My Tennis Coaching Podcast

Has the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) gone too far? A recent LinkedIn post argued that too many coaches are hiding behind constraints-led coaching, becoming "robotic organisers" who simply set up games, ask players to "find a way," and stop coaching altogether. It's a criticism I've heard many times. And interestingly... I actually agree with parts of it. In this episo...

Did the LTA accidentally damage the very club culture it was trying to improve? In this episode, I explore one of the most fascinating papers ever written about British tennis: "Managing Change in British Tennis 1990–2006: Unintended Outcomes of LTA Talent Development Policies" by Robert Lake. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the LTA invested heavily in talent development, club mode...

Can deception actually be taught? Or is it simply something that elite players develop naturally over time? In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I sit down with ITF coach and researcher **William O'Connell** to explore one of tennis' most fascinating and misunderstood skills: **deception**.Drawing on William's recent research paper, we discuss how deception acts as a coun...

"Suffering builds champions."It's one of the most common messages in sport. And one of the most dangerous. After watching Episode 2 of the Rafa Netflix documentary, I found myself questioning the story being told about Rafael Nadal's development. The documentary presents a powerful narrative. No water during practice. Playing through injury. Fear of making mistakes. Constant pres...

Everyone is talking about Italy. Jannik Sinner. Lorenzo Musetti. Jasmine Paolini. The common response? "Let's copy the Italians." But what exactly are we trying to copy? In this episode, I explore one of the biggest mistakes in coach education and player development: assuming that because successful players came through a system, the coaching must have caused the success. That's...

In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I explore why the current competition structure in UK tennis may be unintentionally limiting player development, creativity, adaptability, and long-term participation in the sport. Modern junior tennis is increasingly dominated by: • ratings • rankings • grades • selection pressure • outcome-based environments But does this actually align with how...

Why are so many tennis players struggling to transfer practice into real match performance? In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Webb to explore the growing tension between traditional coaching methods and ecological approaches to skill development. We discuss: • Why demonstrations and technical models often fail players • The problem with isolated drills and bio...

Do beginner tennis players really need to learn technique first? Most coaching sessions for beginners look the same: Throwing drills, catching exercises, isolated technique work… But very little actual tennis. So when beginners finally play points, everything breaks down. In this episode, I challenge the idea of “fundamentals” and explore a different approach to beginner coaching — one that focuse...

Is tennis dying? In this episode of the  My Tennis Coaching Podcast , I explore a question many people in the sport are starting to ask:  Is tennis slowly losing relevance? With the rapid growth of  padel and pickleball , tennis is facing real competition for players, court space, and cultural attention. But the real issue may not be the new sports themselves. The deeper problem lies  inside tenni...

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...

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...

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 & catchi...

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 ho...

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 th...

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 c...

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 lea...

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 deep...

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 challenge...

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 vi...

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 res...

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 playe...

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. I...

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 brea...

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 tradition...

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 co...