My Tennis Coaching Podcast

My Tennis Coaching
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Tennis
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 5d ago

    The Dangerous Coaching Lesson From Rafa's Netflix Documentary

    "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 pressure.The implication is clear:This suffering built Rafa's resilience.This suffering built the champion.But is that actually true?Or are we simply looking at one of the greatest athletes in history and working backwards to explain his success?In this episode, I explore:• The difference between challenge and suffering• Why survivorship bias is everywhere in sport• Why correlation is not causation• The dangers of fear-based coaching• What psychology research says about resilience• Why supportive environments are often misunderstood• Whether great athletes succeed because of adversity or despite it• The coaching lessons parents and coaches should take from Rafa's storyThis isn't a criticism of Rafael Nadal.It's a challenge to the idea that suffering is the secret ingredient behind greatness.Because if suffering built champions, we'd have millions of Rafael Nadals.Instead, we have countless young athletes who left sport altogether.The real question isn't whether Rafa suffered.The real question is whether that suffering was necessary.#RafaelNadal #RafaNetflix #TennisCoaching #SportsPsychology #PlayerDevelopment #CoachEducation #Resilience #MentalToughness #TennisPodcast #MyTennisCoaching

    27 min

  2. Jun 10

    Should We Copy The Italians? The Truth About Tennis Player Development

    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 correlation, not causation. I argue that Britain's obsession with copying coaching methods may be causing us to miss the bigger picture. What if Italy's success has less to do with coaching sessions and more to do with the environment they have created? In this episode we discuss: • Why copying another federation rarely works• Correlation vs causation in player development• The dangers of centralized talent pathways• How Italy invested in clubs, coaches, courts and competition• Why competition opportunities matter more than many people realise• The role of grassroots tennis in producing elite players• Why Britain may be focusing on the wrong variables• A non-linear and ecological perspective on player development If we want more players, more competitors, and ultimately more champions, perhaps we need to stop asking how Italy coaches and start asking how Italy develops tennis. Join the conversation in the comments. #TennisCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #JannikSinner #Tennis #EcologicalDynamics #SkillAcquisition #CoachEducation #Competition #JuniorTennis #ItalianTennis

    26 min

  3. Jun 3

    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 environments But 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 tennis This 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

    39 min

  4. May 13

    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 education If 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

    51 min

  5. Apr 29

    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 one If 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

    26 min

  6. Mar 11

    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 systems​Coach education problems in tennis​Why tennis struggles to modernize​Ecological approaches to coaching​Padel and pickleball growth​The future of tennis coaching

    51 min

  7. 11/07/2025

    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 tennis The difference between looking like the game vs. functioning like the game What coaches might be getting wrong when designing “game-based” sessions How to balance exploration and transfer in your practices If you’re serious about designing sessions that actually transfer to matches—this episode is a must.

    17 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    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 it What ecological dynamics says about challenge, attunement, and information How to design matchplay that’s representative and actually helps players grow What parents and coaches often misunderstand about competition level Whether you're a coach, parent, or player — this is a must-watch if you're serious about real development, not just chasing better opponents.

    18 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    My Tennis Coaching
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © My Tennis Coaching
  • Show Website
    My Tennis Coaching Podcast

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