio such as 2:1 or 3:1 — giving more exposure to weaker areas while maintaining stronger ones.
Why Weaknesses Matter
Improvement comes from addressing what’s difficult.
Tasks that generate more mental fatigue create more adaptation. Fatigue drives growth by forcing the brain to operate near its limits, building resilience and performance under stress.
Encourage athletes to engage with these harder tasks. Like physical conditioning, the discomfort is part of the process. Over time, this strengthens not only skill but also composure and control under pressure.
Keeping the Plan Dynamic
Progression should always evolve. Use data from each phase to decide what comes next. The process is simple: implement, monitor, and adjust. This keeps cognitive training sharp and effective.