The Future of Athletic Mental Performance is Here
Elite teams' secret weapon for 40+ years—now AI-powered and available to every athlete.
There are athletes,
and then there are..
Above The Neck Athletes.
At Above The Neck, we believe that mental mastery is the decisive edge—and the earlier athletes start, the greater their advantage.
While most athletes spend 99% of their training time below the neck, champions know that mental mastery is the decisive edge—and the earlier they start, the greater their advantage.
Superbowl Champions
Athlete Assessments
Where do you stack up?
Above the Neck is evolving to be more than just assessments. It supports an entire ecosystem — from trait analysis to comparison tools and training platforms.
Our platform helps athletes and coaches optimize mental performance through comprehensive assessment, advanced analytics, and targeted training protocols.
Mental Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of cognitive traits that drive athletic performance.
Performance Analytics
Advanced analytics to track mental development and identify improvement areas.
Trait Resilience
Build mental toughness and resilience through targeted training protocols.
Performance Optimization
AI-powered insights to optimize mental performance for competitive success.
Mental Performance Analysis
Compare your mental traits with different athlete groups
Your Path to Mental Performance Excellence
Our proven four-step process helps athletes unlock their mental potential and achieve peak performance. This repeatable cycle ensures continuous growth and development.
Trusted by Champions at All Levels
"I've been using the TAP for over 30 years…It has helped me understand how a player will fit into a program. We have used this process over the years to evaluate both players and staff. I'm telling you from experience, it's very accurate. It can give you a tremendous insight into yourself, your program and your players."
BBBill Belichick6x Super Bowl Champion Head Coach, TAP user since 1991*TAP was used to help the Patriots choose Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft
Watch Bill Belichick talk about the TAP assessment at a high school coaching clinic back in 1999!
"Toughest question I got was 'Do you consider yourself a Cat or a Dog.'"
PMPatrick Mahomes3x SuperBowl Champion, 2x NFL MVPWatch Patrick Mahomes discuss a famous TAP question at the 2017 NFL Combine.
"Above The Neck's TAP assessment and training content took our players' confidence to new heights entering the season."
MWMike WhiteD1 Softball Coach, 8 WCWS Appearances & 2025 WCWS National Champion
"I've been using the TAP since my early teens, and it transformed my mental approach to baseball. The insights and targeted guidance helped me elevate both my on-field performance and classroom success. Above The Neck's system works and I recommend it for any athlete looking to level up their mental game - it increased my confidence and directly improved my performance when it mattered most."
GPGarret PikeNCAA D1 Baseball Player & ABCA/Rawlings All-American, 2025 MCWS Participant
"I regret not starting mental training earlier in my career, as I believe I would be a much better player if I had focused on mental as much as the physical side."
AMAshton MaloneyD1 Softball Player, NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete & 2025 WCWS National Champion
"For less than the cost of one private coaching lesson, the TAP assessment delivered incredible value for my son. We saw his confidence improve almost immediately, and his coaches noticed the difference too. The TAP is amazing and easily the best investment we've made in his athletic journey!"
MCMichelle CarmichaelCarmel, IN
Backed by Research, Proven by Results
Our groundbreaking research available in our paper, An Anxious Generation of Athletes, Too?, reveals concerning trends in athlete mental performance and provides actionable solutions for coaches and parents. Above the Neck's platform is built on four decades of validated research, including predictive studies with NFL players, MLB players and US Navy SEALs.
What is an Above the Neck Athlete?
A new breed of competitor who leverages mental mastery to optimize their athletic performance. Above the Neck Athletes exhibit these desirable attributes:
Mentally Resilient
Bounce back quickly from setbacks and maintain composure under pressure
Unwavering Confidence
Maintains strong self-assurance and belief in their abilities
Laser Focused
Sustains concentration while filtering out distractions during competition
Decisively Bold
Make quick, confident decisions without second-guessing