The Impact of Survivorship Bias in Tennis Coaching: Why Copying Success Isn’t Enough "In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan explores the concept of survivorship bias in tennis coaching. Many coaches look to the methods used by top players as universal blueprints, yet this approach often overlooks the countless players who don’t make it to the top. Steve explains why it’s crucial to consider each player’s unique needs and circumstances, moving away from...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan dives into his personal decision to forgo applying for the Level 5 Performance Coach Award. Steve shares the reasons behind this choice, discussing his coaching journey, commitment to professional development, and why he prioritizes a player-centered approach over traditional qualifications. Despite his extensive experience, Steve explains why the Level 5 award doesn’t align with his current philosophy and growth...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, Steve Whelan dives deep into the psychological and emotional challenges facing junior tennis players. From understanding why young athletes may resort to cheating to handling the impact of anxiety, external pressures, and self-umpiring, this episode offers insights for parents, coaches, and players. Through real-life scenarios, Steve shares actionable advice on managing emotional responses, parental pressure, and controversial calls. Tune...

Enhancing Coach-Parent Relationships in Tennis: Communication, Engagement, and Growth In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan tackles the challenges of dealing with tennis parents by emphasizing the importance of building strong relationships. Drawing from his experiences in forums held in Cambridge and Middlesex, Steve provides practical strategies to boost communication and connection with parents. Key tips include setting aside time for debriefing at the...

From Drills To Skills Course: https://mytenniscoaching.com/certifications/ In this My Tennis Coaching Podcast episode, host Steve Whelan discusses the challenges and reluctance he faced four years ago when shifting from traditional tennis coaching methods to those grounded in ecological dynamics and constraint-led approaches. Steve recounts his journey from a methodology focused on basket feeding and explicit instructions to one that emphasizes player autonomy, decision-making, and...

Enhancing Tennis Coaching Through Ecological Dynamics and Player Empowerment In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, hosted by Steve Whelan, the focus is on how incorporating ecological dynamics and a constraint-led approach can transform tennis coaching. Steve highlights five reasons his lessons now bring more enjoyment to his players: playing the game of tennis itself, empowering players to take control, fostering peer-to-peer learning, emphasizing behavior over technique, and...

In this episode of the 'My Tennis Coaching' podcast, Steve challenges the traditional approach of teaching tennis beginners to catch the ball before hitting it. The discussion, inspired by a recent conversation with fellow coaches, explores the misconception that catching is an easier skill and a necessary precursor to hitting. The episode argues that catching and hitting are distinct skills requiring different affordances and interactions with the environment. Steve advocates...

Rethinking Tennis Coaching: Why Focus on Present Over Long-Term Development In this episode, we explore the limitations of traditional long-term player development models in tennis coaching. Steve critiques the idea that following pre-set developmental frameworks for different age groups leads to successful players, arguing instead for a focus on the present needs and wants of individual players. By sharing personal coaching experiences with twins and examples of players of different...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan delves into the efficacy of basket drills and isolated practices for developing player confidence. Steve challenges traditional coaching methods, arguing that while such drills may provide temporary success, they fail to prepare players for the unpredictable nature of real match situations. He advocates for ecological dynamics and constraint-led coaching practices, which create more adaptable and confident players....

