Tom Laskow earns USBC Gold coach validation
October 24, 2024
Pictured above (from left): Tom Laskow, 2022 ISC winner Brandon Vallone and Greg Hatzisavvas
ARLINGTON, Texas – Tom Laskow of Dover, New Jersey, has successfully worked his way through the top tier of training in the sport to complete the United States Bowling Congress Coaching Gold validation program.
Laskow will receive the Fred Borden USBC Gold Coach Award for his recent completion of the program. He’s now one of just 24 active coaches in the program from across the globe and the first to earn the distinction since 2019.
He has competed at the top level of the sport, been an innovative figure in the pro shop industry for 40 years and continues to help bowlers sharpen their skills through his coaching efforts both domestically and internationally through his current position as a technical advisor for Peru’s national bowling team.
“If you strive for a goal, you’re going to have to put yourself out there and try to learn as much as you can,” Laskow said. “I think that’s a good thing because the game is always changing – there’s always new information to learn. If you’re going to be a coach or try to help people out with their games, the best thing is to have a goal that will keep you hungry for knowledge so you can better relate the information to the people and teams you’re trying to help.”
Laskow started his journey in the team aspect of coaching in 2015 after joining the staff at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. His impact quickly resonated through the program as the Pioneers finished the 2015-2016 season as the runner-up in the men’s division at the Intercollegiate Team Championships.
The university advanced to the ITC in five of the next six editions of the event, and in 2022, William Paterson’s Brandon Vallone earned the individual title at the Intercollegiate Singles Championships.
While joining the team on a trip to the Chicagoland area in early 2019, Laskow met with longtime friend Bill Spigner, who’s been part of USBC Coaching’s Gold validation program since 2000. Spigner, also a member of the USBC Hall of Fame, served as the connection between Laskow and Ernesto Avila, the head coach of Peru’s national bowling team.
Laskow joined Peru’s staff shortly after, and that July, he found himself among the sport’s top athletes at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima.
The members of Peru’s national team have made their way to the podium for gold, silver and bronze medals in multiple events since 2019, including earlier in October at the PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions in Lima (bronze in men’s doubles).
During this time, Laskow continued to hone his coaching craft in hopes of reaching Gold status. His first evaluation in 2016 gave him some things to work on, and he feels that assessment helped him grow as a coach on the way to completing the program in 2024.
“In taking the Gold evaluation in 2016, I learned that I didn’t have enough experience working with a team,” Laskow said. “There’s a tremendous difference between giving a lesson to a person in a center compared to a team you’re trying to nurture along from development to the high level needed to compete at the collegiate or international level.
“I didn’t make the grade in 2016, and that was probably one of the best things to happen to me. I’m a curious guy, so I wanted to learn more about what I was deficient at, and I did. Between William Paterson and Team Peru, I learned a lot. Having enough information to help those teams along both individually and as a team was probably the biggest thing that happened for me.”
On the lanes, Laskow bowled professionally and made three appearances on television in Professional Bowlers Association competition. He has recorded 43 appearances at the USBC Open Championships and helped Robby’s Automatic Positioner No. 1 win the Classic Team title at the 1979 event in Tampa, Florida.
He opened his first pro shop in 1984 and started an 11-year stretch managing the AMF exhibit booth at the Open Championships in 1987, traveling across the United States with the tournament to help bowlers prepare for the event.
In 1990, he teamed with USBC Gold coach Ron Hoppe and Larry Cook to help lay the groundwork for the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) and served as the organization’s president on three occasions (1994, 1999 and 2006).
His innovation in the pro shop sector still can be seen today. He worked with Turbo 2-N-1 Grips (now Turbo) to patent the Pro-Sect in 1995, a tool used to help pro shop operators lay out bowling balls.
In 1996, Laskow and Joe Conigliaro patented the Custom Thumb molding system, which allowed operators to duplicate a thumb insert for a consistent feel from ball to ball. Recently, Laskow has introduced Oval Edge, a sizing and molding system for creating oval inserts.
“After my competitive days, I spent a lot of time watching from the bleachers after not making the finals on tour toward the end of my career,” said Laskow, with a chuckle. “So, I was just trying to get more proficient at my observational skills. You just learn about and realize the evolution of the game, the newest trends and how it’s all changing. From the bowlers to the bowling balls being manufactured, coupled with the changing environment on the lanes to new lane machines and new oils, you have to be well-versed in all things to help bowlers.
“I’ve always been curious and wanted to know more, whether it was for selfish reasons to make myself a better bowler or to help somebody else. I wanted to know all the answers, so I could give them the shortcut. This validation helps confirm that I know what I’m talking about, and it’s being validated by the people who have been down the same road as I have.”
Becoming a USBC Gold coach through the USBC Coaching program is similar to obtaining a doctorate in a field of study. Candidates are required to demonstrate knowledge of the latest techniques and information through practical application and discussion.
