My Tennis Coaching Podcast

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 warm...

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 with...

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 practic...

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 prop...

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 trainin...

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. Ste...

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 experience...

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...

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 on...

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 towar...

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...

🎾 Join Steve Whelan in this live stream as he discusses the perceived threat of pickleball and padel to traditional tennis and why tennis coaches and clubs need to shift their perspective. Rather than viewing pickleball and padel as adversaries, Steve offers his opinion on why it's crucial for tennis coaches and clubs to adapt their delivery and marketing strategies to remain relevant in a changi...

🎾 Join me in this exclusive live stream as I tackle the challenging question posed by one of my players: "Which coach is right?" Discover how I handled being challenged by my player, who was confused by my non-linear approach compared to their other coach, a technical genius. Did I take the easy road and insist on blind obedience, or did I take the time to explain my coaching philosophy and why I...

Join Steve Whelan as he shares his recent experience coaching a group of complete adult beginners without teaching them any technique! In two lessons, Steve refrained from giving a single technical teaching point and discusses why. Tune in to learn why Steve believes that adults don't necessarily need basic techniques and how coach interventions can sometimes do more harm than good. Plus, don&...

Join me in this live stream as we delve into Norway's innovative approach to youth sports and why prioritizing fun is key to producing not only better athletes but better individuals. Discover how Norway's emphasis on enjoyment over ego or financial gain is shaping the future of sports development. From fostering a love for the game to instilling valuable life skills, we'll explore why...

Join me in this episode as we dive into strategies for adding extra value to your tennis lessons and elevating your coaching business to new heights. Discover how to present yourself more professionally and create a memorable experience for your players from the very first interaction. From pre-lesson preparations to delivering exceptional experiences during the lesson and beyond, we'll cover...

Join me in this inspiring live stream where I share a success story of helping a young player make adjustments to her serve ball toss using unconventional coaching methods. Discover how thinking outside the box and embracing innovation led to tangible improvements in her serve technique. From creative drills to personalized feedback, learn how unconventional approaches can unlock a player's potent...

Did you know that 50-week tennis programs could be hurting everyone involved? Yes, you heard that right! From tennis coaches to players, everyone's feeling the burnout. It's time we took a break and reassessed our approach to tennis coaching. Tennis coaching is no walk in the park. It requires dedication, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. But when this pursuit turns into a y...

🎾 Join us for an exciting podcast recap as I share my bold experiment of breaking tradition at a recent 12 counties team event! Instead of the typical tennis warm-up routine, we injected chaos, decisions, and a more ecological approach to coaching. Discover firsthand how these unconventional methods unfolded throughout the day and the impact they had on player performance and engagement. Tune in...

Join us for a candid podcast with tennis coaching maverick Steve Whelan as he shares his experiences navigating peer pressure from parents, coaches, and players to adhere to traditional coaching methods. Discover firsthand how Steve handles these challenges and why he believes that clinging to tradition is holding back coaching innovation in tennis. Don't miss out on this eye-opening discussio...

🎾 Join us for a thought-provoking podcast as we delve into the topic of coach qualifications and the importance of continuous professional development (CPD). Should coaches risk losing their qualifications if they neglect CPD? We'll explore the flaws in the current system and brainstorm innovative ideas for a more successful and effective coach education framework. Tune in to share your insights...

Welcome to My Tennis Coaching! 🌟 In this episode, join us as we delve into the dynamics of true competitiveness in tennis coaching. Discover strategies to nurture resilience, innovation, and strategic thinking on the court, moving beyond mere outcomes to develop a deeper, more competitive mindset. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion that will elevate your coaching game to new heights! 🎾...

Join us for a special podcast as Steve Whelan, a seasoned tennis coach, commemorates the 22nd anniversary of his coaching qualification assessment. In this reflective session, Steve delves into the evolution of coaching over the past two decades, exploring the shifts from traditional methods to innovative approaches like Constraint-Led Coaching (CLC) and ecological dynamics. He shares insights gai...

Are you a tennis coach looking to break free from traditional lesson planning? Join me, Steve Whelan, in this eye-opening podcast as I share my journey from structured lessons to dynamic, real-time coaching. Discover the power of Constraint-Led Coaching (CLC) and ecological dynamics in transforming how we teach tennis. Learn how to adapt and react on the spot to maximise player development and eng...

📚 Buy The Ultimate Tots Tennis Guide: https://my-tennis-coaching-limited.ck.page/products/tiny-tennis-titans-coach-book In this exciting episode, join us for a captivating conversation with Steve Whelan and Sam Tyler as we dive deep into the world of coaching tots in tennis. Throughout this session, we'll navigate the unique challenges and delightful triumphs that come with coaching the youngest...