THE READY COLLECTIVE TEAM

Dr. Matt Kritz, PhD, CSCS

 Human Movement and Performance

I’m a father, performance specialist, educator, and innovator with over 25 years of experience in sports and elite human performance, helping individuals and teams reach their full potential. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the performance coach for athletes in over 30 different sports, who have gone on to win more than 40 Olympic and World Championship medals. My focus has always been on building systems that enhance performance, prevent injuries, and support individuals in a more complete way.

My research and interest in sports biomechanics, injury, and performance mechanisms led me to develop a method for assessing movement competency, which helps understand which movement patterns can be aggressively loaded and which require more development attention. I’ve applied these principles and systems to help enhance performance and injury resilience in national, collegiate, and elite sporting environments.

As a father, coach, world traveler, and mentor, my perspective on performance has been shaped by diverse experiences spanning over 40 countries. What I’ve learned is that true human growth is driven by clarity, connection, and readiness tailored to individual needs.

From these lessons, I created the R1 Method—a holistic, readiness-based system designed to coach the whole person. By meeting athletes where they are, R1 gives parents, coaches, and organizations a clear framework for developing confident and capable athletes. More than fitness or training plans, it personalizes mind, body, and energy development so people don’t just endure the demands of sport and life—they learn to thrive in them.

I’m a father, husband, educator, Olympian, and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). My career has been shaped by a lifelong connection to sport and a belief that readiness starts from within.

I grew up playing water polo and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team twice, as part of the Olympic squad. Not making the final roster was humbling, but it taught me something important: the real game-changer in performance isn’t just physical—it’s mental. That realization shifted my path from chasing results to understanding what drives them—confidence, focus, and resilience.

Since then, I’ve worked as a mental performance coach with athletes at every level, from youth to professionals. I had the privilege of supporting Team USA Men’s Water Polo during their bronze medal run at the 2024 Olympics, and I’ve also worked with surgeons, special operations forces, and business leaders to help them perform under pressure with clarity and presence.

Out of these experiences, I co-created the R1 Method, a readiness-based system that develops mind, body, and energy together. The Mind pillar, rooted in sport psychology, helps us understand where kids are mentally—not just physically—so coaches and parents can meet them with empathy, build trust, and foster resilience.

For me, R1 isn’t about chasing short-term wins. It’s about transformation. It’s about helping young athletes feel seen, supported, and capable—so they don’t just play the game, they thrive in it and carry those lessons into life.

I’m a father, sleep scientist, dietitian, and lifestyle medicine specialist, and for over 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of working in elite sports. My career has taken me around the world, from swimming pools to rugby fields and Olympic training centers, and today I serve as the Head of Performance for the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee. Previously, I led the Sport Nutrition and Sleep Science team at the Singapore Sports Institute, where I focused on bridging research with practice to help athletes recover, perform, and thrive.

What drives me—both as a professional and as a dad—is a fascination with how our daily choices shape long-term health and readiness. I’ve seen time and again that performance isn’t built only in the gym or on the field, but in the hours between: the meals that fuel resilience, the routines that regulate stress, and the quality sleep that restores both body and mind.

One of the most powerful lessons came from my research with professional rugby players, where we found that extending sleep improved reaction speed, reduced stress, and accelerated recovery. That work reinforced my belief that the biggest breakthroughs often come from the basics.

That’s why I helped create the R1 Method. It’s a system that integrates mind, body, and energy, applying what we’ve learned in elite sport to make it practical for everyday life. For me, R1 is about more than performance—it’s about balance. When kids, parents, and coaches learn to fuel their bodies well, sleep deeply, and build sustainable habits, they don’t just perform better in sports—they gain the resilience to thrive in every part of life.