PCT is a cognitive training system that proposes, based on psychokinetic, innovative methodologies with objective results. Psychokinetic is defined as the science that studies what connects reasoning (psycho) and movement (kinetic). PCT aims to be a methodological evolution based on the principles of this science.
The PCT method was born in Italy, precisely in Bergamo, from a Perform – Sports Medical Center project – a sport and fitness reality whose sports professionals have many years of experience in close contact with high-level professional athletes.
In the world, we can find other similar methodologies, such as the “Footbonaut” at the Borussia Dortmund sports center in Germany or at the “Ácumen” facility located in Argentina.
PCT is a method designed for elite athletes, which combines the physical, tactical, technical, and mental components of sports performance.
By observing any sport, we can realize how the cognitive performance components have reached very high levels. The constant search for improvement indicates that attention should not be dedicated only to the physical structural aspect, but also to the special components linked to the subject’s thinking process and emotionality.
Once a certain technical and physical level has been reached in the performance of team sports, it is clear how the “evaluation” of the action and the possible “decision-making” of the player are fundamental pillars of his/her performance. These concepts fall into the definition of complex time of reaction.
Starting from this high-level sports performance concept, more and more complex problem-solving exercises are developed during the PCT sessions. Always specially train the aforementioned skills. It is possible to program the session maintaining the basic patterns of the sport (from the transmission of the ball for the soccer player to the service for the tennis player), or even use mixed exercises with characteristics of other sports (e.g. the well-known soccer tennis), developing very important coordinative skills for the athlete.
PCT can be considered complementary training to the daily team sessions for each athlete.
The objectives of the training session are the improvement of:
– Reaction times
– Memory
– Space-time orientation
– Peripheral vision
– Information processing and decision making
Most of the athletes that already took part in PCT sessions (both professionals and amateurs) have always shown great enthusiasm towards this method. Many players felt improvements right after a few sessions, especially during their performance. Improvements confirmed by time reaction test with specific assessment tools (BlazePod, ITBox). Amateurs felt they got better in daily life tasks, thanks to a better level of concentration and a faster-thinking process.
“Mirko Trapletti, originally from Bergamo, Italy, has spent several years training and mentoring youth players from various professional clubs and colleges throughout the Italian and American leagues – all the way up to MLS, NCAA D1-D2 student-athletes, and Serie A.”