Coach Pierre Lafontaine breaks down why daily wins, energy, and purposeful environments matter more than perfect facilities. Learn how to spark real progress in swimmers, no matter the pool size.

You'll discover:

• The power of creating daily, measurable wins for every athlete.

• How coach energy and presence shape a winning culture.

• Why "better today, not perfect" should be your core coaching mantra.

• Simple recovery and programming strategies that keep athletes improving.

• Practical tips for engaging volunteers and optimizing meet day experiences.

In Heavy or Not, The OG Swim Guide, episode #98, we're blessed to pick up a few flash-back comments as well as present leadership insights from a former competitive swimmer who makes us all proud.

Way to go Krista!

Scott Grates sits down with performance coach, Krista Hawkins, to cover leadership truths, accountability systems, and the importance of holistic self‑care. Her athletic background and the coaching perspectives apply to everyone — from the wee swimmers to CEOs.

Krista explains the important elements that coaches, families and humans should deploy.

Get straight‑forward, actionable insights drawn from Krista's journey from a shy student just joining the team to a Division‑I athlete and business leader.

• Why the "leader must know everything" myth is a lie and why collaboration matters.

• How clear communication and a solid accountability framework drive consistent results.

• The difference between training (skill‑building) and development (growth) and why both are essential.

• Why physical health, mental wellness, and spiritual practices are non‑negotiable for effective leadership.

• Krista's step‑by‑step accountability process: role clarity, goal alignment, regular check‑ins, and actionable feedback.

This is part two in a sequence from another podcast, Referrals Done Right with Scott Grates. See Scott's site, show and the original, full interview, #122

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/122-krista-hawkins-the-leader-you-are-becoming/id1738602897?i=1000758278572

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-legacy-partners
Personal FB - https://www.facebook.com/krista.hawkins.9
Business FB - https://www.facebook.com/FUTURELEGACYPARTNERS
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_kristahawkins_

In episode #97 of the podcast, Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we rejoice in the discovery and shout out of another podcast.

Years ago, Krista's journey to the PAWW swim team went from a terrified 12‑year‑old student, to age-group swimmer, to Division I athletes to today's high‑level executive advisor.

Krista's growth to and confidence happened, in part, on the team — with Head Coach, Mark Rauterkus. The mental‑skill system translated from the pool deck to the boardroom — and appeared in a podcast episode elsewhere.

Learn:

• How a competitive swim program became the catalyst for Krista's confidence boost.

• The specific mindset and accountability framework Coach Mark taught her.

• Why raw physical talent alone isn't enough for peak performance.

• How Krista now applies similar principles to coach thousands of business leaders.

• The broader lesson: elite youth coaching methods can be scaled into powerful executive leadership strategies.

Thanks to Scott Grates, and his Referrals Done Right podcast, episode #122 for the interview with Krista. Hear their voices in Heavy Or Not, #98.

• Show link https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/122-krista-hawkins-the-leader-you-are-becoming/id1738602897?i=1000758278572

Krista's Links:

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-legacy-partners
Personal FB - https://www.facebook.com/krista.hawkins.9
Business FB - https://www.facebook.com/FUTURELEGACYPARTNERS
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_kristahawkins_

The lesson generator is a free website that support the book, Mental Skills for Young Athletes.

Get the quick how‑to on turning a book into ready‑made practice plans and learn why structural safeguarding is now non‑negotiable.

• The free mental‑skills lesson generator: pick a chapter, sport, age group, and time to get a custom 15‑minute practice plan.

• How the tool integrates Dr. John Hogg's animal‑character stories while keeping all data private—no accounts, no tracking.

• Quick overview of the "Mental Skills for Young Athletes" book and pricing options for individuals and whole teams.

• Key takeaways from the Future of Sport in Canada Commission report on systemic maltreatment in competitive swimming.

• Recommended safety reforms: independent safeguarding officers and decoupled oversight to protect athletes and coaches.

Future of Sport in Canada Commission Final Report Transforming Sport in Canada: Time for Action

Link to the full report: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/future-sport/participate/final-report.htm

Coming soon!

Pillars of Team Success: Consistency, Trust, Adaptability, and Coach Leadership

Episode #94 of Heavy or Not, we hear from elite coach Harkai Hunor's playbook for building a winning team culture. Learn the concrete steps you can apply to any sport or organization today.

What you'll learn:

• The seven non‑negotiable pillars of on‑court discipline and consistency.

• Why off‑court community building is as crucial as X's and O's.

• Quick‑win tactics for gaining player trust and boosting performance.

• How to adapt coaching philosophy to players, leagues, and local culture.

• The coach's ultimate role: embodying the culture and earning respect through character.

In a WAFSU.org seminar, international coach Harkai Hunor explains why the real work of coaching happens off the court—through consistency, culture, mentorship, and the small psychological moves that help athletes believe in themselves. Drawing on experience coaching in eight different countries, he shares practical lessons about building team culture, developing players, motivating teams, and avoiding the biggest mistakes young coaches make.

If you coach athletes, or plan to, this talk is packed with ideas you can apply immediately.

Watch the full seminar at either:

• https://wafsu.org/course/building-team-culture-lessons-from-a-coach-across-eight-countries/

or on Substack at:

Download the PDF Transcript:

• https://wafsu.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/build-team-culture-transcript.mp3.pdf

Lifeguard Recruiting Campaign: Serve, Train, and Inspire While Safeguarding Water Activities Nationwide

We also share a visual preview of the ISCA Senior Cup teams.

This episode, #93, is very visual.

Those with an audio only feed are missing out on the graphics of the short film and the logos of the teams.

• What it really takes to be a lifeguard – training, skills, and purpose

• How to apply through your local lifeguard agency (USLA & Ben Carlson Memorial and Scholarship Fund)

• Watch the full video on YouTube at https://YouTube.com/@ucanswim

• Fortune segment: "Don't expend energy trying to be someone you're not" and its link to Mental Skills for Young Athletes, https://swimisca.com

• Sneak peek of the ISCA Senior Cup 2026 team logos (to gather in St. Petersburg, FL)

• https://www.usla.org/
• https://www.bencarlsonfoundation.org/
• https://SwimISCA.org

Education, Safety Barriers, and Collaborative Funding Initiatives

Reducing Drowning Risks: Parents, Schools, and Policy Working Together for Water Safety

In episode #92, we break down the stark reality of drowning worldwide and explore practical steps to keep kids and communities safe around water. We also discuss emerging grant opportunities in Florida and how local leaders can turn them into sustainable swimming programs.

Listen in as Barry and Mark aim to make an impact around the water.

• Eye‑opening drowning statistics and the WHO's top recommendations for prevention.

• Why barriers, constant supervision, and basic survival swimming are essential for children of all ages.

• How Florida's new grant program aims to get every child in the state to learn to swim and what it means for local clubs.

• Strategies for building multi‑stakeholder coalitions—councils, First Nations, schools, and sponsors—to fund and manage community pools.

• Tips for linking high‑school pools to instructor training, revenue generation, and sponsor outreach to create lasting impact.

• Water saves lives, but it can also silently kill – 23,000 drownings a year in the WHO European Region, 63 per day.

• Prevention starts with barriers and constant supervision for children; a moment's lapse can be fatal.

• Teaching basic survival swimming to all ages builds confidence, not Olympic ambition, and saves lives.

• Lifeguard and bystander rescue training must prioritize personal safety; one rescue shouldn't become two victims.

• Coordinated community plans—schools, councils, First Nations, sponsors—turn grants and facilities into lasting drowning‑prevention programs.