While the course is available free of charge through YouTube, certification is exclusively available to Golf Coaches, Performance Specialists, Strength & Conditioning Coaches, and Sports Psychologists seeking to implement The GROW Method within their professional practice.
For a one-time fee of €189, candidates who successfully complete the certification process will receive:
- The official GROW Method Level 1 Certification.
- The official GROW Method Level 1 Badge.
- Access to our directory of certified professionals
- The complete course manual.
- Three years of active membership within the Cognitive Growth community. Members will receive quarterly newsletters, methodology updates and exclusive educational content.
This certification represents the first step towards becoming part of a growing international network of professionals trained in cognitive player development.
On-line Level I Grow Certificate
Content
1. Complex Systems Theory and Golf
This module explores the relationship between golf and complex systems theory, providing insights into player development and performance. It covers key concepts such as systems, self-organization, and resilience, and their applications in golf training and competition. The material emphasizes the importance of individualized training approaches and understanding players’ backgrounds for effective coaching.
2. The Governance of the System – Our brain
This module explores the governance of our system, focusing on executive functions and cognitive abilities. It covers the organization of the nervous system, neurodevelopment stages, and the role of executive functions in decision-making and behavior regulation. The module also discusses the history, definition, and development of executive functions throughout an individual’s lifespan, with particular emphasis on their importance in sports like golf.
3. Executive Functions and Cognitive Abilities I
This module explores the complex world of executive functions and cognitive abilities, their assessment, and potential damage. It delves into the importance of these functions in human behavior, the challenges in evaluating them, and the various factors that can lead to their impairment. The module also discusses different assessment approaches, including performance-based and rating measures, and provides insights into the main disorders affecting cognitive abilities across different age groups.
4. Executive Functions and Cognitive Abilities II
This comprehensive module explores the application of neuropsychology in sports training and competition, focusing on attention and memory. It delves into various types of attention, including orienting, focused, sustained, selective, alternating, and divided attention. The module also covers different aspects of memory, such as immediate, short-term, working, and long-term memory. Throughout the videos and documents, examples from golf are used to illustrate key concepts and their practical applications in sports performance.
5. Executive Functions and Cognitive Abilities III
This module explores the critical cognitive skills essential for golf performance, including coordination, perception, reasoning, and mental calculation. It delves into how these abilities contribute to a golfer’s success, discussing their importance in various aspects of the game such as shot execution, decision-making, and strategic planning. The module emphasizes the need for targeted training of these skills, particularly for junior golfers aiming for professional careers, and highlights how developing these abilities can significantly enhance overall game performance and adaptability on the course.
6. Brain Plasticity and Learning
This module explores the concept of brain plasticity and its connection to a model of learning phases in sports, particularly golf. It discusses how the brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life impacts skill acquisition, performance enhancement, and recovery from injuries. The module covers the three phases of learning perceptual-motor habits, the importance of contextual training, and the distinctions between linear and dynamic training approaches. It also touches on neuropsychological assessment tests and their role in understanding and improving athletic performance.
7. Neuropsychological Evaluation
This module explores various neuropsychological assessment tests and their potential applications in improving golf performance. It discusses the importance of evaluating cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive functions in players. The module outlines several standardised tests and proposes adaptations for use in golf practice, emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach that considers both laboratory-based assessments and sport-specific evaluations. The information presented aims to provide golf instructors and players with valuable insights into cognitive assessment and training techniques to enhance overall performance on the course.
8. Alcaraz Test Battery I & II and Cognitive stimulation exercises
This module explores the Alcaraz Test Battery. Designed for evaluating high-performance golf players, this comprehensive battery includes on-course tests, cognitive evaluations, mental calculation exercises, psychomotor assessments, andmasterclasses. The battery aims to assess and improve various cognitive abilities and executive functions crucial for golf performance.
This module also explores a series of cognitive improvement exercises designed to enhance golf performance. These exercises, some of which are already used by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation’s high-performance program, aim to develop various cognitive skills crucial for golf success. The module outlines ten different games and exercises, each targeting specific cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination. These exercises are adaptable to different skill levels and can be integrated into regular golf practice routines to improve overall performance on the course.
Estimated course duration: 3 hours.
Click to Start the Free GROW Method Course on YouTube
In-Person Level II Grow Certificate
This certificate will only be available to those who have obtained the Level I Grow Certificate.
The Level 2 Certification consists of a three-day intensive training program for a maximum of 2 participants. The program can be delivered at Club de Golf Terramar (Sitges, Spain) or at the home facility of the participating coaches. In such cases, the instructor will travel on-site to conduct the certification.
The purpose of the course is to provide golf coaches with a practical and in-depth understanding of The GROW Method. Through the application of the Alcaraz Battery and a series of advanced masterclasses, participants will explore rational thinking, risk analysis, decision-making processes, decision-based performance statistics, and the application of Complex Systems Theory to player development, golf performance, and game strategy.