Advertise on podcast: My Tennis Coaching Podcast

In this episode, I unpack a brilliant question from a top coach: “What are the non-negotiables for representativeness in tennis—and can you trade some for others?” We explore: Why throw tennis isn’t representative (and what it teaches us) The 6 core elements of representative learning design in tennis The difference between looking like the game vs. functioning like the game What coaches might be getting wrong when designing “game-based” sessions How to balance exploration and transfer in your practices If you’re serious about designing sessions that actually transfer to matches—this episode is a must.

You’ve heard it a hundred times: “Play with better players, and you’ll improve.”But what if that advice is only half true? In this live session, I’ll break down: Why constantly “playing up” can stall learning, not accelerate it What ecological dynamics says about challenge, attunement, and information How to design matchplay that’s representative and actually helps players grow What parents and coaches often misunderstand about competition level Whether you're a coach, parent, or player — this is a must-watch if you're serious about real development, not just chasing better opponents.

Are we preparing kids for tennis, or for a game they’ll never actually play? Most red stage programs still rely on throwing and catching, but research shows these skills don’t transfer to striking sports like tennis. In this Live, we’ll break down the science, explain why hitting matters, and show you the 5 principles that must guide early-years tennis. What you’ll learn: Why throwing & catching games don’t prepare kids for tennis. What early childhood research really says about fundamental motor skills. How expert striking sports develop anticipation & perception–action coupling. The 5 principles of Red Stage practice you can use to check your own sessions. How to use the RPAT tool to measure whether your practices are truly representative. 👉 Want the game-based examples (Two Touch Tennis, Zombies, Stop & Serve, etc.)? They’re all inside My Tennis Coach Academy. Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6008161490960384

This week I’m answering the most common pushbacks I hear about how learning really works.From “What about fundamentals?” to “But isn’t that how I was taught?” — I’ll unpack what’s really behind these questions, and how we can reframe our approach to coaching, development, and skill acquisition using ecological dynamics.Whether you’re coaching beginners or top players, this live will challenge how you think about practice design, injury risk, and the role of repetition.Bring your questions, bring your doubts. 🎾 Welcome to My Tennis Coaching – The Home of Modern Tennis Training! 🎾If you're a tennis coach looking to modernize your sessions or a player wanting to train smarter, you're in the right place! I'm Steve Whelan, and I specialize in Ecological Dynamics & the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)-helping you move From Drills to Skills with real, match-relevant training.📅 NEW! Weekly Live Podcast – From Drills to Skills📍 LIVE Every Monday | 10 AM UK Time🎙️ Coaching insights, game-based drills, and expert interviews designed to help you ditch outdated methods and create engaging, high-impact sessions.

What if you didn’t have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-t... Read the paper discussed in this stream 👉 https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...Most tennis practices look good on the outside—clean reps, tidy footwork, technical instructions.But here’s the truth: they don’t prepare players for real matches.In this live session, I’m opening the floor:🟡 Ask me anything—coaching, skill development, player behavior, parent pressure🟡 Hear the real reason unopposed drills fail (and what to do instead)🟡 I’ll break down a game-changing paper on opposed vs unopposed practice using the ecological dynamics lensWe’ll cover:Why skills don’t transfer from static drillsWhat “practice with purpose” actually looks likeHow to design sessions that prepare players for chaos, not just cones🕥 Streaming Live: Friday at 10:30am (London Time)🎾 Whether you’ve got questions or just want to listen in—this one will shift how you see learning.Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/60081614...🎾 Welcome to My Tennis Coaching – The Home of Modern Tennis Training! 🎾If you're a tennis coach looking to modernize your sessions or a player wanting to train smarter, you’re in the right place! I'm Steve Whelan, and I specialize in Ecological Dynamics & the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)—helping you move From Drills to Skills with real, match-relevant training.📅 NEW! Weekly Live Podcast – From Drills to Skills📍 LIVE Every Monday | 10 AM UK Time🎙️ Coaching insights, game-based drills, and expert interviews designed to help you ditch outdated methods and create engaging, high-impact sessions.🎥 Must-Watch Coaching Videos:✅ Why You Shouldn’t Break Down the Serve: Whole vs. Decomposed Training – The real way to teach serving.🎥    • Surprisingly EASY Way to TEACH the Serve t...  ✅ How to Develop a Beginner’s Backhand in Minutes – A real on-court session using CLA.🎥    • FIX Your Backhand in UNDER 2 Minutes for F...  ✅ Random vs. Blocked Practice – Why It Matters for Match Performance – The science of training for real competition.🎥    • Random Practice Is the KEY to Becoming a T...  ✅ Why Burnout Happens Mid-Season (And How to Prevent It) – Keep players engaged & avoid exhaustion.🎥    • Is Burnout Affecting Your Tennis Players' ...  🔴 Subscribe now and turn on notifications 🔔 so you never miss a live session or a new video!Join Our Growing Coaching Community!🌐 Website: https://mytenniscoaching.com (Get free drills & coaching resources!)📸 Instagram:   / mytenniscoaching  💬 Comment on the video & join the conversation! What’s your biggest coaching challenge right now?🎾 Let’s transform the way tennis is coached—together! #TennisCoaching #EcologicalDynamics #FromDrillsToSkills #ConstraintsLedApproach #TennisTraining