Join us for an engaging conversation with Matt Wigham from Peak Perform (https://www.peakperform.com.au) in Australia as we explore ecological dynamics and constraint-led coaching in tennis. This episode delves into the creation of a representative environment, the concept of repetition without repetition, and the critical role of player-centered coaching. Discover how non-linear coaching dynamics, on-the-fly adaptations, and factors beyond the court boundaries influence player...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan delves into the nuances of ecological dynamics and constraint-led coaching practices. He challenges traditional techniques-focused methods by emphasizing the importance of perception-action coupling, adaptability, and real-time decision-making. Through a comprehensive exploration, Steve explains how great tennis players excel not merely due to technical skills but by reading their environment, perceiving opportunities,...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Wellen is joined by legendary school coach Sam Tyler to explore ecological dynamics and innovative, constraint-led coaching practices in tennis. They discuss the challenges of managing large groups of children, integrating sports with academics, and creating player-centered environments that foster positive sporting experiences. Practical tips on choosing appropriate equipment for different age groups, famously referred to as...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan explores the complex relationships and dynamics between parents, coaches, and young tennis players. Steve emphasizes the importance of understanding ecological dynamics and constraint-led coaching practices, while also discussing the dangers and harm caused by parental comparisons of their children with other players. Steve shares personal experiences of players moving on due to parental decisions, mainly influenced by...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan delves into the importance of practicing essential match scenarios, such as proper warmups, handling toilet breaks, and dealing with line disputes. He emphasizes the significance of creating realistic training environments to better prepare players for actual matches. Steve also discusses the mental preparation needed during warmups and how these practices can positively influence match outcomes. Listeners will gain...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan welcomes Greg from Mini Tennis Insight to discuss the intricacies of coaching under-eight tennis players. They explore innovative coaching methods, such as the ecological dynamics approach and player-centered tactics, to make tennis engaging and effective for young players. The discussion emphasizes building a community feel within an individual sport, the significance of making sessions fun and educational, and the...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching podcast, host Steve Whelan shares an inspiring account of a player who initially feared private lessons but had a transformative experience. The player, an amateur with 12 months of experience, learned the importance of personalized coaching, focusing on their strengths and preferences rather than fitting into a rigid technique. Through situational practice and adjustments without overhauling their natural style, the player regained confidence and...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan examines the deployment of inexperienced tennis coaches, a topic raised in a Facebook group for tennis instructors. Steve discusses the implications for player experience, arguing that deploying underqualified coaches, often for commercial gain or convenience, can harm the sport. He emphasizes the importance of mentoring and proper training to ensure quality sessions and maintain interest in tennis over the long term....

In this episode of the 'My Tennis Coaching podcast, host Steve Whelan addresses the nuances and misconceptions surrounding the training methods of professional tennis players, using insights from recent observations at Wimbledon. Steve emphasizes the importance of context in training practices and critiques the blind imitation of professional routines by amateur coaches. He argues that the training methods used by elite players, often seen in isolation during tournaments, should not be...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan discusses the pitfalls of traditional coaching methods for red stage players based on his presentation at the recent PTR UK Coach's Conference. He highlights four common mistakes: focusing on isolated stroke development, overpopulating courts, assigning inexperienced coaches to red stages, and having unrealistic expectations. Steve emphasizes the importance of creating a dynamic, chaotic, and fun learning environment that...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan delves into the topic of tennis coach assessments. Drawing from his 10+ years of experience in coach education and his own journey of obtaining coaching qualifications, Steve discusses the challenges faced by national governing bodies in standardizing assessments for a diverse coaching workforce. He shares his personal experiences, including the difficulties he encountered and how he practiced meticulously to pass his...

Designing Representative Tennis Practices: Key Strategies and Tools In this episode, Steve Whelan, also known as 'My Tennis Coach,' explains how he designs tennis practices that mimic real match scenarios. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear intention based on player feedback, previous experiences, and match observations. Steve introduces a practice game called 'Kryptonite' designed to help players identify and exploit their opponent's weaknesses. Key elements of his methodology...

In this episode, host Steve Whelan shares a personal and challenging experience with a player who decided to leave for another coach. Steve discusses the dynamic between ecological dynamics and traditional coaching models, specifically focusing on a case where feedback on a player's serve and backhand from a national governing body led to the player's departure. Steve examines the pitfalls of a one-size-fits-all, technique-focused philosophy, the implications of early talent identification,...

In this podcast, Steve Wheelin, founder of mytenniscoaching.com, discusses the role of mentors in tennis coaching and emphasizes why he believes the current mentor system in the UK is broken. He explores how traditional tennis coaching methods, which focus heavily on technique and isolated drills, continue to dominate despite their limitations in real-game scenarios. Steve argues for a shift towards ecological dynamics and constraint-led approaches, bringing up the challenges coaches face...

In this episode of the Tennis Coaching video Podcast, host Steve Whelan addresses criticisms regarding his coaching approach. From inside his car, Steve discusses his philosophy of minimal intervention and prioritizes player-led problem-solving over traditional technical coaching. He argues that authentic coaching is about connecting with players and adapting to their needs, rather than following a rigid lesson plan. Through this candid discussion, Steve aims to clarify misconceptions and...