behavior-based sports performance coaching.
Next PLAY
what we do
why next play
Next Play was built on a shared belief that people perform better when they feel prepared, supported, and understood within their environment.
Too often, athletes and coaches are asked to navigate high-pressure environments without the tools to manage mistakes, regulate emotion, respond to feedback, or build consistent habits that translate from practice to competition. When those tools are missing, effort drops, confidence erodes, and potential goes unrealized—not because athletes don't care, but because the environment isn't designed to support performance.
Next Play exists to change that.
By applying behavior-based science in a practical, non-clinical way, we help coaches and athletes build systems that promote effort, resilience, accountability, and growth. Our goal is to equip individuals and teams with a clear blueprint for success—one that prepares them for the demands of competition, strengthens team culture, and empowers them to respond effectively to whatever comes next.
Sports already run on consequences, feedback, and repetition—but most teams are never taught how to shape behavior intentionally. Without structure, teams often see loss of focus after mistakes, emotional shutdown or escalation, inconsistent effort, and strong practice habits that don't show up in games.
We apply evidence-based behavior principles in a way that coaches can actually use, athletes understand, and teams can sustain. No therapy language. No labels. Just tools that work in real practices.
who we serve
Next Play works with middle school, high school, and club teams, along with their coaches and coaching staffs. We specialize in supporting youth and adolescent athletes in environments where:
Athletes struggle with consistency or emotional regulation
Coaches want accountability without shame
Programs serve under-resourced schools or communities
Teams want stronger culture, not just better drills
Our services support coaches first, because coaches are the most powerful change agents in sport.
Gage Pemberton, MA, BCBA, LBA
Co-Founder | Performance Behavior Consultant
Gage is a behavior analyst, soccer coach, and performance practitioner who integrates applied behavior science with competitive sport. He holds a Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) licensed in Kansas and Missouri, with over seven years of experience in skill acquisition, behavior reduction, and team development.
Gage played four years of NAIA college soccer at Dakota Wesleyan University and competed at the semi-professional level with Woodland FC, serving as team captain. He currently serves as Assistant Coach for Woodland FC and brings over two years of youth soccer coaching experience, emphasizing accountability, emotional regulation, and skill transfer from practice to competition.
Chandler Givler, MS
Co-Founder | Performance Behavior Consultant
Chandler is a soccer coach and performance practitioner with over a decade of experience at the intersection of applied behavior science and competitive sport. He holds a Master's in Organizational Behavior Management and brings 10 years of professional ABA experience, specializing in skill acquisition, performance systems, and culture-building.
Chandler is a U.S. Soccer Federation D Licensed Coach with experience in Olympic Development Program (ODP) environments and PDL-level competition with the Baton Rouge Capitals. His semi-professional playing experience includes Springfield Demise, Sunflower State FC, and Woodland FC, where he served as team captain. His work emphasizes accountability, resilience under pressure, and measurable outcomes.
how it works
Next Play delivers services through two flexible pathways that can stand alone or be combined.
Pathway A: Coach Consultation Model
Scalable • Sustainable • Coach-Empowering
Behavioral Needs Assessment – We identify practice breakdown points, common behavior challenges, skill transfer gaps, and emotional regulation moments.
Translate Behavior Science Into Coach Tools – We convert behavior principles into usable coaching strategies delivered in a 1–2 page coach playbook.
Practice Design Consultation – We advise on drill sequencing, feedback timing, instruction-to-rep ratios, and public vs. private correction.
Coach Training Sessions – Short, practical trainings (30–60 minutes) on reinforcing effort, responding to emotional athletes, and building accountability.
Ongoing Feedback Loop – We observe, provide feedback, and adjust strategies. Coaches become the behavior change agents—not dependent on us.
Pathway B: Embedded Practice Modeling
High Impact • Experiential • Culture-Shaping
Clear Role Definition – We are introduced as performance behavior consultants—not therapists.
Live Practice Modeling – We demonstrate behavior-based strategies in real time: reinforcing effort, prompting reset routines, modeling calm correction.
Athlete-Facing Skill Language – Simple, non-clinical tools like "Next Play" reset routines, breathing and posture resets, and communication scripts.
Coach Shadowing – Coaches observe how strategies are applied, then begin using them themselves.
Gradual Fade-Out – As coaches and athletes internalize systems, our presence reduces to prevent dependency and build lasting culture.
Our Trauma-Informed Approach
Trauma-informed at Next Play means creating environments with predictable routines, clear expectations, no public shaming, choice within structure, and consistent, fair consequences.
We do not process trauma, explore personal history, or label behaviors as trauma responses. We design environments that support regulation without retraumatizing.
outcomes that matter
Practice & Performance
Improved practice intensity
Faster skill acquisition
Better transfer from practice to games
Culture & Relationships
Reduced emotional outbursts
Stronger coach-athlete relationships
Healthier team culture
Increased athlete retention
Next steps
Ready to strengthen your team's performance, culture, and consistency? We'd love to learn more about your program and explore how Next Play can support your athletes and coaching staff.
Here's what happens next:
Complete the contact form below with information about your team and current challenges
We'll schedule a brief introductory call to discuss your needs and answer any questions
If it's a good fit, we'll create a customized plan that works for your team, schedule, and goals
Behavior science fits performance environments naturally. Coaches want clarity, not clinical jargon. Athletes want expectations, not labels. Next Play brings structure to what great coaches already try to do—and makes it repeatable.
