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Greatness in sport isn’t just about physical ability.
It’s about what happens in the mind, under pressure, when it matters most.
The Sports Emotional Skills Index (ESi) measures the emotional skills that drive peak performance - so you can train your mind as hard as your body.
Discover how assessments can make a HUGE difference to your performance…
The Sports Emotional Skills Index (ESi) is a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment designed for athletes seeking to enhance their performance by mastering the mental aspects of sport.
It’s more than a test. It’s a mirror - reflecting both your strengths and the blind spots in your mental game. The ESi reveals how you handle pressure, bounce back from setbacks, and stay motivated, providing a clear snapshot of your mental approach.
With these insights, you can train your mind as purposefully as your body, unlocking greater confidence, resilience, and focus for every performance.

You can now measure how athletes use emotional intelligence when practising or competing. Yes, you heard me right - you can measure and develop an athlete's emotional intelligence in sports!
I'm one of a handful of certified mental skills coaches accredited to use the Emotional Intelligence Sports Inventory (ESi) - the world's first assessment tool to measure key performance competencies.
The assessment compares your performance to that of the world's top athletes. It provides practical strategies to help you maximise your potential and become a consistent, sustainable high performer.
Develop mental resilience to remain self-motivated and sustain a competitive edge.
Enables you to take emotional control in response to frustration and disappointment.
Learn strategies to stay mentally alert and focused, enabling you to deal with distractions and competitive pressures.
Understand how negative emotions are holding you back in competition situations.
The ESi Sports Report measures your key performance competencies and provides a snapshot of your global emotional intelligence score, as well as your scores on each competency.
It builds mental toughness, enabling you to remain self-motivated and sustain a competitive edge.
When the athlete completes the assessment, scores are calculated, and a fully customised 18-page coaching report is produced, highlighting strengths and development areas across 10 performance competencies.
In addition to the results, the report offers suggestions and exercises to strengthen a specific competency.
A personal Action Plan is also provided to help build the skills and resources necessary for responding to the challenges of sports competition.
No guesswork. No fluff. Just actionable insights.

Whether you’re striving for a breakthrough or chasing the next level, the Sports ESi is your starting point.

Skills, physicality and tactical ability are key to playing sports well. But I know mindset is essential, too, especially for elite athletes. That’s why I’d recommend Mark to any coach or athlete who wants to take performance to the next level.

Steve Shortland, Director of Sport & former England U16 Rugby Coach Wellington College, Crowthorne in Berkshire
Mark’s work helps athletes develop an awareness mindset that allows them to recognise the controllable whilst playing in an International arena.

David Muckalt, Director of Sport St Bede's College in Manchester
Mark’s workshops and programmes help your athletes develop that mental edge to perform consistently and deliver even under pressure.

Martin Pepper, Assistant Head of Barnard Castle School, Teesdale in County Durham
Discover how assessments can make a HUGE difference to your performance…

Copyright © Mark Russell Inspired Performance Coaching. 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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