Today's episode focuses on the importance of talent as an essential ingredient in the development of young players.  Is it nature or nurture? Our guest today is a former British #1 doubles player and founder and Director of SotoTennis Academy, Daniel Kiernan If you want to connect in with Daniel and the Soto Tennis Academy then here's their site https://www.sototennis.com/ Wherever your Courtside Journey takes you in 2020, have a great one Andy and Catherine 

Our children can only come alive in the sport they love if they're participating in an environment where they are not only safe but feel safe.  Paul Stephenson of the Child Protection in Sport Unit unpacks what safeguarding in sport must look like and what we as parents need to be mindful of.  - How do I know if my child's club adheres to the highest of standards? - What are appropriate boundaries which foster safe and strong nurturing relationships?

Simon Wheatley is the Performance Coach Education Manager for the LTA and coauthor of The Sweet Spot. In today's episode, we'll be exploring: - Roles, Context and Culture - Creating Common Purpose - Thought and Style Flexibility - The Role of Emotions - Spirituality, Flow and Momentum Connect with Simon: Url: https://corecontext.co.uk/sweet-spot/ Tw: @thesweetspot_1 Have a sweet week Andy and Catherine

Have you ever found yourself saying these words; "Win today and we'll get pizza!" or even; "There's no pizza tonight if don't you play well!" Have you ever wondered in your role as Motivator in Cheif where the boundary lines lie around Extrinsic and Intrinsic motivation? How much of their engagement is down to our encouragement or their desire? Then this is the episode with Lara Mossman is for you.

Sarah Borwell of Tennis Smart joins us to explore pathways in Tennis for aspiring young players. The question so many parents ask is; "What options are available for my son and or daughter?" The tour? Or the Collegiate System?  We hope you enjoy this episode and if you want to connect with Sarah and Tennis Smart to explore the pathways open to you; then here are the links: Url: https://tennissmart.net/ Tw: @TennisSmart Tw: @SarahBorwell

SOPHIE COCKELL is a Level 4 Performance Coach, LTA Tutor and Sports Psychologist. In this episode, we explore the joy of playing doubles as well as the not so joyful reality of performance anxiety in the sport that our kids love. Connect with Sophie and to order My Tennis Brain Web: www.sctennis.co.uk Tw: @SCTennis2

Julie Blackwood is a Sport Psychologist, passionate about helping people to get the best out of themselves and others. Julie joins us on Courtside with the aim of helping us as courtside parents, to better understand the emotional dynamics that happen when our children play the sport they love.

Grateful to Kris Soutar for joining us for a 3rd Courtside Mini where we explore the pathways which can open up when you're involved in sport. How can sport be a catalyst for future opportunities and careers where their future can be surrounded by their passion.   Please do drop me a Tweet on @courtsidedad if you have a question for a future Courtside Mini  Have a great one Andy

Grateful to Kris Soutar for joining us again for a Courtside Mini  to bring his reflections around this hot, hot courtside topic: Wrong Calls...did they see that correctly...did they...cheat?! We've all experienced it; whether it's our child "miss-calling a line" and that awkward moment or our child being on the receiving end of a "miss-call". Kris defines cheating as "The desperation to gain an advantage." Which means this months Courtside Mini is not to be missed.

Gordon MacLelland set up ‘Working with Parents in Sport’ which provides information and training to sporting bodies, clubs and most importantly parents to help all better understands the difficulties that parents and coaches face in today’s world. In this episode, you'll also hear both a personal perspective of being a sport parent as well as great advice as to how best we can support our young players.  https://www.parentsinsport.co.uk/ Hope you enjoy the show Andy

"If only we had A, B and C then my child would be..." or "It's ok for them they're connected." Kris Soutar brings his reflections around the hot courtside topic of Glass Ceilings in Tennis for young players. Lots to reflect on in the excelling Courtside Mini.    Also please don't forget to promote and endorse Courtside so we can draw many more into the conversation of creating the right environment where our children can come alive. Have a good one Andy

Happy New Year Courtsiders and what better way to start 2019 than in the company of former professional tennis player, coach, commentator, Co-host of @tennishpodcast, blogger and mental health ambassador; the shortbread legend who is Naomi Cavaday Andy hears from Naomi about the journey of reaching a career high of 174, becoming British no.3 and playing Venus Williams on Centre Court Wimbledon.   Naomi also shares her reflections on fostering an emotionally healthy environment in and around...

