Ratto has been coaching since 1996 and has coached at every level. Internationally, she has coached Olympic beach volleyball athletes in the pipeline in both skill and mental drills. She developed and implemented an Olympic Sports Psychology Program for the Olympic Training Center in Poland. In Italy, she was the head international coach and was responsible for all coaches for Randuni Sportivi (2013-2017). Ratto was a Professional Athlete and Coach for Volleyball Vacations in Turks and Caicos, a play and party with the pros adult experience. She coached the Mauritius National Team at the Swatch FIVB World Championships (2011). She has taken professional hopefuls to Puerto Rico (2005) and recreational adults to Italy (2017) and coached in Turkey and Australia.

 

Domestically, she has been an assistant volleyball coach at University of Saint Katherine (2021-2022), evaluator for USA Volleyball Elite Development Program (2015), Assistant Director and coach of Beach and Bay Volleyball Club (2006-2011), Assistant Volleyball Coach at Southwestern (2008-2010), Assistant Soccer Coach at Southwestern (2010), Head Intercollegiate Club Coach at San Diego State University (2004) and has been a head varsity and assistant varsity coach for multiple schools and sports (2001-2010).

Athletic Experience

Ratto played D1 indoor volleyball at University of California, Riverside. While there, she was a 2-year captain, Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2000), All CCAA Academic Award, Rhodes Scholar Nominee, and still holds 2 records: 3rd in career assists and first in single season career attack percentage. Following a brief time playing indoor overseas, Ratto returned to start playing beach volleyball professionally on the AVP tour (2003-2010, 2015-2016). She also represented the United States twice internationally; once at a NORCECA event in Mexico (2009) and again at an event in Orleans, France (2009). She has also competed and won the Beach Volleyball Marathon in Bibioni, Italy; the largest beach volleyball tournament in the world (2015).

 

Laura Ratto earned her Master’s in Kinesiology with a specialization in Exercise and Applied Sports Psychology from San Diego State University (December 2005). She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of California Riverside (December 2000). Ratto also received her NSCA-CSCS, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2006. Ratto is constantly interested in learning and is also SAFESPORT and IMPACT certified and has completed both the BCAP I and II certifications for USA Beach Volleyball Coaching Accreditation program.

Ratto was the VP of Operations for the NVL, a professional domestic beach tour, launched the Volleyball Network (which provided online live broadcasting of professional and junior beach volleyball and indoor events worldwide) and Ratto Consulting. Since it’s inception in 2005, Ratto Consulting has focused on business development and consulting to sports entities both domestic and international with a specialization in sports psychology and program development. Her podcast, The Sports Mastermind explains how to implement the fundamentals of mental training in segments that are 10 minutes or less. Ratto continues to consult athletes and teach courses at the Junior College and College level and is currently creating curriculum for an emphasis in Sport Psychology for Kinesiology majors at a local University.