Racquet Fuel

1d ago

What happens when a Hall of Fame career ends and the real leadership work begins? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with Gigi Fernandez, Hall of Fame tennis player, Olympic gold medalist, and founder of Tennis for Hope, to explore what leadership looks like after elite performance. Gigi shares her honest transition from individual excellence to collaborative leadership, including lessons learned running major programs like Chelsea Piers and launching a mission-driven foundation after personal loss. This conversation matters for anyone navigating the shift from being great at something to leading others with humility, purpose, and impact. What You’ll Learn Why elite performance does not automatically translate to effective leadership How Tennis for Hope was born from personal adversity and community response The importance of surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you How ego can limit leadership growth and what it takes to dismantle it Why networking is a long-term leadership skill, not a transactional one How tennis uniquely teaches resilience, failure, and emotional regulation What legacy-driven leadership looks like beyond wins and titles Hosts: Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports Education Simon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility Executive Guest: Gigi Fernandez – Founder & President, Tennis for Hope; Tennis Hall of Famer & Olympic Gold Medalist 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

Dec 4

What’s Really Going On with Gen Z in the Workplace? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale sit down with leadership expert and author Tim Elmore to unpack the realities of Generation Z and how they’re reshaping the workforce. Tim breaks down insights from his new book, The Future Begins with Z , explaining what makes Gen Z tick — their mix of high agency, high anxiety, and a craving for authenticity. The conversation hits work-life balance, purpose-driven motivation, four-day workweeks, and how connection is vital. What You’ll Learn: Generation Z is rapidly becoming the core of the workforce. They bring strong agency but also elevated anxiety to the job. The Peter Pan paradox captures their tension between maturity and authority. Leaders must start with belief and understanding instead of frustration. Onboarding is a make-or-break moment for Gen Z belonging. Meaningful work and work-life balance drive their decisions. Gen Z is motivated by a blend of money and mission. Entrepreneurial, flexible environments keep them engaged. Connection > control when it comes to leading younger employees. Gen Z’s preferences will heavily shape the future of work. Hosts: Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports Education Simon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility Executive Guest: Tim Elmore – Author of The Future Begins with Z , Leadership Expert, Founder of Growing Leaders 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

Nov 20

What’s Driving the Explosion of Pickleball and Padel? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with industry pioneer David Johnson about the massive growth of pickleball and the rising momentum of padel in the United States. David shares his early journey co-founding Pickleball Central in 2006, what he’s learned watching the sport scale, and why participation curves are now shifting as the market matures. The conversation breaks down the real data behind growth trends, why multi-sport facilities are becoming the new norm, and what operators need to know before adding padel. They dig into staffing needs, leadership skills, membership models, and how hospitality ultimately determines whether a facility thrives. Hosts: Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports Education Simon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility Executive Guest: David Johnson – Co-Founder of Pickleball Central, Pickleball Consultant 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 racquet 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

Nov 6

What standards are necessary to build a successful club? In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Consultants Doug Cash and Ajay Pant about the importance of standards in business, particularly in the context of tennis clubs. They explore how standards define a brand, the necessity of enforcing them, and the challenges of managing high performers who may resist compliance. The conversation also delves into the consequences of lacking standards, the process of building a new culture, and the role of leadership in maintaining quality control. Both Doug and Ajay emphasize the need for transparency, team involvement, and the evolution of standards over time to ensure a consistent and high-quality customer experience. What You’ll Learn: Standards are essential for setting expectations before hiring. The bigger and more corporate the club, the more likely they have written standards. Enforcement of standards is often lacking due to confrontation skills. Standards should evolve as the business improves. Involve the team in developing and agreeing on standards. High performers can be the hardest to manage when they resist standards. Quality control is crucial for maintaining product consistency. Transparency with standards helps in building trust with employees. The culture of a business is reflected in what happens when no one is watching. Hiring for cultural fit is vital for maintaining standards. Hosts: Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports Education Simon Gale - USTA Leader & Facility Executive Guest: Ajay Pant - CEO & Owner of Karundy Consulting Doug Cash - CEO & Owner of CashFlowTennis 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

Oct 23

What does it take to launch a nationwide coaching initiative from the ground up, and make it thrive? In this episode of Racquet Fuel , hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale talk with Megan Rose , Managing Director of USTA Coaching, about how she’s leading one of the most ambitious projects in U.S. tennis history. From crafting the strategy to grow coaching pathways to navigating the gray areas of leadership, Megan shares lessons on adaptability, inclusion, and redefining success when there’s no playbook to follow. What You’ll Learn: How USTA Coaching fits into the “35 by 35” vision to reach 35 million players by 2035 The three levers driving tennis growth—and why coaching is the most powerful one What it really takes to build a national initiative from scratch How to lead with bravery and make tough decisions without losing empathy The biggest leadership lesson Megan learned from taking things too personally Why engagement—not numbers—is the real measure of success How to attract and retain more diverse and balanced coaching teams across the U.S. Hosts: Kim Bastable - UF Director of Racquet Sports education Simon Gale - USTA leader & facility executive Guest: Megan Rose - Managing Director and Head of Business Development and Operations (USTA Coaching) 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

Oct 9

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

Sep 25

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

Sep 11

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