Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide

Truth About Leadership & Why Collaboration Beats a Lone Wolf Mentality

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

Krista Hawkins' 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_

Krista and our PAWW Swim Team - flashback with AI

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.

Come along for the ride and enjoy the flashback with coaching tactics and a story debrief with aid from Notebook AI.

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_

How Early Sports Psychology Shapes Future Leaders and Influences Whole Industries

Coach's Secret Weapon: Quick, Privacy‑First Lesson Plans Tailored to Sport, Age, and Time To the Lesson Generator for Mental Skills for Young Athletes.

Break the Closed‑Loop Coaching Hierarchy with Independent Oversight and Transparent Performance Structure

In episode #96 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, you'll get a quick introduction to the brand‑new mental‑skills resource for parents, teachers and youth coaches. 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.

In the second part of the episode, hear of the latest findings on abuse in Canadian sports — swimming included.

• 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.

The difference between a good team and a great team has almost nothing to do with drills or tactics!

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:

Heavy Or Not - The OG Swim Guide Building Team Culture: Lessons from a Coach Across Eight Countries Read more 4 days ago · 2 likes · 1 comment · Mark Rauterkus 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

Check out the lifeguard recruiting film and the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps our waters safe, and a bonus fortune insight.

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

From Grants to Lifeguards: Building a Safer Water Environment for All Ages 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.

Join the club as we aim for harnessing Community Support to Fund Swim Lessons and Prevent Water‑Related Tragedies

• 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.

Last Splash and Exit of Women Swim and Dive Team at Marshall University, episode #91 Open, Closing, Exit and Calls to Action for WPIAL Swimmers, Broadcasters and the ISCA Hall of Fame Tribute They CUT Women's Swimming and Diving at Marshall University just as the team was departing for its conference meet. Ugh squared. Nobody is explaining the Title IX confusion.

In this episode, I break down what's really happening, how you can take action, and why this affects every program in the country.

Swim Community: Your urgent steps are necessary on various fronts.

If you care about swimming, broadcasting, or protecting women's sports, you cannot skip this episode. I'm unboxing a new book Mental Skills for Young Athletes, calling out a blundering hurd issue, seeking bio insights for WPIAL athletes and asking YOU to help shape the future Hall of Fame Tribute for the class of 2026.

Pointer:

Jackie Johnson, a voice for women's sports at Facebook reels at https://www.facebook.com/jackie.johnston.5220. https://SwimISCA.com for the book, Mental Skills for Young Athletes

WPIAL Show Insights at https://ISCA.blue

Upload for Hall of Fame Tributes to https://UCANSwim.WeTransfer.com

Broken Hurd. Kate Lundsten

Matt Kredich

Ray Looze

Coach Mark Rauterkus worries that the looming crisis in college football will create a ripple effects across all college sports. He outlines a reform plan, highlights recent program cuts, and offers a path forward.

You'll learn in episode #89 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide:

• The urgent need to reform college football before it collapses and drags other sports down.

• Key takeaways from Coach Nick Saban's interview (Episode 88) and the reform package available at 4rs.org.

• The fallout from Cal Baptist cutting its men's Division I swimming & diving team and the disappearing full‑time diving coach.

• How a "pod" system with promotion/relegation could replace money‑driven conference moves (e.g., North Dakota, Sacramento State).

• The risk of a 30‑team super league ("JV NFL") and why equitable, merit‑based structures are essential for the sport's future.

Let's put equity over money. A New, Tiered Model to Preserve College Football's Future needs your help.

Here is your call to action.

1. Subscribe.

2. Suggest.

3. Comment.

4. Share.

This Heavy Or Not podcast is pushing for a Merit‑Based, Pod System to Safeguard College Sports

• Are you in?

How Entitlement, Discipline, and Complacency Undermine Teams – Insights From Saban

Inside Penn State's Quarter‑Billion Dollar Athletic Budget and Its Profit Margins

In episode #88 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, you'll meet my new best friend, Paul Falavolito and a snip from his show, The 7 Minute Leadership Podcast. He shares Nick Saban's "Five Enemies of Greatness."

Paul's Site, The 7 Minute Leadership Podcast

Plus, we'll break down the money behind a powerhouse college athletic department. You'll get practical leadership takeaways and a raw loo

k at Penn State's finances.

• The five hidden threats to performance: entitlement, lack of discipline, choosing circumstance over vision, self‑pity, and complacency.

• How Saban's "standards over hype" mindset translates to everyday leadership.

• A step‑by‑step walkthrough of Penn State's $254 M athletic budget – where the cash comes from and where it goes.

• Why football alone generates 57% of the department's revenue and the impact on other sports.

• The razor‑thin profit margin and why college‑football reform (promotion/relegation, entry‑fee changes) matters now.

