Today we have the honor of interviewing Brian liebenberg, Former French international rugby player and CEO of Catch and Think a leading brain training tool for teams and athletes.
Picture: Brian Liebenberg
The Catch and Think method combines cognitive training with specialized ‘Catch and Think’ balls designed to boost mental performance. The idea is to enhance attentional skills, decision-making, and focus through structured programs. Initially, they developed the method for sports professionals, but they quickly saw its potential for broader applications in fields like education, healthcare, and even corporate settings.
The base of cognitive training is when athletes get a stimulus or something that triggers their attention. If the athlete can link an action to that information, that’s when their brain has to process—take in the information, analyze it, decide, and then act. So, the Catch and Think method uses this principle to train cognitive abilities.
Picture: Catch and Think Balls
The Catch and Think balls are designed with a color code system that provides a stimulus. When the athlete sees a color or a code, it triggers their attention, and they link an action to that information. This forces their brain to process the stimulus—take in the information, analyze it, decide, and then act.
The balls essentially use visual cues, like colors or patterns, to stimulate decision-making. The idea is to replicate real-life situations where players need to quickly identify and react to changing conditions.
📝Show Notes: Through this interview, we touched on his background, his company and product, the benefits for sports organizations and teams to use his product. We also talked about his competitive advantage, business model, and his plans for the next 12 months.
You can read the full transcript of the podcast interview with Brian located at the top of this blog post.
Here are the quotes from the interview with Brian:
Q1. Tell me about your background.
"I was born in South Africa and grew up playing sports. Initially, I played soccer until I was about 13, but like most South Africans, I started playing rugby in high school. I also enjoyed other sports like tennis, cricket, squash, and athletics, but rugby stood out as my favorite and ultimately became my career."
"I represented the Sharks down in Durban, which is one of the top South African rugby teams. I was lucky enough to play there as a young player, but at 18 years old, I left South Africa to play in Europe. I started in Italy for a year and then moved to France, where I played in Grenoble and eventually in Paris for Stade Français. During my time in Paris, we won the French Championship three times, and I was selected to represent France in the 2003 World Cup and the 2004 Six Nations Championship."
"After retiring from professional rugby in 2011, I had to figure out my next challenge in life. Transitioning from sports to the professional world wasn’t easy, but I went back to university in Lyon to study attention and cognitive abilities under Professor Jean-Philippe Lachaux. This experience inspired me to create the Catch and Think Academy, which combines my passion for sports and cognitive training."
Q2. Tell me about your company and product.
"Catch and Think Academy is a small startup based in France that I co-founded with Dominique, my business partner. The company offers an e-learning platform with a variety of training programs built around the innovative Catch and Think method."
"The method combines cognitive training with specialized ‘Catch and Think’ balls designed to boost mental performance. The idea is to enhance attentional skills, decision-making, and focus through structured programs. Initially, we developed the method for sports professionals, but we quickly saw its potential for broader applications in fields like education, healthcare, and even corporate settings."
"The base of cognitive training is when you get a stimulus or something that triggers your attention. If you can link an action to that information, that’s when your brain has to process—take in the information, analyze it, decide, and then act. So, the Catch and Think method uses this principle to train cognitive abilities."
"At its core, the Catch and Think Academy helps professionals incorporate cognitive training into their fields, empowering them to improve performance through attention and mental clarity. Whether it’s an athlete improving their on-field decisions or a professional navigating complex work challenges, the method is designed to support and optimize performance."
Q3. On the color code system used on the Catch and Think Balls
"The balls are designed with a color code system that provides a stimulus. When you see a color or a code, it triggers your attention, and you link an action to that information. This forces your brain to process the stimulus—take in the information, analyze it, decide, and then act. It’s a simple but very effective way to train cognitive abilities."
"The balls use visual cues, like colors or patterns, to stimulate decision-making. The idea is to replicate real-life situations where players need to quickly identify and react to changing conditions."
Q4. What are the benefits for your customers to use your product?
"The primary benefit of the Catch and Think method is its focus on attentional skills, which are essential for improving performance. By working on areas like focus, anticipation, and decision-making, athletes and professionals can directly enhance their performance in high-pressure situations."
"We initially created the method for sports professionals, but we’ve since expanded to other sectors, like education and healthcare. For example, we’ve seen how teachers and students can benefit from improved attention and how physios can use it during rehabilitation to maintain cognitive engagement in patients."
"What’s exciting is that these skills—mental clarity, cognitive flexibility, and multitasking—are not limited to sports. They’re valuable in every aspect of life, from professional settings to personal growth."
Q5. What do your customers like the most about your product?
"One of the things our customers love is how easy it is to integrate the Catch and Think method into their existing training routines. There’s no need for additional sessions or re-engineering workflows—you can incorporate it into traditional drills seamlessly."
