Meet Matt Erdman | Athletic Performance Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Erdman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor in having success as a coach is being genuine/authentic with my athletes. Families and athletes have lots of options to go to for their training. When I meet an athlete, or begin coaching them, I do not change who I am to adjust for what type of coach they might be looking for. In being authentic with my athletes, they know I will not tell them they are doing well or making improvements if it isn’t true or we cannot prove their progress. With this approach, I am able to gain the athlete’s trust and create a relationship with them since they know I care about them and their progress more than just trying to keep them as a paying customer.

We are also concerned about making a personal connection with our athletes so we can help them with more than just physical performance. We have been able to help numerous athletes with mental blocks, find inspiration (internal) for their training and sport and not have to motivate them continuously (external), and shift mentality to have them appreciate their accomplishments while still aiming to improve and not only looking at things they could have done better.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was an athlete in small town Nebraska that had an opportunity to play Division I football (which was my dream). After I graduated I began working at a police department in Northern Colorado. I was able to meet some amazing mentors, and began sharpening my coaching skills in various positions during my 14 years as a police officer. During this time, I also began coaching in the weight room at several different high schools in the area, which ignited my desire to be involved in athletics again. I have spent the past eight years coaching school aged and early college athletes in their ability to improve their speed, power, and strength for their sport performance.

During these eight years of coaching, I have trained athletes in three different schools, two different private training facilities, and out of our garage while sprinting on the street and sidewalks. While the training facility we are opening is brand new, this did not take place overnight. We have lived in, coached, and invested in our community for over a decade, which has lead up to this point. Our goal is to be a training facility for athletes where they feel comfortable to come train, make mistakes, and be built up as good humans, teammates, and leaders in their school and community. We have to ensure that the character of our athletes matches their talent potential to keep them from failing off the field.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to believe in yourself, and if you want something, set up a plan to make it happen. In life, most likely, nobody else will create a position that is perfect for you and fits everything that you are wanting. You can either settle for what you are given, or take a chance on yourself to go create what you want and believe in your own self to be successful.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being a family that has four kids ages 11, 9, 7, 5, most of our time is dedicated to being with our kids and being involved in their activities. There are many great trails and natural areas that we visit, with our favorite being Gateway Natural Area. This is a perfect spot for kids to run around and play in the river, swing, and go on hikes. We usually spend several hours tossing rocks in the river whenever we go!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My amazing wife, Tara, has been incredibly supportive during a few life transitions where I have moved into coaching almost full-time. She has encouraged me and picked me up during times where my doubts would creep in. Without her, there is no way we would be where we currently sit. She is amazing and has my unconditional love.

Website: https://veritasathleticperformance.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_erdman/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-erdman-ms-cscs-531aaa154/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coach_erdman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coacherdman