ADVANCED TRAINING
FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
INTRODUCTION
 Interactive Metronome, Inc. was
founded in the early 1990's
 Patented IM program was introduced
for the first time in 1999 to qualified
professionals.
 In 2001, a new training protocol was developed for athletic
performance applications.
 Leaders in the field of athletic performance are incorporating the
IM training program into their workouts and showing impressive
results.
INTRODUCTION
Today, IM trained athletes and institutions include:
 TOP DIVISION I ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
Notre Dame
Syracuse
North Carolina
Miami
 PRO TEAMS
NFL Miami Dolphins
NBA Miami Heat
Miami Panthers
Significance of Timing
•One of the basic elements of our
existence
• Timing and rhythm play a vital role
in movement and the production of
neuromuscular efficiency.
• Planning, Sequencing, and Timing
have been difficult to evaluate and
improve, until now…
WHAT IS IM?
•The Interactive Metronome (IM) is a
patented, interactive training system
that accurately measures and
improves a person’s rhythm and
timing.
•By improving this fundamental ability,
IM positively impacts athletic
performance
HOW DOES IM WORK?
 During each  As the athlete listens, he/she performs various
hand and foot exercises for a high number of
session, the
repetitions to a rhythmic beat.
computer
produces a
metronome beat
heard through
headphones.
HOW DOES IM WORK?
Auditory guide tones provide immediate feedback, letting the
athlete know if his/her response was on time, early or late.
If you hit too late,
a guide sound
on the right is
heard.
If you hit too
early, a guide
sound on the left
is heard.
If you hit right on the beat, a reward
sound is heard in both ears.
HOW DOES IM WORK?
 The difference between the
athlete’s response and the
actual beat is measured in
milliseconds and a score is
provided. The ultimate goal is
to achieve a low IM score,
which indicates improved
accuracy and performance.
IM score (ms.)
Range
30 and under
Exceptional
31 – 40
Above Average
41-120
Average
121-200
Below Average
Why IM Works
Theoretical Concepts
 During advanced thinking and problem solving, the
ability to plan and sequence thoughts with behaviors
occurs at a basic, fundamental level
 IM physical motion exercises are used as “outward
catalysts” which help the athlete directly improve
neurological or “inward mental” function
Why IM Works
 Research has clearly shown
that the brain learns through
repetition of precise activities.
 By keeping the beat, IM
“trains the brain” to plan,
sequence and process
information more effectively.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Over a decade of clinical research on IM
demonstrates that gains in motor planning,
sequencing and timing lead to improvements in:
ATTENTION / FOCUS
MOTOR CONTROL / COORDINATION
MENTAL PROCESSING SPEED
OVERALL EXECUTION
IM TRAINING SUMMARY
Time Efficient
Format:
Training consists of 12 to 18 sessions over
a 6 to 9 week period.
Active Training
Process:
13 different exercises keep athletes engaged and
challenged.
Immediate
Feedback:
Auditory guide tones help the athlete achieve
perfect timing.
Builds Mental
Endurance
This conditioning process exercises and builds
the core mental skills essential for superior
athletic performance.
KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS:
WHERE IM FITS
IM TRAINING
The IM Training
program serves the
sports industry's need
for a proven, systematic
method to train key
mental capacities for
optimal athletic
performance.
Mental
Nutritional
Emotional
Mechanical
Physical
SPORTS INDUSTRY BENEFITS
 Establishes new set of performance standards
- For evaluation of new and existing players &
- For development of players
 Builds team unity & player confidence in another essential area
 Beneficial activity that conserves physical resources of players
 Productive and efficient use of time in off-season and pre-season
IM RESULTS
 Golf Shot Accuracy Study
 High School Performance
 Professional Football Team Results
Golf Study
Study shows significant improvement in the IM trained group.