"Another thing they appreciate is that it’s fun and challenging. It changes up the routine, making training more engaging for athletes and professionals. This keeps things fresh and avoids the monotony of repetitive drills."
"Our method is also simple to understand. Athletes quickly grasp the concept and can progress to a challenging level that pushes their limits. Coaches also appreciate how visible the progress is—whether a player is focused or distracted is immediately evident, allowing for personalized training."
"Additionally, the method’s versatility stands out. It’s not limited to one sport or level. For instance, the same tools can be used by young academy players and professional athletes alike, making it an inclusive and flexible training tool."
Q6. Tell me about competitive advantage and business model.
"Our biggest competitive advantage is the unique Catch and Think method. Unlike other cognitive training tools, our approach ensures a direct transfer of cognitive training to on-field applications. This is what players and coaches value most—training that replicates real-game situations."
"We also offer a balance between technology and practical application. While some training relies heavily on screens or apps, our method integrates these principles into hands-on tools like balls and cones. This makes it cost-effective and accessible while maintaining its effectiveness."
"Our e-learning platform, the Catch and Think Academy, is another advantage. It allows coaches and athletes to learn at their own pace while staying connected for ongoing support and collaboration. The platform enables us to share ideas, learnings, and best practices among coaches and teams worldwide, creating a community-driven approach to performance improvement."
Q7. Which pro teams and athletes use your product today?
Top 14 Rugby Teams in France:
"We’ve worked closely with Stade Français, a top 14 rugby club in France, where they’ve integrated the method into their return-to-play processes. This includes rehabilitation after long-term injuries and even some concussion recovery work."
"Antoine Dupont, one of the world’s most renowned rugby players, used the method during his ACL injury rehabilitation at the Toulouse Rugby Club. The method was part of his recovery to help address cognitive aspects during rehab."
Broader Sports Applications:
"We’ve also worked with other athletes and teams in different sports, including professional handball, basketball, and judo. The method isn’t limited to rugby—it’s used across a variety of sports because attentional and cognitive abilities are universal."
"For example, we collaborated with the French Judo Federation to apply the method, even though it’s not directly sports-specific."
Soccer:
"One of the goalkeepers for a Division 1 soccer team in France used the method for personalized training. His struggles with decision-making and movement were identified and targeted during training sessions, improving his performance."
Tennis:
"We’ve also worked with professional tennis players like Hugo Gaston, a top French tennis player. His physio used the method for mental pre-activation before games, helping him focus and adjust his mental state during warm-ups."
Youth and Academy Players:
"The same tools are used for young academy players and professional athletes, which is something clubs appreciate. For example, at soccer academies, the Catch and Think method is applied to kids and pro goalkeepers alike, making it versatile and effective across age groups."
Q8. On Antoine Dupont, one of the best rugby players in the world, who has been using his product:
"Antoine Dupont is now probably one of the most well-known rugby players in the world. He actually used it after his ACL injury. There’s a lot of research coming out now showing that an ACL injury actually has an impact on the brain, and we can use multitasking or different ways of rehab for players. So Antoine Dupont down at the Stade Toulousain (Top 14) Club in France used it a little bit in his rehab."
On what the staff member of the Stade Toulousain told Brian about the session: "I did the session with the players, and it all went pretty well—nobody said anything. After the session, I went to the field coach, who was also a South African, and I asked, ‘What do you think? Was it okay?’ He said, ‘Oh, that really went well.’ I asked, ‘Why do you say that?’ He said, ‘Well, Antoine was part of the group, and if he didn’t like it or if he was getting bored, he’d definitely tell you. He’d probably just get up, walk out, and not participate anymore.’"
"If we could keep Antoine interested and part of the session, that was a little bit of a small success at that point in time. He’s just an unbelievable athlete, and working with someone like him keeps us in check and makes us want to be able to offer things that will stimulate them and help them progress."
Q9. What are your plans for the next 12 months?
"One of our main goals is to expand internationally. We’re currently based in France, but we’ve received interest from the USA, Japan, and South Africa. Over the next year, we’ll focus on developing the method in these markets, including training camps in Japan and initiatives in schools and sports teams in the USA."
"We’re also excited to combine the Catch and Think method with fitness training. By training cognitive abilities alongside physical fitness, we can help players make better decisions even when they’re physically exhausted—a critical skill in the final moments of high-stakes games."
"Another priority is developing new tools and techniques to enhance cognitive training. We want to ensure that players and coaches have the resources they need to improve decision-making, focus, and performance under pressure."
Q10. What is the best way to reach out to you?
"The best way to connect with us is through our website, catchandthinkacademy.com. We’re also active on social media, including LinkedIn and Instagram."
"I’m always open to exchanging ideas and learning from others. Whether it’s in sports, education, or healthcare, I’m passionate about sharing what we’ve developed and collaborating with people who are interested in cognitive training."
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