The final steps for the validation require a coach to conduct a class, participate in an oral exam and give lessons to bowlers of various skill levels. A final review board of active USBC Gold coaches and USBC staff evaluates the applicant to determine if the individual meets the required standards.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Tom Laskow of Dover, New Jersey, has successfully worked his way through the top tier of training in the sport to complete the United States Bowling Congress Coaching Gold validation program.
Laskow will receive the Fred Borden USBC Gold Coach Award for his recent completion of the program. He’s now one of just 24 active coaches in the program from across the globe and the first to earn the distinction since 2019.
He has competed at the top level of the sport, been an innovative figure in the pro shop industry for 40 years and continues to help bowlers sharpen their skills through his coaching efforts both domestically and internationally through his current position as a technical advisor for Peru’s national bowling team.
“If you strive for a goal, you’re going to have to put yourself out there and try to learn as much as you can,” Laskow said. “I think that’s a good thing because the game is always changing – there’s always new information to learn. If you’re going to be a coach or try to help people out with their games, the best thing is to have a goal that will keep you hungry for knowledge so you can better relate the information to the people and teams you’re trying to help.”
Laskow started his journey in the team aspect of coaching in 2015 after joining the staff at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. His impact quickly resonated through the program as the Pioneers finished the 2015-2016 season as the runner-up in the men’s division at the Intercollegiate Team Championships.
The university advanced to the ITC in five of the next six editions of the event, and in 2022, William Paterson’s Brandon Vallone earned the individual title at the Intercollegiate Singles Championships.
While joining the team on a trip to the Chicagoland area in early 2019, Laskow met with longtime friend Bill Spigner, who’s been part of USBC Coaching’s Gold validation program since 2000. Spigner, also a member of the USBC Hall of Fame, served as the connection between Laskow and Ernesto Avila, the head coach of Peru’s national bowling team.
Laskow joined Peru’s staff shortly after, and that July, he found himself among the sport’s top athletes at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima.
The members of Peru’s national team have made their way to the podium for gold, silver and bronze medals in multiple events since 2019, including earlier in October at the PANAM Bowling Champion of Champions in Lima (bronze in men’s doubles).
During this time, Laskow continued to hone his coaching craft in hopes of reaching Gold status. His first evaluation in 2016 gave him some things to work on, and he feels that assessment helped him grow as a coach on the way to completing the program in 2024.
“In taking the Gold evaluation in 2016, I learned that I didn’t have enough experience working with a team,” Laskow said. “There’s a tremendous difference between giving a lesson to a person in a center compared to a team you’re trying to nurture along from development to the high level needed to compete at the collegiate or international level.
“I didn’t make the grade in 2016, and that was probably one of the best things to happen to me. I’m a curious guy, so I wanted to learn more about what I was deficient at, and I did. Between William Paterson and Team Peru, I learned a lot. Having enough information to help those teams along both individually and as a team was probably the biggest thing that happened for me.”
On the lanes, Laskow bowled professionally and made three appearances on television in Professional Bowlers Association competition. He has recorded 43 appearances at the USBC Open Championships and helped Robby’s Automatic Positioner No. 1 win the Classic Team title at the 1979 event in Tampa, Florida.
He opened his first pro shop in 1984 and started an 11-year stretch managing the AMF exhibit booth at the Open Championships in 1987, traveling across the United States with the tournament to help bowlers prepare for the event.
In 1990, he teamed with USBC Gold coach Ron Hoppe and Larry Cook to help lay the groundwork for the International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association (IBPSIA) and served as the organization’s president on three occasions (1994, 1999 and 2006).
His innovation in the pro shop sector still can be seen today. He worked with Turbo 2-N-1 Grips (now Turbo) to patent the Pro-Sect in 1995, a tool used to help pro shop operators lay out bowling balls.
In 1996, Laskow and Joe Conigliaro patented the Custom Thumb molding system, which allowed operators to duplicate a thumb insert for a consistent feel from ball to ball. Recently, Laskow has introduced Oval Edge, a sizing and molding system for creating oval inserts.
“After my competitive days, I spent a lot of time watching from the bleachers after not making the finals on tour toward the end of my career,” said Laskow, with a chuckle. “So, I was just trying to get more proficient at my observational skills. You just learn about and realize the evolution of the game, the newest trends and how it’s all changing. From the bowlers to the bowling balls being manufactured, coupled with the changing environment on the lanes to new lane machines and new oils, you have to be well-versed in all things to help bowlers.
“I’ve always been curious and wanted to know more, whether it was for selfish reasons to make myself a better bowler or to help somebody else. I wanted to know all the answers, so I could give them the shortcut. This validation helps confirm that I know what I’m talking about, and it’s being validated by the people who have been down the same road as I have.”
Becoming a USBC Gold coach through the USBC Coaching program is similar to obtaining a doctorate in a field of study. Candidates are required to demonstrate knowledge of the latest techniques and information through practical application and discussion.
The final steps for the validation require a coach to conduct a class, participate in an oral exam and give lessons to bowlers of various skill levels. A final review board of active USBC Gold coaches and USBC staff evaluates the applicant to determine if the individual meets the required standards.