S2 Cognition Podcast

Dub Maddox offers his insight in exploring quarterback development at its core - how players process information, react under pressure, and execute with precision as well as why understanding a QB’s mental game is the key to unlocking performance. Whether you’re a coach, player, or parent, this episode is designed to give you the blueprint for training smarter and more efficiently, not just harder...

In this episode, LSU Softball Assistant Coach, Bryce Neal and Director of Player Performance and Analytics, Zach Jermain dive into the innovative approaches to player development and analytics in softball, highlighting the importance of integrating cognitive and physical aspects of performance. Bryce and Zach discuss the significance of swing decisions, and the role of data in coaching. They empha...

Drew Dunlop, Private Basketball Development Coach of The Pro Lane, trains players in the NBA such as Tyler Herro, elite international and college basketball players all the way down to the youth market. In this episode, the discussion works through the evolution of player development, emphasizing the shift from traditional training to using a CLA (Constraints Led Approach) when creating decision-m...

Jack Marucci, LSU's Director of Performance, discusses the integration of cognitive science and performance metrics in sports, particularly football. He emphasizes the importance of eye tracking, data-driven player development, and the evolution of coaching practices to adapt to modern challenges. Marucci shares insights on how cognitive processing impacts quarterback performance and the significa...

Ohio State Women's Hockey Head Coach, Nadine Muzerall, discusses her approach to building a winning culture in women's hockey, emphasizing the importance of trust, respect, and data-driven coaching. She shares insights on the significance of understanding individual player dynamics, and the innovative drills she employs to enhance skill development – including her “ice cats” drill that is one of t...

Ľuboš Bartečko played professional hockey for 21 seasons and he shares his personal journey of discovering cognitive testing and how it has transformed his coaching approach, allowing him to better understand his player's strengths and inconsistencies. The discussion also touches on the importance of adapting coaching methods to individual players, the role of parents in athlete development, and t...

Mt. Juliet Head Football Coach, Trey Perry discusses the intricacies of coaching football, emphasizing the importance of understanding quick decision-making, and the need for adaptability in coaching strategies. Coach shares insights on how to effectively implement practice techniques, leverage player S2 profiles for success, and build strong relationships with players to enhance their performance...

Jamie Tutko, LSU Baseball Director of Pitching Development discusses the relationship between on-field hitting performance and S2 testing metrics. He breaks down key categories such as perception speed, trajectory estimation, timing control, and impulse control, explaining how they correlate with on-field player performance. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding these metrics f...

Lipscomb Baseball Head Coach and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer, Jeff Forehand dives into the introduction of S2 cognitive training through Paul Phillips during his time at Lipscomb, and its impact on player development. He discusses the importance of understanding player deficiencies, implementing isolated, targeted drills, and the role of focus and distraction in training....

Dallas Cowboys National Scout/Special Projects, Klein Kubiak discusses the intricacies of scouting and player evaluation, focusing on the importance of intangibles, cognitive aspects, and the evolution of analytics in sports. We then dive into how understanding a player's cognitive makeup can significantly impact their performance and fit within a team, emphasizing the need for a balance between m...

14 Year NFL Veteran and Super Bowl Champion, Drew Stanton delves into the concept of impulse control, specifically in the context of quarterbacks in the NFL. The discussion highlights how impulse control affects decision-making on the field, pre-snap reads, and the pressures that influence a quarterback's decisions. The conversation emphasizes the complexity of the quarterback position and the nee...

Brian has worked at Elite 11, the youth QB camp gold standard, since its inception and oversees all elements from scouting, to drill work, to the finals MVP decision. Drew was an early attendee at the Elite 11 and went on to play QB at Michigan State and in the league for 14 years capping off his final season with a Super Bowl victory with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We dive into the evolution of qu...

We dive into the early days of the company, the evolution of cognitive testing in sports, the importance of measuring cognitive processing in athletes, the logistics that go into testing collegiate and professional teams, and the valuable insights gained from their work with teams like LSU and Alabama. We also touch on some personal anecdotes and travel experiences related to our work in sports sc...

Chapman University Men’s Basketball Head Coach and Host of the Slappin’ Glass Podcast, Dan Krikorian dives into the intricacies and challenges coaches face when understanding player’s on-court decision-making while also exploring the pain-points coaches have in player's on-court decision making. Then he explains the importance of understanding player dynamics and creating synergistic rotations bas...

Veteran Coach and former Wisconsin Herd Player Development Assistant, Omar Mance, covers the importance of data and analytics in basketball coaching. He emphasizes the complexity of decision-making at the highest level of the game and how data can help identify players with the capacity to excel in certain situations. Mance also highlights the role of coaching in helping players improve their deci...

The University of Alabama Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach, Ryan Pannone, dives into how S2 testing helped unlock innovation in his coaching by targeting specific areas for improvement and designing more efficient drills. He also discusses his approach of teaching, drilling, reading, and playing to develop players’ decision-making abilities, and emphasizes the importance of making mistakes in real...

Since going undrafted in 2019, Calvin Anderson has played in 46 NFL games and throughout the episode, he lays out his journey up to this season. He dives into the mental and physical challenges of playing on the offensive line and the importance of quick reactions and decision-making. Anderson also highlights the value of understanding the scheme and the ability to isolate and focus during high-pr...

Luke McCown dives into the complexity of decision-making for quarterbacks and explores the nuances of offensive schemes, play action, and post-snap reads. We also cover the evolution of offensive strategies and the impact of motion, as well as the cognitive and visual processing involved in reading defenses and making split-second decisions. Luke then details the complexities of reading defenses,...

Brandon, Scott, Will and Dub discuss read-react skills in quarterbacks. Specifically, the guys review Visual Learning, Instinctive Learning, and Decision Complexity, and how these cognitive skills translate onto the field. Coaches Dub Maddox and Will Hewlett talk about coaching strategies for these cognitive skills, specific drills that worked to improve performance, and configuring scheme and pra...

Co-Founders Brandon Ally and Scott Wylie discuss field vision in quarterbacks. Specifically, the guys review Perception Speed, Search Efficiency, and Tracking Capacity, and how these cognitive skills translate onto the field. Coaches Dub Maddox and Will Hewlett talk about coaching strategies for these cognitive skills, specific drills that worked to improve performance, and configuring scheme and...

Dr. Anne Shadle, Elite Performance Consultant and former New York Jets Director of Mental Performance, reveals the importance of controlling critical moments in performance and the role of intrinsic motivation in athletes achieving success. We also explore the challenges of integrating data analytics and managing the vast amount of information available to coaches, performance staffs, and front of...

Dr. Elizabeth Kensinger, Chair of Psychology and Neuroscience at Boston College, joins us as we dive into how the affects of emotional states and anxiety influence speeded cognition and quick decision-making. We also cover why some athletes succeed playing angry and why others succeed playing in a relaxed state.

Ray Gallahan, the Head Pit Crew Coach at Team Penske, details the science and selection process behind building a successful pit crew. He explains the roles and responsibilities of different crew members and the cognitive demands they face during pit stops. Ray also talks about the off-season and in-season maintenance of the pit crew and the challenges of turnover in the industry. Finally, he shar...

PART 2: Seth Haselhuhn dives into why normal brain games, apps, and other mechanisms can’t capture speeded cognition and why training in the environment in which you perform is key!

PART 1: Seth Haselhuhn reveals the importance of speeded cognition with Special Operations, how he's seen a huge increase in feedback sessions from operators after they've taken the S2 evaluation, and how they apply the science to their strict training regime.