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 re...
Jun 27, 2025•48 min
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 pul...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 12 min
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 ski...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 2 min
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: i...
Jun 02, 2025•19 min
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 ...
May 24, 2025•32 min
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 coa...
May 16, 2025•52 min
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 loo...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 20 min
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 migh...
May 02, 2025•33 min
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...
Mar 31, 2025•55 min
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...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr
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...
Mar 19, 2025•52 min
Struggling to help your players overcome fear of failure, negative self-talk, and over-focusing on match outcomes? Join me for this LIVE Q&A session where I break down practical, science-backed strategies to develop mental resilience in tennis players-right inside your daily training sessions!✅ What You'll Learn:✔️ How to help players overcome fear of failure and take more risks on the court.✔️ Techniques to reduce negative self-talk and build a confident mindset.✔️ Ways to shift focus from ...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr
"One of the biggest challenges for junior development coaches is knowing the right time to transition a player from red to orange ball. Move them too soon, and they struggle. Keep them on red too long, and they get bored." In this live session , we’ll break down: ✅ The key physical, technical, and tactical signs a player is ready for orange ball ✅ Why progression isn’t just about age—it’s about adaptability ✅ How to balance challenge and confidence to keep players engaged and developing 🎾 Join ...
Mar 03, 2025•39 min
In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I dive deep into the latest LTA Player Pathway Guide-and I've got some serious concerns. Having worked with players on this pathway, I'm amazed by some of the guidance being given. Does it really help develop adaptable, match-ready players, or is it just another outdated framework?"I'll discuss:🎾 What the LTA Player Pathway gets right-and where it falls short.❌ Why some of the recommendations might be limiting player development.🤔 How we shoul...
Feb 24, 2025•24 min
Join me for this exclusive YouTube Live as I celebrate a year of My Tennis Coach Academy ! Over the past 12 months, I’ve learned a lot—about coaching, building a community, and the challenges of modern coaching. In this AMA (Ask Me Anything), I’ll be sharing those insights and answering your biggest coaching questions live!" Topics include: 🎾 When should you move players to a new level? 🤔 Is there a time to stop group training? 📲 My honest thoughts on social media and coaching trends. 🔥 Drop...
Feb 17, 2025•50 min•Season 2025Ep. 6
In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast , I share what it’s really like being a Constraint-Led Approach (CLA) coach in a world dominated by traditional methods. I cover: How players, parents, and fellow coaches reacted to my coaching style. The skepticism, pushback, and moments of doubt I faced. How I overcame challenges and built confidence in my approach. Why I believe CLA is the future of coaching, despite the resistance. If you’ve ever questioned your coaching style or felt pressur...
Feb 07, 2025•29 min•Season 2025Ep. 5
"In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast , I tackle the truth about tennis footwork drills and why traditional methods, like running around cones, are a complete waste of time." Key topics include: Why movement needs to be based on representative environments with real match-like information. The flaws of cone-based drills and why they don’t transfer to actual match play. The bigger question: Do tennis coaches really know how to teach movement effectively? If you’re ready to rethink yo...
Jan 27, 2025•13 min•Season 2025Ep. 4
"In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I tackle a critical issue in tennis coaching: Are we, as coaches, truly teaching, or are we just running through drills? Broadcasting from my car, this candid rant dives into my recent experiences working with coaches at various levels." Key topics include: Why coaching should be investigative, like detective work. The overemphasis on technique at the expense of understanding player perception and behavior. How ecological dynamics can transform...
Jan 20, 2025•19 min•Season 2025Ep. 3
In this episode of My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan addresses a common concern among tennis coaches: players stagnating in their development despite significant training hours. Steve discusses the flaws in simply increasing coaching sessions, emphasizing the need for quality over quantity. He highlights the importance of match play and the potential issues with current coaching methodologies, advocating for more practical, match-focused training. Steve challenges the conventional mi...
Jan 17, 2025•15 min
"In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I reflect on Week 1 of the Grand Slam Coaches Conference by Tennis Australia. The theme this year, 'The Power of Play,' resonated with me, but it also raised some questions. While I strongly agree that play and game-based learning are essential, I noticed some mixed messages in the presentations." I discuss: Why play is important but must remain representative of match conditions. The shortcomings of traditional tennis coaching and the overuse ...
Jan 09, 2025•23 min•Season 2025Ep. 1
In the final episode of the My Tennis Coaching podcast for 2024, the host reviews a year filled with both success and challenges in the world of tennis coaching. Key topics include the importance of goal setting, the experience of speaking at national coaching conferences, the relaunch of a content-rich membership website, and strategic shifts in social media presence. The episode also touches on the personal challenges faced, such as losing players due to coaching philosophy differences, the em...
Dec 16, 2024•32 min
Reflecting on the British Tennis Coach Association National Coaches Conference In this podcast episode, host Steve Whelan reflects on his experience presenting at the British Tennis Coach Association (BTCA) National Coaches Conference in Northampton. He discusses the challenges and highlights of delivering a tennis lesson in front of international coaches and peers, focusing on the serve using his methodology rooted in ecological dynamics and constraint-led approach. Steve also shares insights f...
Dec 09, 2024•33 min
Live Tennis Coaching Q&A: Techniques, Collaboration, and Coaching Challenges In this live tennis coaching session, the host experiments with YouTube's live streaming to answer questions from the tennis community. The session covers a variety of topics, including how to collaborate with coaches, the importance of education for players and parents, and the challenges of coordinating with club committees. The coach also critiques traditional coaching methods like shadow swings and solo practice...
Dec 02, 2024•48 min
"In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I tackle the widely held belief that shadow swings improve muscle memory and skill acquisition. Using the principles of ecological dynamics and constraint-led coaching, I explain why real-time context—such as ball flight and opponent positioning—is critical for effective skill development in tennis." I also compare shadow swings to activities like acting, dancing, and boxing, highlighting why evidence-based coaching methods are essential for cr...
Nov 25, 2024•18 min
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 one-size-fit...
Nov 15, 2024•22 min
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 path. Join th...
Nov 08, 2024•15 min
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 in to...
Nov 01, 2024•17 min
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 end of le...
Oct 25, 2024•17 min
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 representativ...
Oct 18, 2024•19 min
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 creat...
Oct 11, 2024•16 min