This approach didn’t just change my sessions...it changed my career 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/tennis-coach-newsletter/ What if you didn’t have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-to-skills-fast-track-to-match-success/ The GB player pathway promises to find and develop the nation’s most talented juniors. But from what I’ve seen—and what many coaches and parents are experiencing—it’s not working the way it should.In this live session, I’m pulling back the curtain.Based on a recent YouTube video from a Parents Community Q&A with the NGBS Head of Performance Coach Development, I’ll break down the hidden flaws in the current system and why it’s leaving many talented players behind.We’ll explore:🎾 The dangers of early selection and fixed “aspirational standards”🎾 How the system favours ranking chasers over adaptable learners🎾 Why are late developers quietly being filtered out🎾 The tension between control, funding, and genuine development🎾 What an effective, ecological pathway could look like instead🎾 Whether you're a coach, a parent, or a player, his is a conversation we need to have.Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6008161490960384🎾 Welcome to My Tennis Coaching – The Home of Modern Tennis Training! 🎾If you're a tennis coach looking to modernize your sessions or a player wanting to train smarter, you’re in the right place! I'm Steve Whelan, and I specialize in Ecological Dynamics & the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)—helping you move From Drills to Skills with real, match-relevant training.📅 NEW! Weekly Live Podcast – From Drills to Skills📍 LIVE Every Monday | 10 AM UK Time🎙️ Coaching insights, game-based drills, and expert interviews designed to help you ditch outdated methods and create engaging, high-impact sessions.🎥 Must-Watch Coaching Videos:✅ Why You Shouldn’t Break Down the Serve: Whole vs. Decomposed Training – The real way to teach serving.🎥 https://youtu.be/0x6SdlQArSI?si=q4OxtflhXBxwikyP✅ How to Develop a Beginner’s Backhand in Minutes – A real on-court session using CLA.🎥 https://youtu.be/l65STewAKAw?si=6C8t4hTATDJnSRSs✅ Random vs. Blocked Practice – Why It Matters for Match Performance – The science of training for real competition.🎥 https://youtu.be/sOWyffgY1So?si=gqCyVjbPq9DlpdJD✅ Why Burnout Happens Mid-Season (And How to Prevent It) – Keep players engaged & avoid exhaustion.🎥 https://youtu.be/5sj_uGMjskI?si=oZeDUkEUg_Vd-psp🔴 Subscribe now and turn on notifications 🔔 so you never miss a live session or a new video!Join Our Growing Coaching Community!🌐 Website: https://mytenniscoaching.com (Get free drills & coaching resources!)📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytenniscoaching/💬 Comment on the video & join the conversation! What’s your biggest coaching challenge right now?🎾 Let’s transform the way tennis is coached—together! #TennisCoaching #EcologicalDynamics #FromDrillsToSkills #ConstraintsLedApproach #TennisTraining

This approach didn’t just change my sessions...it changed my career 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/tennis-coach-newsletter/ What if you didn’t have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-to-skills-fast-track-to-match-success/ Jannik Sinner’s is elite—but should your players copy him? In this live session, we’ll break down why mimicking pros often leads coaches and players down the wrong path. We’ll explore how to coach technique in context, why skill emergence matters more than imitation, and how to help players build solutions that suit them. Bring your questions—we’ll go deep on this one.

This approach didn’t just change my sessions...it changed my career 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/tennis-coach-newsletter/ What if you didn’t have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-to-skills-fast-track-to-match-success/ “His technique is all wrong.”Ever heard that from a parent, player, or coach? I used to say it too—until I started asking deeper questions.In this live session, we’re unpacking the real story behind “bad technique.” Spoiler: it’s not always the player—it’s often the practice design that’s setting them up to fail.Whether you’re frustrated with how your players hit the ball… or wondering how to fix poor habits, we’ll explore:The real reasons technique breaks down under pressureWhy traditional “corrections” don’t lead to match-ready skillsHow to coach technique without drilling it to deathThe ecological approach to skill development and movement patterns When (and how) to step in as a coach—and when to step backThis session is for coaches who want to move beyond surface-level fixes and start creating players who adapt, problem-solve, and perform when it matters.

What if you didn't have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-to-skills-fast-track-to-match-success/ What happens when you’re publicly challenged by a fellow coach on social media?In this episode, I share the full story of being called out—and called a con man—for promoting an ecological approach to tennis coaching.I’m not afraid of being challenged. In fact, I welcome it. But when the challenge is built on shallow foundations, lacks evidence, and falls apart when questioned… it reveals a much bigger issue.In this honest, no-holds-barred podcast, we discuss:What actually happened during the social media falloutWhy direct, explicit instruction isn’t as effective as some coaches claimThe danger of blindly trusting online coaching personalitiesWhy parents need to research how coaches actually coach—not just how loud or confident they areThe emotional toll of public criticism—and why I won’t stay silentThe real “con” in coaching that too many people overlookThis isn’t about revenge. It’s about transparency, accountability, and calling for better conversations in our industry.🎙️ If you’ve ever felt torn between traditional and modern coaching, or wondered who to trust online—this is a podcast you won’t want to miss.🎾 Welcome to My Tennis Coaching – The Home of Modern Tennis Training! 🎾If you're a tennis coach looking to modernize your sessions or a player wanting to train smarter, you’re in the right place! I'm Steve Whelan, and I specialize in Ecological Dynamics & the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)—helping you move From Drills to Skills with real, match-relevant training.📅 NEW! Weekly Live Podcast – From Drills to Skills📍 LIVE Every Friday | 10:30 AM UK Time🎙️ Coaching insights, game-based drills, and expert interviews designed to help you ditch outdated methods and create engaging high-impact sessions.

