Leading American Training and Research Facility COPA STC and German Bundesliga Professional Soccer Club TSG Hoffenheim Announce Groundbreaking Science and Research Partnership
COPA Innovation Laboratories, owner of COPA STC, which is a renowned soccer training facility at the forefront of soccer talent identification utilizing cutting-edge technology, and TSG Hoffenheim, a top-tier German Bundesliga professional soccer club, are thrilled to announce their groundbreaking partnership in the field of sports science, research, and innovation. This collaboration aims to take another step forward towards revolutionizing the effectiveness of the talent identification process, and player development at the youth level, in the world of soccer.
- Walnut Creek, California -
- January 30, 2024
COPA Innovation Laboratories, owner of COPA STC, which is a renowned soccer training facility at the forefront of soccer talent identification utilizing cutting-edge technology, and TSG Hoffenheim, a top-tier German Bundesliga professional soccer club, are thrilled to announce their groundbreaking partnership in the field of sports science, research, and innovation. This collaboration aims to take another step forward towards revolutionizing the effectiveness of the talent identification process, and player development at the youth level, in the world of soccer.
Prof. Mayer has a relationship spanning more than 20 years with the TSG organization and its affiliated enterprises. He has enjoyed the confidence and a close working relationship with the club’s well-known philanthropist and owner, Mr. Dietmar Hopp. Mr. Hopp is one of Germany’s leading citizens and is the Co-Founder, former CEO, and former Chairman of Germany’s largest public corporation, software giant SAP. Together, Mr. Hopp and Prof. Mayer have taken a “Bringing Science to Soccer” approach to youth development at highly regarded TSG Hoffenheim Academy, one of the most consistent and highest-quality talent development academies throughout Europe.
Mr. Hopp has commented that “The TSG philosophy is founded on a developmental model which emphasizes educating players in fundamental aspects of both sports and everyday life….In this way, we want to encourage an active lifelong learning approach and prepare our young players with a qualified holistic education for the demands of later life.”
Through a strategic expansion, TSG Hoffenheim, also operates a wide-spanning, global network with clubs and training centers in Brazil, France, Portugal, Ghana and the United States. In addition to COPA STC, TSG has also established partnerships in the USA with leading universities and colleges, and the MLS side FC Cincinnati, front runner of the Eastern Conference in Major League Soccer in the 2023 campaign. All these organizations benefit from Prof. Mayer’s deep knowledge and experience and the talent base of the high-caliber TSG sports science team.
With a deep understanding of human cognition and social skills, Prof. Mayer has been instrumental in developing innovative methodologies to accurately profile athletes and predict individual performance and development behaviors. His extensive research and years working as a sports psychologist has yielded invaluable insights into cognitive and social skills, allowing for an expanded understanding of an athlete’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential for growth. For example, this groundbreaking work in cognitive diagnostics has helped distinguish the TSG Academy as a standout in both talent identification and player development. In just the last 10 years, TSG turned over 100 academy graduates into professional players reaching a cumulative market value of 300-350 million euros.
Mr. Hall first met Prof. Mayer in 2014, during his early research into cutting-edge methodologies and emerging technologies that he wanted to incorporate into a new type of private training center in the USA. This research eventually led to the creation of COPA STC, North America’s most technologically advanced training center, and its single largest indoor soccer facility. “I visited many leading European youth academies on numerous occasions, and while there are many excellent organizations, I personally resonated with the extreme competence of the TSG organization and their science-based approach. Their rigor and discipline are coupled with a certain moral integrity rooted in striving to make better people for our common future. This player-focused professional approach is delivered in a humble and unassuming way, and this sets an outstanding example for our own organization to emulate,” said Mr. Hall. This philosophy seems to mirror one that has been ever present in Mr. Halls business practice for decades and printed on all his company’s digital and published brochures, “Be Friendly, Stay Humble, Work Hard”.
TSG Hoffenheim is striving to be their best as a leading center of sports science excellence for identifying and developing up-and-coming national and international talents. COPA STC is striving to do something similar, by pioneering the notion that the same high bars of excellence that are found within an organization such as TSG, can be provided affordably and at scale, for all players from amateurs to professionals, within America’s “pay to play” soccer ecosystem. Both organizations have found a mutual harmony within their objectives and have pledged to support each other accordingly, through this newly established partnership.
COPA Talent ID partners, such as TSG.
Young members of COPA STC will have the unique opportunity to compare and contrast themselves alongside their peers in a relevant European academy setting, facilitated by COPA’s exclusive COPA Score assessment. Collaborating closely with COPA, TSG’s sports scientists are dedicated to enhancing and expanding the COPA Score, as well as broadening the database used for benchmarking purposes. Additionally, COPA is planning to introduce various competitions for its members, offering them a chance to earn all-expense-paid extended training camps at the prestigious TSG Academy in Germany. This remarkable opportunity will enable talented players to not only showcase their skills but also potentially unlock opportunities with some of the world’s most esteemed professional soccer clubs, thanks to the collaborative efforts of COPA and the TSG Academy.
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Barry McCabe, Sr. Director, Talent ID| barrym@copastc.com | (925) 357-8999
About COPA Innovation Laboratories: COPA Innovation Laboratories owns certain intellectual property, patented sports training devices, sports-oriented real estate, and the business of COPA STC. COPA STC is a leading Center for Optimal Performance and Athlete Science. COPA has attracted attention with its proprietary COPA Score, a Comprehensive and Objective Performance Assessment for soccer players. COPA STC is a leader in the use of technologically enhanced training tools designed to generate objective data to inform decisions, within its “laboratory-style” training facility located in Walnut Creek, California. With a strong focus on utilizing technology and bespoke processes, COPA STC conducts groundbreaking research in sports science and aims to revolutionize the player ID process and optimize athlete performance and development.
About TSG Hoffenheim: TSG Hoffenheim is a professional soccer club in Germany’s top division based near Heidelberg. Known for its commitment to excellence and innovation, TSG Hoffenheim has gained a reputation as one of Germany’s most progressive soccer clubs, and the TSG Hoffenheim Youth Academy in particular has secured a well-deserved reputation for being a highly effective developer of player talent. The partnership with COPA STC further solidifies TSG Hoffenheim’s dedication to supporting organizations that share similar goals, through knowledge transfers and other engagements. This partnership will also further advance the brand development of TSG Hoffenheim internationally within the host country of the 2026 World Cup.