Outline

1. Podcast Introduction & Teasers

• Host – Mark Rauterkus introduces his "new best friend" in podcasting, Paul Falavolito.

• Mentions Paul's own show "7 Minute Leadership."

• Announces upcoming content:

  • A deep‑dive with Nick Saban.

  • "A bunch of sports news in college swimming and college sports" that will appear in Episode 89.

2. Leadership Lesson: Nick Saban's Five Enemies of Greatness (7 Minute Leadership) a. Who Is Nick Saban?

• Most successful modern‑sports leader; multiple national championships.

• Built dominant programs at several schools over decades.

• Known for selling standards, not hope – discipline, consistency, daily execution.

b. The Five Enemies (each broken down)

• Entitlement

  • Success whispers "you deserve comfort."

  • Leaders stop preparing, teams rely on reputation.

  • Rent‑based metaphor: respect, trust, results are "rented daily."

• Lack of Discipline

  • Doing the work when no one's watching; showing up on time.

  • Small lapses (late meetings, cutting corners, ignoring safety steps).

  • Sloppy habits ⇒ sloppy outcomes.

• Choosing Circumstances Over Vision

  • Letting conditions dictate effort.

  • Great leaders hold the line regardless of budget, morale, or external pressure.

  • Avoids "meteorocracy" (followers drifting with every change).

• Self‑Pity

  • "No one appreciates us" mindset; excuses become the norm.

  • Kills ownership and responsibility.

  • Leads to rapid decline.

• Complacency

  • Thinking you've "arrived" – winning becomes expected, effort drops.

  • Turns champions into former champions.

  • Blind spots, reduced hunger, maintenance mindset.

c. Overarching Takeaway

• Enemies sneak in quietly, sound reasonable, and cause damage before they're noticed.

• Saban's dynasties were built by refusing to tolerate these enemies.

• Call‑to‑action: Which enemy are you allowing right now?

3. Coaching Reflection & Mental‑Skills Prompt (Fortune Segment)

• Quote: "Coaches become more knowledgeable by immersing themselves patiently in the systematic teaching of the mental and emotional skills."

• Presented as a reflection prompt: apply to training, competition, coaching, or life beyond the pool.

• Suggests writing about the insight to turn ideas into habits.

• Source: Mental Skills for Young Athletes – John Hogg, PhD (link: swimisca.com).

4. Nick Saban on Player Development & NFL Draft Process

• Development First: Emphasizes "development as a person, student, and player" over money.

• Draft Call Statistics:

  • 35 early‑exit players → >1,000 calls from NFL teams.

  • No calls ask about freshman playing time; focus is on development into a player.

• Character Over Athleticism:

  • Teams ask about character, fit, teammate qualities, leadership.

  • Trustworthiness and ability to represent the organization are paramount.

• Advice: "Create value for yourself in all those areas."

5. NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) Resources

• Website & Email List: nil.cloh.org – a hub for NIL information and community.

6. Penn State Athletic Department Financial Deep Dive (Guy Moderator) a. Revenue Overview – Where the ~$254 M Comes From

• Donations: $64.5 M (pure donor power).

• Media Rights: >$58 M (Big Ten TV contracts).

• Ticket Sales: >$50 M (fan attendance).

• Zero funding from university tuition, state taxes, or student fees.

b. Expense Overview – Where the Money Goes

• Personnel (Salaries & Benefits): >$84 M – the single biggest expense.

• Athlete‑Related Costs: ~$48 M total, broken into:

  • Scholarships / Athletic Aid: >$24 M.

  • NIL Payments: >$18 M.

  • Educational Awards: ~ $5 M.

• Facilities & Operations: Significant portion (second‑largest bucket).

c. Football Program As the Financial Engine

• Generates ≈$147 M in revenue – >4 × the combined revenue of all other men's sports and >16 × women's sports.

• Accounts for 57 % of total department income.

d. Bottom‑Line Result & Sustainability Question

• Total revenues vs. total expenses differ by only ≈$223 K – essentially a "rounding‑error" profit.

• Highlights the razor‑thin margin model and raises the question: Is this breakeven structure sustainable as NIL and revenue‑sharing rules evolve?

7. College‑Football Reform Discussion

• Call for Reform: Need a functional, sustainable college‑football system.

• Geographic Remix of Conferences: Proposed plan (linked to Rauterkus.Substack and 4rs.org).

• Promotion & Relegation: Suggests a system allowing movement between tiers, avoiding punitive $5 M entry fees for new programs.

• New‑Program Examples:

  • North Dakota wanting "big‑time

    " football (Paul's comment).

  • Sacramento State—should not be penalized with heavy fees; discuss alternative handling.