What does it take to build a tennis academy where both players and coaches have room to grow?

We’re taking a look back at this Racquet Fuel conversation with Tina Keown and Jack Glennane, directors of the Victorian Tennis Academy, to revisit the leadership choices behind a thriving, people-first tennis business. Joining hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale, Tina and Jack share how they manage four venues and 24 courts just minutes from the Australian Open grounds. Their approach has helped VTA become one of Australia’s leading tennis organizations and earn multiple Tennis Australia awards, while creating meaningful opportunities for the people who make its success possible. The conversation explores VTA’s seven-tier career pathway for coaches, its shift toward more sustainable employment models, and the role of culture and long-term planning in retaining talented staff and delivering exceptional player experiences. Tina and Jack also reflect on their progression from casual coaches to directors, sharing lessons from balancing daily operations with the demands of leadership and growth.

Whether you manage one facility, oversee several locations, or lead a racquet sports department, this episode offers practical insight into developing strong teams, empowering coaches, and creating a sustainable workforce. Take another listen and explore what it means to move from working in your business to leading its future.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why hiring for values first helps build stronger coaching teams
• How creating a clear career pathway can turn coaching jobs into long-term professions
• Why the tennis industry often loses coaches to other industries—not competing clubs
• How owner-operators can balance day-to-day operations with long-term leadership
• The importance of empowering staff with ownership and leadership opportunities
• Why investing in professional development and education helps retain great coaches
• How diverse programming—from court hire to adult leagues—creates a more sustainable business model

Resources & Mentions:

• Victorian Tennis Academy — Multi-location tennis academy based in Melbourne, Australia
• Tennis Australia — Learn more about what Australia has to offer for the racquet sports world

Hosts:

• Kim Bastable — Professor of Practice and UF Director of Racquet Sports Management
• Simon Gale — USTA Senior Director of Racquet Sports Development

Guests:

• Tina Keown — Director, Victorian Tennis Academy
• Jack Glennane — Director, Victorian Tennis Academy

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 and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game.

Learn more here:

Personal Brand Management for the Racquets Industry — UF PBM
Course 1: Facilities, Operations, Marketing & More — UF DORS 1
Course 2: Leadership, Management & Finance — UF DORS
- Course 1 completion is required for Course 2.

What does it take to move from being a successful coach to becoming an effective racquet sports director?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale speak with Diego Leal Reyes, a member of the inaugural USTA Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship class. Diego shares how his journey took him from collegiate tennis and an intended career in finance to coaching, club operations, and preparation for a leadership role in the racquet sports industry. His experience offers aspiring leaders an honest look at the many responsibilities that come with becoming a director. From managing staff and communicating with members to maintaining facilities, working with stakeholders, and making difficult decisions, Diego explains why leadership requires much more than strong on-court skills.

This episode is essential listening for coaches and racquet sports professionals who want to advance their careers. Through Diego’s experiences with mentorship, failure, emotional intelligence, networking, and personal well-being, the conversation demonstrates that leaders may never feel completely ready for their next position—but they can prepare themselves to make good decisions, seek support, and continue learning.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why being a successful coach does not automatically prepare someone to become a successful director
• How Diego transitioned from studying finance to pursuing a career in racquet sports
• Why performing less glamorous club responsibilities can provide valuable leadership experience
• How the USTA Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship combines education, practical experience, and industry exposure
• Why directors must be prepared to manage people, facilities, members, and organizational stakeholders
• How mentors can adapt their leadership approach to different personalities and individual needs
• Why aspiring leaders may never feel completely ready for their next position
• How Diego learned from a difficult employee conversation that did not go as planned
• Why emotional intelligence, professional networks, and personal well-being are essential for long-term leadership success

Resources & Mentions:

USTA Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship
USTA National Campus

Hosts:

Kim Bastable — Professor of Practice and UF Director of Racquet Sports Management
Simon Gale — USTA Senior Director of Racquet Sports Development

Guest:

Diego Leal Reyes — USTA Racquet Sports Management Apprentice

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 and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game.

Learn more here:

Course 1: Facilities, Operations, Marketing & More — UF DORS 1
Course 2: Leadership, Management & Finance — UF DORS

- Course 1 completion is required for course 2

Discount Code:

Course 1: Facilities, Operations, Marketing & More: Use code “RF100” for $100 off

Inquiries:
Contact: UFDORS@.ufl.edu

What if the biggest barrier to growing tennis isn’t getting families interested, but making it easy enough for them to actually sign up?

In this episode of Racquet Fuel, hosts Kim Bastable and Simon Gale examine the tennis registration process through the eyes of a busy parent who wanted to introduce her children to the sport. Despite her interest, confusing program descriptions, unclear skill levels, membership requirements, and a difficult registration process ultimately caused her to walk away.

Her experience offers racquet sports leaders a rare look at the customers they often never hear from: those who are interested in playing but leave before ever stepping onto the court. From simplifying industry jargon and improving facility websites to offering free assessments and shorter beginner commitments, the conversation reveals how seemingly small points of friction can become significant barriers to participation.

This episode is essential listening for any director, coach, or facility leader responsible for attracting and retaining new players. As Simon points out, a club’s biggest competition may not be another tennis facility, but rather, it may be the sports and activities that are simply easier for families to understand, access, and join.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why confusing websites and registration systems can cause potential players to give up before ever reaching the court
• How industry language like red, orange, green, and yellow ball can overwhelm parents who are new to tennis
• Why age-based pathways don’t always provide clear answers for older beginners entering the sport
• How a free 30-minute assessment can give families the confidence and clarity they need to get started
• Why parents increasingly expect registration to be simple, immediate, and available online
• How clearly communicating what to wear, bring, and expect can reduce anxiety for first-time families
• Why shorter introductory sessions may make tennis feel more approachable than a long-term commitment
• How AI and online search are changing the way parents discover and evaluate local racquet sports programs
• Why racquet sports leaders need to think about the customers who disappear without ever telling them why

Resources & Mentions:

Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller — Covers the importance of removing industry jargon and communicating in language customers can immediately understand.

Red, Orange, Green, Yellow (ROGY) Pathway — Tennis development pathway discussed throughout the episode and the challenges it can create for parents unfamiliar with the sport.

Hosts:

Kim Bastable — Professor of Practice and UF Director of Racquet Sports Management
Simon Gale — USTA Senior Director of Racquet Sports 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 and join the next generation of directors shaping the future of the game.

Learn more here:

Course 1: Facilities, Operations, Marketing & More — UF DORS 1
Course 2: Leadership, Management & Finance — UF DORS

- Course 1 completion is required for course 2

Discount Code:

Course 1: Facilities, Operations, Marketing & More: Use code “RF100” for $100 off

Inquiries:
Contact: UFDORS@.ufl.edu