What separates a good coach from a transformative leader? Mental performance expert Dr. Larry Lauer says it’s not talent or IQ—it’s reflection, self-awareness, and putting others first.

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Dr. Larry Lauer, Director of Mental Performance at the USTA National Campus and co-host of the Compete Like a Champion podcast. Known for shaping the mental toughness and mindset of America’s top junior and pro athletes, Larry brings a fresh, research-backed lens to leadership in racquet sports. Together, they unpack the psychology of motivation, the power of mentorship, and how emotional intelligence impacts every level of coaching and management.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why true leadership starts with asking, “Am I doing this for me—or for others?”
• How to develop daily reflection habits that keep you grounded and self-aware
• The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation—and why it matters for long-term success
• How emotional intelligence shapes your ability to lead and connect with your team
• The most important skills directors can build to lead people, not just programs
• Why mentorship accelerates leadership growth—and how to find and nurture great mentors
• The mindset shift every aspiring leader needs before stepping into a new role

Resources & Mentions:

• Compete Like a Champion podcast
• Dr. Dan Gould
• Dr. Paul Lubbers
• USTA National Campus
• John Wooden

Hosts:

Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports education
Simon Gale - USTA leader & facility executive

Guest:

Larry Lauer - Director of Mental Performance at United States Tennis Association Player Development

Learn More & Get Certified

Racquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquets leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses—Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance—and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game. 👉 Learn More & Enroll Here

If you “can’t find good pros,” this episode shows why that’s on us—and exactly how to build a repeatable Coach-in-Training (CIT) pipeline that grows talent and your business.

Hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale make the case for actively inspiring the next generation of coaches—and walk through Simon’s proven CIT framework you can adapt at any club. Kim shares survey data showing only 17% of juniors had considered a racquets career and 60% hadn’t even heard of PTM programs, reinforcing why leaders must make the pathway visible and practical. Simon then breaks down how he formalized CIT—eligibility, responsibilities, and real benefits—so it became a staffed pipeline, not a summer favor.

What You’ll Learn

• Why “can’t find pros” is a leadership problem—and the mindset shift that fixes it.
• The one visibility move that instantly grows your coach pipeline.
• How Simon structures CIT levels so they scale without creating chaos.
• A simple compensation path that keeps teens engaged from season to season.
• The culture ritual that turns helpers into role models (and parents into fans).
• What to put on your website so talent finds you—not the other way around.
• The single calendar habit Kim uses to make coach development non-negotiable.

--> Download the COACH IN TRAINING Resource

Hosts:

Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports education
Simon Gale - USTA leader & facility executive

Learn More & Get Certified

Racquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquets leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses—Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance—and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game. 👉 Learn More & Enroll Here

Racquet Fuel hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Per Nilsson, head men’s tennis coach at the University of Florida, for a leadership-first conversation about college tennis. Per shares the two cornerstones of his program—deeply individualized player development and a deliberately small, connected roster—and how those choices shape culture, performance, and recruiting. He also unpacks navigating a mid-season transition at UF, why self-care makes you a better leader, and how building a community hub can future-proof the sport on campus.

What You’ll Learn

• The two cornerstones of Per’s program: maximize individual development while fostering a tight, small roster that pushes each other (think 7–8 players on a mission).
• How to individualize daily work so every athlete gets what they need (e.g., surplus-one patterns for one player, mental skills for another) instead of rolling out the same plan for all.
• Leading through a mid-year coaching transition: keep people whole in the moment, make the hard calls later, and align around a new vision.
• You’re never “ready”—learn faster: over-communicate up/down, ask questions relentlessly, and shape authority with clarity.
• Why self-care is leadership: turn the phone off, protect family time, then show up better for your team.
• Future-proofing college tennis: build a campus community hub (donors, fans, shared value) so tennis becomes “untouchable” when cuts are considered.
• Steal like a coach: Per openly “copies” what works, adapts it to his context, and keeps what produces results.

Guest:
Per Nilsson - Head Men’s Tennis Coach, University of Florida (Gators Men’s Tennis).
Hosts:
Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports education
Simon Gale - USTA leader & facility executive

Learn More & Get Certified

Racquet Fuel is powered by the University of Florida’s Director of Racquet Sports Certificate Program, the industry’s leading education for current and aspiring racquets leaders. Explore our self-paced online courses—Personal Brand Management, Operations & Programming, and Leadership & Finance—and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game.

👉 Learn More & Enroll Here