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My Tennis Coaching Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by My Tennis Coaching
The My Tennis Coaching Podcast is a practical, evidence-informed podcast for tennis coaches who want their players to perform in matches not just look good in training. Hosted by Steve Whelan, coach educator, researcher, and founder of My Tennis Coaching, the podcast explores how modern skill acquisition, ecological dynamics, and intelligent practice design can transform the way you coach. Episodes bridge research and real-world coaching, unpacking why traditional drills often fail to transfer and what to design instead. Expect clear explanations, applied examples, coach reflections, and honest conversations about what actually helps players adapt, decide, and compete. This podcast is for coaches who want to: • Design practices that show up on match day • Move beyond technique-first, drill-heavy coaching • Understand learning, not just copy methods • Coach with clarity, confidence, and intent If you’re ready to challenge convention and coach in a way that matches how players really learn, you’re in the right place.
Latest Episodes
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- 2 days ago39 min
Why Tennis Players Are Obsessed With Ratings Instead of Learning
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 environmentsBut does this actually align with how skill develops in real performance environments?Drawing on ecological dynamics, skill acquisition research, and my own experiences coaching competitive players, I discuss why tennis development is rarely linear and why the current system may create unnecessary anxiety, early dropout, fear of mistakes, and reduced adaptability.We explore:🎾 Why rankings can distort player development🎾 The dangers of adult-designed success metrics🎾 Why tennis learning is non-linear🎾 The role of exploration, variability, and representative competition🎾 Why more players need access to meaningful competition🎾 How competition structures could better support both performance AND participation🎾 Why we may need to rethink what “success” actually looks like in tennisThis episode is not about removing competition.It’s about creating healthier, more representative, and more developmentally supportive environments for players of all levels.If you’re a tennis coach, parent, player, or club interested in:• ecological dynamics• constraints-led coaching• junior tennis development• skill acquisition• player pathways• competition structures• modern tennis coaching…then this episode is for you.🎓 Join My Tennis Coach Academy:https://mytenniscoaching.com#TennisCoaching #JuniorTennis #EcologicalDynamics #SkillAcquisition #PlayerDevelopment
- 3 weeks ago51 min
Why Kids Don’t Need More Tennis Drills
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 biomechanics-led coaching• Why children need more play and less instruction• How ecological dynamics is challenging traditional tennis coaching• The resistance coaches face when questioning old methods• Why match play and adaptability matter more than “perfect technique”Jeff also shares stories from coaching his son’s Little League baseball team, where suggesting a more ecological approach created pushback from traditional coaches focused on mechanics and technical instruction.This conversation dives deep into:• Skill acquisition• Representative learning design• Repetition without repetition• Self-organisation in sport• The future of coach educationIf you’re a tennis coach interested in modern coaching methods, ecological dynamics, and helping players actually perform under pressure — this episode is for you.📘 Mentioned in this episode:The Turn Sideways Project – Jeff Webb
- Apr 29, 202625 min
Why Beginner Tennis Coaching Is Broken (And What to Do Instead)
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 focuses on playing, adapting, and learning through the game itself.You’ll learn:• Why traditional beginner coaching often fails• The problem with isolated drills and technique-first learning• What beginners actually need to improve• How to design sessions that help players play tennis from day oneIf you’re coaching beginners and struggling to get them match-ready, this episode will change how you think about skill development.🏆 Join My Tennis Coach Academy:https://mytenniscoaching.com
- Mar 11, 202650 min
Is Tennis Really Dead???
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 tennis.In this conversation, I break down some of the structural challenges holding the sport back, including: Path dependence in tennis coaching – why the sport struggles to evolve• Gatekeeping in coach education and development The lack of academic research influencing real coaching practice Why outdated systems continue to dominate coach education• How innovation is often resisted inside traditional tennis structures• The growing popularity of padel and pickleball and what tennis can learn from themTennis has incredible history, culture, and competitive depth. But if the sport wants to remain relevant for the next generation of players and coaches, it needs to be willing to challenge long-standing assumptions about how the game is taught and developed.This episode is a reflection on where tennis currently stands — and what may need to change.Is tennis declining?Path dependence in sport systemsCoach education problems in tennisWhy tennis struggles to modernizeEcological approaches to coachingPadel and pickleball growthThe future of tennis coaching
- Nov 7, 202516 min
What makes a Tennis Practice Real?
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 tennisThe difference between looking like the game vs. functioning like the gameWhat coaches might be getting wrong when designing “game-based” sessionsHow to balance exploration and transfer in your practicesIf you’re serious about designing sessions that actually transfer to matches—this episode is a must.
- Oct 16, 202518 min
Why ‘Play With Better Players’ Isn’t Always Good Advice
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 itWhat ecological dynamics says about challenge, attunement, and informationHow to design matchplay that’s representative and actually helps players growWhat parents and coaches often misunderstand about competition levelWhether you're a coach, parent, or player — this is a must-watch if you're serious about real development, not just chasing better opponents.
- Oct 10, 202528 min
Why Kids Must Hit (Not Catch) to Learn the Game
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 & catching games don’t prepare kids for tennis.What early childhood research really says about fundamental motor skills.How expert striking sports develop anticipation & perception–action coupling.The 5 principles of Red Stage practice you can use to check your own sessions.How to use the RPAT tool to measure whether your practices are truly representative.👉 Want the game-based examples (Two Touch Tennis, Zombies, Stop & Serve, etc.)? They’re all inside My Tennis Coach Academy.Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/6008161490960384
- Jul 4, 202526 min
"But What About the Basics?" Tackling the Real Questions Around Skill Learning
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 how you think about practice design, injury risk, and the role of repetition.Bring your questions, bring your doubts. 🎾 Welcome to My Tennis Coaching – The Home of Modern Tennis Training! 🎾If you're a tennis coach looking to modernize your sessions or a player wanting to train smarter, you're in the right place! I'm Steve Whelan, and I specialize in Ecological Dynamics & the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)-helping you move From Drills to Skills with real, match-relevant training.📅 NEW! Weekly Live Podcast – From Drills to Skills📍 LIVE Every Monday | 10 AM UK Time🎙️ Coaching insights, game-based drills, and expert interviews designed to help you ditch outdated methods and create engaging, high-impact sessions.
About My Tennis Coaching Podcast
The My Tennis Coaching Podcast is a practical, evidence-informed podcast for tennis coaches who want their players to perform in matches not just look good in training. Hosted by Steve Whelan, coach educator, researcher, and founder of My Tennis Coaching, the podcast explores how modern skill acquisition, ecological dynamics, and intelligent practice design can transform the way you coach. Episodes bridge research and real-world coaching, unpacking why traditional drills often fail to transfer and what to design instead. Expect clear explanations, applied examples, coach reflections, and honest conversations about what actually helps players adapt, decide, and compete. This podcast is for coaches who want to: • Design practices that show up on match day • Move beyond technique-first, drill-heavy coaching • Understand learning, not just copy methods • Coach with clarity, confidence, and intent If you’re ready to challenge convention and coach in a way that matches how players really learn, you’re in the right place.
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