Updated October 2026
The signal between training and performance.
EchoDepth makes it visible.
EchoDepth, from Cavefish, is a communication analysis platform for sport and performance teams. It analyses athlete video, audio and text to generate a pre-competition Readiness Score, a Coaching Signal showing whether training messages are landing, and a Credibility Signal for athlete communication. No wearables; standard cameras are enough.
Genuine pre-competition confidence vs. performed readiness
Whether tactical communication is landing emotionally
Trust and belief in athlete statements and commitments
Each athlete's unique baseline for peak performance state
Coaches can see what athletes do.
Not what they feel.
The physiological signals that predict underperformance under pressure - suppressed anxiety, cognitive overload, hollow confidence - are invisible to observation and conversation.
Athletes self-report readiness because they believe it, because they don't want to be dropped, or because they feel they should. These produce the same words and different emotional signals.
Coaching sessions generate attendance and note-taking. Whether each athlete genuinely engages with and believes in the strategy - the variable that predicts whether they execute it under pressure - is never measured.
High-value selection, contract and recovery decisions are made on declared confidence. Nobody measures whether that confidence is genuine.
Performance psychology research consistently identifies pre-competition emotional state as one of the strongest predictors of performance outcome - independent of physical preparation. The elite athletes who consistently perform under pressure are not those who are never anxious; they are those whose anxiety is channelled rather than suppressed.
A quantified, pre-competition Readiness Score. A Coaching Signal that shows which sessions produce genuine engagement. A Credibility Signal for athlete communication. The emotional signal layer that sports science has been missing.
Where EchoDepth adds value in sport
Pre-Competition Readiness
Distinguish genuine confidence from performed confidence before competition. Athletes who say they are ready and athletes who are physiologically ready produce different signal patterns - EchoDepth measures which is which.
Submit a short pre-competition video or audio check-in. EchoDepth returns a Readiness Score and identifies whether the athlete is in their optimal emotional state - or carrying suppressed anxiety, overconfidence or cognitive overload that will affect performance.
Coaching Effectiveness
Measure whether tactical and motivational communication is landing. Athletes attend every team meeting. Whether they genuinely engage with and believe in the strategy is a different question - one that coaches currently cannot answer.
Record coaching sessions (with consent). EchoDepth measures whether each athlete is genuinely engaged or performing attention - identifying who needs the message delivered differently and which coaching approaches produce real commitment.
Selection & Recruitment Analysis
High-value selection decisions deserve more than observation and conversation. EchoDepth adds a physiologically grounded credibility layer to scouting interviews, contract negotiations and performance reviews.
Submit scouting interview or athlete recruitment recordings. EchoDepth identifies consistency between what athletes say about their confidence, form and commitment - and what their emotional signal actually indicates.
Athlete Communication & Media
Elite athletes communicate under intense scrutiny. Whether they project genuine belief in their form, team and goals - or perform it - is commercially significant for sponsorship, fan engagement and team morale.
Analyse press conference and media recordings. Identify where credibility signals drop, where stress appears under specific questions, and where athlete communications are likely to be interpreted as performed rather than genuine.
Standard cameras. No wearables.
EchoDepth analyses 44 facial Action Units using the FACS standard - calibrated across multiple cultural cohorts - alongside vocal pattern analysis and text/transcript analysis. Pre-competition readiness analysis requires a 2–3 minute video check-in recorded on any standard camera or tablet. No lab, no wearables, no specialist equipment.
Designed for high-trust environments
EchoDepth in sport requires explicit informed consent from all athletes. Analysis is time-bound, purpose-limited and never used for surveillance or continuous monitoring. All data is handled under UK GDPR with a signed Data Processing Agreement.
Questions about EchoDepth for Sport
How does EchoDepth help athletes perform better?
EchoDepth measures the pre-competition emotional state that predicts performance outcome - distinguishing genuine readiness from performed readiness, and identifying athletes carrying suppressed anxiety or cognitive overload. Coaches receive a Readiness Score before competition begins, when it can still be acted on.
Can this be used without wearables?
Yes. EchoDepth uses standard cameras for video analysis and standard microphones for audio. No contact, no wearables, no lab environment. Pre-competition check-ins typically take 2–3 minutes and can be conducted in any setting.
Is this suitable for team sports as well as individual athletes?
Yes. EchoDepth can analyse individual athletes separately and then map team emotional state collectively - identifying individuals who are carrying suppressed anxiety before a match, or where cohesion is breaking down in coaching sessions.
What about athlete privacy and consent?
Explicit informed consent from every athlete is mandatory. Analysis is time-bound and purpose-limited. Results are shared with the athlete as well as the coaching team. EchoDepth is designed for collaborative performance improvement - not surveillance.
Can EchoDepth analysis be used in selection decisions?
EchoDepth provides data to inform selection discussions - it does not make selection decisions. All selection outcomes require human judgment, and EchoDepth analysis is one input among many. Any selection process using EchoDepth data must be designed with athlete awareness and a clear appeals process.
How can coaches measure whether an athlete is ready to compete?
Coaches measure pre-competition readiness with EchoDepth, which produces a Readiness Score from 0 to 100 that distinguishes genuine confidence from performed confidence. The athlete records a 2–3 minute video check-in in any setting, on any standard camera or tablet, with no lab, no wearables and no specialist equipment. EchoDepth analyses 44 facial Action Units using the FACS standard, calibrated across multiple cultural cohorts, alongside vocal pattern analysis and text or transcript analysis, with all modalities combined for highest signal accuracy. The score flags athletes carrying suppressed anxiety, overconfidence or cognitive overload that will affect performance, while there is still time to adjust preparation. Coaches receive the score before competition begins, when it can still be acted on. Explicit informed consent is required from every athlete, analysis is time-bound and purpose-limited, and results are shared with the athlete as well as the coaching team.
Measure what your athletes are actually feeling
Submit pre-competition or coaching session recordings. We return a Readiness Score and Coaching Signal within 5 working days.