Racquet Fuel Athlete+

There is high demand for teaching professionals in the industry, but is the current tennis and racquets teaching profession appealing for the next generation of workers??  It doesn’t appear to be.
From research, we know that the current 6 OR 7 DAY WORK WEEK that is industry norm is the number 1 reason that the industry has trouble retaining and attracting talent. For this reason, we are revisiting the discussion of the 5-day work week, that was first introduced by Simon and Kim in Episode 1 of Season 1.
 
The USTA National Campus staff has now experienced 18 months with a 5-day workweek, so Simon is able to share real data from the transition he instigated. To discuss their experiences after the transition, campus pros Dishon Deering and Bailey Robinson join the podcast and share about their new life balance from the point of view of a coach. 
If you're in the position of hiring staff or thinking through your own next position, it’s important to know the science behind “best work performance” and what elements are necessary to keep a person thriving and engaged in their workplace.
Episode Highlights
The majority of tennis industry professionals work six to seven days a week, leading to burnout and a lack of work-life balance.Implementing a five-day work week can improve the well-being and job satisfaction of pros.Selling oneself and effectively managing schedules are important skills for professionals to have to both build a book of business and to ensure a successful transition to a shorter work week.Cultural differences play a role in work-life balance, with some countries prioritizing rest and recovery.Offering a more sustainable work schedule can attract and retain talent in the tennis industry.
Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the industry? Become a PTR- or USPTA-Certified Director of Racquet Sports. Visit our website to learn more!

Emma Wells, a successful coach, leader, business owner, and educator from the UK, shares her journey and experiences in the tennis industry. She discusses her early experiences in coaching and how she fell in love with tennis at a young age. On this podcast episode, she shares how she built her own successful business by focusing on branding and creating a unique customer experience wile also creating a positive team culture. Together with Kim Bastable and Simon Gale, Emma discusses the challenges of hiring in the UK due to Brexit and the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce.
Connect with Emma Wells on LinkedIn
Tennis in Wimbledon Park and Roehampton
Episode Highlights
Building a strong brand and creating a unique customer experience are essential for success in the tennis industry.Managing people and holding them accountable is crucial for maintaining a positive team culture and driving the business forward.The impact of Brexit and COVID-19 has presented challenges in hiring and maintaining a workforce.Inspiring women and promoting female leadership in tennis is important for creating a more diverse and inclusive industry.Constantly absorbing experiences and learning is key to personal and professional growth in the tennis industry.Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the industry? Become a PTR- or USPTA-Certified Director of Racquet Sports. Visit our website to learn more!

In this episode, Three and Jackie Carpenter discuss their book 'People First' and the importance of prioritizing employees and creating a positive work culture. They emphasize the need for leaders to define the mission, vision, and purpose of their organizations and to invest in their employees' growth and development. The conversation also touches on the challenges of hiring and retention, the shift from individualistic to collaborative leadership in the tennis industry, and the impact of loneliness on employees. The key takeaway is that leaders need to be brave, disrupt the status quo, and genuinely care about their employees.

Episode Highlights
The importance of prioritizing employees and creating a positive work culture.What it means to have a mission, vision, and purpose of your organization - which many clubs don't have.Ways you can invest in your employees' growth and development so they don't want to leave.Just because that's how it's been done, doesn't mean it's how it should be done: Advice about being brave, disrupting the status quo, and genuinely caring about your employees.Buy their book! https://threeandjackie.com/book/people-first/Find them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/three-jackie/Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threeandjackie/
Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the industry? Become a PTR- or USPTA-Certified Director of Racquet Sports. Visit our website to learn more!

Omar Trevino and Alejandra Suarez share their journey of opening a new club, built from the ground up: North Texas Racquet Club. They discuss the facility's overview, challenges faced during the building process, and Omar and Alejandra’s transition from the corporate and education worlds, respectively, to club ownership.
 
Emphasizing the importance of taking risks, surrounding yourself with the right people, and staying positive, the conversation highlights the fulfillment of pursuing dreams and the gratitude for the opportunities provided by the American dream. 
https://northtexasracquetclub.com/
 
Episode Highlights:
How to take risks and pursue your dreams, as no one will give it to youWhat happens when you surround yourself with the right people who share your vision and valuesWhen times get challenging, the need to stay positive and believe in your goalsThe value of reflecting along the journey, even amid the chaos and challenge of getting the doors openLooking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the industry? Become a PTR- or USPTA-Certified Director of Racquet Sports. Visit our website to learn more! 

In this episode, Simon Gale and Kim Bastable recap highlights from the first two seasons of the Racquet Fuel podcast. They discuss the challenges of attracting young people to the racquets industry and the evolving  and quite complicated landscape of racquet sports. They also explore the importance of mentoring and growing others, as well as the need to delegate and empower team members. The conversation touches on the shift from play to programming in tennis and the influence of pickleball and Padel on tennis programming.
Stay tuned to the end to find out what to expect for Season 3 – with a new episode publishing each week in April and May.
Episode Highlights:
The racquets industry needs to do a better job of attracting young people and promoting tennis and racquet sports coaching and leadership as a viable career option.The role of a Racquets Director is evolving, with a focus on leadership and managing multiple racquet sports.Mentoring and growing others is an important aspect of leadership in the tennis industry. People inside the industry are responsible for growing the next generation of coaches.Delegating and empowering team members is a skill that leaders need to develop and one that’s often hard for tennis players, especially, since it’s a very individual sport where players learn to rely only on themselves.There is a need for play-based pathways in tennis programming, with a focus on providing a positive experiences for players, even beginning players.Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the industry? Become a PTR- or USPTA-Certified Director of Racquet Sports. Visit our website to learn more!

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale have a conversation with respected USTA Head Pro, Rita Gladstone, who shares about the challenges and joys of working in the racquets industry as a female AND a mom. Since only 20% of the professionals in racquet sports are female, the questions are WHY and WHAT can be done about it? Rita helps us highlight how females can balance a successful career and being a mother, and we discuss how leaders can positively inspire and manage females. 
If you're wanting to know how you can better empower females in the industry, or if you're struggling to balance work and life as a mother, you're going to want to tune in to this episode.
Highlights:

1:58- Gender balance in tennis coaching with a successful female coach
9:03 - Effective leadership and utilizing employees' strengths
10:55 - Leadership and identifying strengths in a tennis program
12:05 - Developing coaches 
14:32- Gender roles in coaching and industry growth20:26 - Balancing work and family life as a tennis coach21:57 - Career development for female professionals in the industry23:47 - Gender disparity in tennis coaching and solutions to increase female representation
Looking to become a more confident, competent, and clear business leader with a lifelong career in the industry? Become a PTR- or USPTA-Certified Director of Racquet Sports. Visit our website to learn more!