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My Tennis Coaching Podcast

My Tennis Coaching Podcast

My Tennis Coaching 92 Episodes Jul 22, 2026

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 and researcher, it explores modern skill acquisition, ecological dynamics, and intelligent practice design. Episodes bridge research and real-world coaching, unpacking why traditional drills often fail to transfer and what to design instead. The podcast is for coaches who want to design practices that show up on match day, move beyond technique-first coaching, and understand learning.

Episodes

The Confidence Myth Behind Basket Feeding
The Confidence Myth Behind Basket Feeding Jul 22, 2026 00:28:42 "We use basket drills to build confidence."It's one of the most common reasons coaches give for feeding balls.Whether it's introducing beginners to tennis or helping elite players "find their rhythm," basket feeding is often defended as a way to increase confidence.But what kind of confidence are we actually developing?In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast,
Why Technique Doesn't Create Skill (And Never Has)
Why Technique Doesn't Create Skill (And Never Has) Jul 15, 2026 00:26:49 Can perfect technique create skilled tennis players?For decades, tennis coaching has been built on the assumption that if players can repeat the "correct" technique often enough, skill will eventually emerge.But what if we've got it backwards?In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, I explore one of the biggest misconceptions in sport: the belief that technique and skill ar
Has the Constraints-Led Approach Created Bad Coaches?
Has the Constraints-Led Approach Created Bad Coaches? Jul 8, 2026 00:38:35 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 episode, I
Did the LTA Accidentally Damage British Tennis Clubs?
Did the LTA Accidentally Damage British Tennis Clubs? Jul 1, 2026 00:38:45 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 moderni
Can You Teach Deception in Tennis? The Science Behind Tennis' Hidden Skill
Can You Teach Deception in Tennis? The Science Behind Tennis' Hidden Skill Jun 24, 2026 01:12:48 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 count
The Dangerous Coaching Lesson From Rafa's Netflix Documentary
The Dangerous Coaching Lesson From Rafa's Netflix Documentary Jun 17, 2026 00:26:33 "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.Th
Should We Copy The Italians? The Truth About Tennis Player Development
Should We Copy The Italians? The Truth About Tennis Player Development Jun 10, 2026 00:26:19 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 correl
Why Tennis Players Are Obsessed With Ratings Instead of Learning
Why Tennis Players Are Obsessed With Ratings Instead of Learning Jun 3, 2026 00:39:05 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
Why Kids Don’t Need More Tennis Drills
Why Kids Don’t Need More Tennis Drills May 13, 2026 00:51:22 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 biomech
Why Beginner Tennis Coaching Is Broken (And What to Do Instead)
Why Beginner Tennis Coaching Is Broken (And What to Do Instead) Apr 29, 2026 00:25:58 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
Is Tennis Really Dead???
Is Tennis Really Dead??? Mar 11, 2026 00:50:38 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
What makes a Tennis Practice Real?
What makes a Tennis Practice Real? Nov 7, 2025 00:16:45 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 gettin

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