What if you didn't have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-to-skills-fast-track-to-match-success/ Ever wondered what's really going on behind the scenes of tennis coaching? From hidden secrets to untold stories, get ready to uncover the truth about the tennis coaching world. Whether you're a tennis enthusiast, coach, or player, this video will reveal the shocking realities and surprising truths that will change the way you think about tennis coaching forever. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to have your mind blown!🎾 Welcome to My Tennis Coaching – The Home of Modern Tennis Training! 🎾If you're a tennis coach looking to modernize your sessions or a player wanting to train smarter, you’re in the right place! I'm Steve Whelan, and I specialize in Ecological Dynamics & the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)—helping you move From Drills to Skills with real, match-relevant training.

Is it really possible to coach beginners using Ecological Dynamics and the Constraints-Led Approach? This week, I’m joined by fellow coach and My Tennis Coach Academy member John Cvitamovic, who’s been doing exactly that at the grassroots level. In this live conversation, we’ll explore: How John started applying ecological principles with beginners What changed in his coaching (and how players responded) The biggest challenges, including parent expectations and session structure What success looks like when you focus on adaptability over aesthetics Tips for coaches looking to try CLA but unsure where to start Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or struggling to make modern methods work with beginners—this is for you.

What if you didn’t have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-to-skills-fast-track-to-match-success/ Private lessons are sacred in tennis coaching… but should they be?They’re seen as the gold standard: the fast track to fixing flaws, mastering technique, and accelerating progress. But what if private sessions—especially for kids and developing players—aren’t as effective as we think?In this live session, I’ll explore why private tennis lessons might be overrated and how viewing them through an Ecological Dynamics lens completely changed my perspective.We’ll dive into:Why traditional coaching loves private lessons—and what’s flawed about that modelThe hidden limitations of 1-to-1 coachingHow group environments can be richer, cheaper, and more effectiveWhat I now do differently when I do coach one-on-oneHow to create meaningful learning environments that actually transfer to matchesWhether you’re a coach, parent, or player—this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about private tennis lessons.🗓 Join live: Friday 10:30am (London Time)💬 Bring your questions, stories, and even your pushback—let’s have the conversation the industry needs.

What if you didn’t have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://my-tennis-coaching-limited.kit.com/youtubelinksYou Can't Coach Everyone - And You Shouldn't Try To.Early in my coaching career, I worked with every age, every stage, and every type of player. I was on court non-stop, chasing results… and burning out fast.Everything changed when I made one decision: I specialized.In this live session, I'll share how niching down to under-10s helped me build my confidence, improve my coaching, and create a name for myself in a crowded field.You'll learn:✅ Why most coaches resist niching (and what it costs them)✅ How to identify the players you're best suited to help✅ The unexpected benefits of becoming a specialist✅ How to niche without losing income or opportunityWhether you're new to coaching or 10 years in, this live will help you take control of your career direction and stand out with purpose.

What if you didn’t have to run repetitive drills to see real progress? 👉 https://my-tennis-coaching-limited.ki...Traditional basket feeding has been a staple in tennis coaching for decades-but what if it's holding your players back? In this live session, I'll share what happened when I stopped basket feeding completely and shifted to a more modern, player-centred approach.We'll break down the immediate impact on player engagement, skill transfer, and match performance-and I'll show you exactly how you can evolve your sessions without losing structure or control.Join live to: • Discover the surprising results (both good and uncomfortable) • Learn how to make practices more purposeful and game-relevant • Ask your questions about transitioning away from traditional methods • Get real-world examples of what to do instead of basket feedingWhether you're curious, skeptical, or ready to make a change-this one's for you.

From Drills To Skills Course: https://my-tennis-coaching-limited.ki..."Tournament preparation is one of the biggest challenges for tennis coaches. In this live podcast, I break down how to get your players ready for competition using game-based learning, Ecological Dynamics, and the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA). Too many players train hard but struggle under pressure-why? Because traditional coaching often fails to replicate real match conditions.In this session, I'll cover:✅ How to structure match-ready practices that transfer skills to competition.✅ The role of decision-making, tactical adaptability, and pressure training in tournament prep.✅ Why traditional drills fail and how to create representative learning environments instead.✅ The importance of mental preparation, self-regulation, and competitive resilience.If you want to help your players perform better under match conditions, this episode is for you! Drop your questions in the chat, and let's discuss how to fine-tune tournament preparation for long-term player success.