Mat Herold

smherold4@gmail.com

I am a former D-1 soccer player for Fresno State University of the Pac-10, now Pac-12. Nowadays, I am a professional soccer coach and Head of Sports Performance. Prior to this role I lived in Germany for 3 years to pursue PhD in Science and Medicine in Football (soccer) alongside the DFB (German National Team).  

As for my playing career, before I was aware of sports science, I was quick and fit, but not powerful or fast. I was VERY injury prone. I could run the mile in 4:48 and the 5k in 16:47, but my 40 yard dash and vertical jump were horrible. Eventually things would change for the better and that is what much of this website is about. Like many of you, I was tired of struggling with various injuries and fed up with sub-par speed and getting pushed off the ball.  I was small, slow, and weak, so going into my senior year of college soccer it was time for a change.  

In the off-season I finally started taking strength and conditioning seriously.  Little did I know how much more effective skills are when you can actually execute them under the demands of the game. As the training worked I  became obsessed with the human body as it related to becoming the best soccer player possible.

Before long I stopped getting injured so often, my speed and vertical jump improved a lot, and had my best season yet.  Playing the likes of Indiana University, UCLA, Stanford, UCONN, Washington, Cal, let me tell you that running by athletic defenders at that level is not easy. But it finally became possible.   I was able to threaten in behind defenses, started jumping higher and winning headers, and was even called "a great ball-winner".

 While pursuing a Master's degree in exercise science I read countless books, served internships, and attended numerous seminars and classes to continue learning so I could keep evolving as an athlete and also help other aspiring athletes.  I have traveled to top clubs from around the world such as Vasco Da Gama and Sao Paulo FC (Brasil), Ajax , Feyenoord, and Sparta FC (Holland), Bayern Munich, Hertha Berlin, TSG Hoffenheim (Germany), Atlas and Chivas (Mexico) and the LA Galaxy (United States) to study how they prepare their players physically. This all began my obsession with training athletes and led me to research from the best in the world from track and field coaches to gymnasts to weightlifters and I have not stopped since.

I have contributed to Stack and Goal Nation,  and my goal with Hero Soccer Performance is to combine the best information on soccer training, health, mindset, and sports performance available in order to help as many soccer players, parents, and coaches as possible avoid the same mistakes I made.  At the same time, I will share not only the things that worked for me, but in addition any other discoveries that will help soccer players and coaches become better on and off the pitch. 

What you think, what you eat, how you sleep, and of course how you train, all come together to create the athlete and soccer player on display.  With so much misleading information on nutrition and training available to the public, I am on a mission to create an understanding about what works by giving you nothing but obvious results.