How do we know whether our child has the "right" coach beyond them leaving the court smiling, which on one hand is a great indicator but could equally be that the coach is great at selling a session? It's our hope that this conversation moves us from the often competitive "my coach is bigger than yours" undertones, to a place where we're more able to know what great coaching looks like and how we can be a part of it.  Have a fantastic Christmas and I look forward to your company in 2019.  Andy

Edin Sehovic is a Nutritionist and Fitness Coach who at the age of 14 was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, a diagnosis which started an appreciating of the profound effects of food on the body! In this episode, we'll explore how as parents we can effectively and healthily educate and "fuel-up" (Andy's term here, it's not a technical one) our kids before, during and after their matches. https://www.edinsehovicnutrition.com/ 

Following on from Patrick Mouratoglou's (Serena William's Coach) comments over the past month about endorsing Courtside Coaching what are the pro's and con's of having a coach inputting into your child's match? 1. It's happening anyway. 2. Removes the problem solving dynamic. 3. Provides context.  4. It Creates inequality. 5. But it enables ongoing learning.

Cici, Paige and Tabatso are 3 exceptional young tennis players whose passion and dedication to their sport, led them to leave family and friends at home and become fulltime players at Barcelona Tennis Academy  This is the first of what we hope will be many podcasts hearing from young players talking about their sport and the benefits it brings to their lives. 

Welcome to new Courtside Mini Podcast where each month coaches reflect on the questions you've asked.  This month Jo Ward, former professional tennis player and coach reflects one month on from the headline-grabbing Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka US Final.  How do we coach and nurture resilience in the heat of competition? Please do drop me a Tweet on @courtsidedad if you have a question for a future Courtside Mini 

Connor Grant is a Sport and Exercise Psychology Consultant and we grabbed a coffee to talked about: - Mental Toughness in Sport - Helping young players be fully present in their sporting experience - Creating patterns and mindsets to see our children through the tougher times on the court or pitch.  You can find out more about Connor at www.sportguru.me Please don't forget to spread the word about Courtside with a comment or a recommendation!! Please do follow us on: @courtsidedad

Alan Jones has coached 33 British players who've played at Wimbledon, 7 British #1 Women players and 1 Man plus Jo Durie former World number 5 and winner of 2 Grand Slam Mixed Titles. This no holds barred episode (with a few expletives), with one of the UK's leading coaches who's track record shows that there's so much we can learn from him as Courtsiders.  Please don't forget to spread the word about Courtside with a comment or a recommendation!! Please do follow us on: @courtsidedad

Andy interviews Russel Earnshaw a hard tackling former Premier and England Rugby Union Player and Coach who endorses the removal of competition from junior sport, an ethos of thinking longterm and simply loving our kids and suggests that the kids should coach their parents. This is a must listen to conversation, which challenges us as parents to redefine winning and to promote inclusion.  Andy is left thinking; "what does loving our kids look like from the courtside?"  

Jon Coles, Ph.D. is the Associate Athletic Director at Ferris State University and in this episode, Jon and Andy chat about life as a Collegiate Athlete which appears to be less about late night parties and more about putting the hours in on the court as well as the classroom. What is it like playing in front of 100,000 fans when you're 19 years old? What are the opportunities for young athletes through the Collegiate System? What are student-athletes looking for from the courtside?

Alex Cockram is this Physical Performance Manager at the Tennis Foundation.  Our conversation starts in that thorny issue for us as parents, Strength and Conditioning, parents know it as; "have you done your stretches yet?!" We then move on to chatting about the fantastic work of the Tennis Foundation finding out about their mission to open tennis up to anyone and everyone. www.tennisfoundation.org.uk Please don't forget to spread the word about Courtside!! Andy and Catherine Burns

Jo Ward; former professional tennis player. Consultant, coach educator, speaker and PhD researcher talks about gender stereotypes in tennis and working towards equality in the sport.  Thank you for tuning in Please subscribe, recommend and comment, as it's your feedback that helps to shape this podcast 

A teacher of an Olympian Rower, a coach of Olympian Rowers, a step mum of a current Olympian Rower and the founder of www.highperformanceparenting.co.uk, Eira Parry is this weeks guest. - What is it that young athletes need from their parents? - What is it that parents need from their athlete's coach? - When was the last time you simply praised your daughter or son for being brave enough to publically pursue their dream?