Golf Shot Accuracy Study
 20% Overall Gain in
30%
Shot Accuracy
% Improvement
 35% Increase
for advanced
golfers who had
consistent swing
mechanics
28%
25%
24%
20%
15%
20%
15%
14%
10%
5%
0%
-5%
-10%
9 Iron
7 Iron
5 Iron
Driver
IM Group
Control Group
* Published in The Journal of General Psychology, March 2002
Overall
Golf Study
- Featured in Golf Digest
Magazine, February 2003
“The Interactive Metronome is the
hottest piece of workout equipment
on the (PGA) tour.” Scott Riehl,
head strength and conditioning
specialist for the PGA tour reported
that players Vijay Singh and Glen
Day trained on the IM and produced
an IM score of less than 15, “which is
a strong indicator of how good a
golfer’s timing has to be.”
St. Thomas High School
Team-Based Case Study
 All Varsity Offensive and
Defensive Football Players
Selected for IM training
 Trained During Pre-Season
(Two-Times a Day Practice
in August)
St. Thomas High School Team-Based Case Study
St. Thomas Aquinas Football 2000 vs. 2001 Season Comparison
2000
2001
Points Scored
(1st Half)
225
342
%
Improvement
52.0%
3rd Down
Conversion
% (1st Half)
40.9%
50.8%
24.2%
Total Fumbles
33
25
-24.2%
Total Penalties
123
91
26.0%
St. Thomas Aquinas Football
Group
(ShortImproved
Form Scores) 80%
IMProgress
Timing
Student/Athletes
began the 12
session format at
the 50th
percentile and
finished
at the 99th
percentile.
80.00
55th Percentile National Ranking
70.00
60.00
99th Percentile National Ranking
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
PreDay
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9
Test
10
Task 1 46.16 35.08 31.57 25.75 22.52 19.29 21.20 17.97 17.42 17.74
Task 2 70.11 51.30 33.33 24.14 18.88 17.87 19.23 16.52 15.43 15.38
Day
11
15.23
14.59
St. Thomas High School On-Field Performance
Turned “Rebuilding Year” into
Undefeated Regular Season
 15-1 Final Record
 2002 Runner-up Florida State Champions
 Stats comparison vs. 2001 Season
-Improved Offensive Efficiency
- Improved Execution, Especially at Critical Times
(3rd Down Conversions)
- Reduction of Mental Miscues, (i.e. Fumbles)
- Fewer Penalties (Classic Mental Mistakes)
The Miami Dolphins have added the IM training program into their offseason and regular season workouts to build and refine their players'
mental skills, as reported by the Miami Herald – Oct. 2, 2002.
The Dolphins offensive starters
plus additional key players
completed the IM program under
the direction of John Gamble,
Head Strength & Conditioning
Coach.
STAYING
FOCUSED
Dolphins Offensive
lineman, Brent Smith
keeps pace with an
Interactive Metronome
program - designed to
hone concentration,
mental processing
speed, and timing.
Dolphin's "Mind Speed" Pre/Post Testing Results
Pre Test
Post Test
90
83
81
80
80
79
78
78
77
75
77
73
70
70
66
62
Percentile Rank
60
58
57
56
52
50
47
41
40
42
40
39
36
34
29
30
20
10
0
16
6
42
Training on the program produced:
70% Increase in Time Accuracy
300% Gain in the ability to concentrate
in a "zone" like mental state
Over 60% improvement in mental
processing speed
IM Has Received Broad Media Recognition
 CBS Early Show with Bryant
Gumbel
 U.S. News & World Report
 Feature articles by leading
publications
 CNN International, WABC New
York, CBS, Fox 13 Tampa Bay
and more…
 Health Segments aired on 100+
TV affiliates and radio stations
“It’s a program of focus and concentration
enhancement that allows a player to better focus all
of his energies on the given task. If you have the
ability to focus and concentrate … then especially
in pressure situations you’re much clearer in your
thoughts and your view of what’s taking place.
And, therefore it should enhance the ability to
make big plays.”
--Tyrone Willingham, head coach of Notre Dame, interviewed
during ESPN College Gameday Special Report on IM
September 13, 2003