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My Tennis Coaching Podcast

My Tennis Coaching Podcast

My Tennis Coaching 92 Episodes Jul 1, 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

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 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 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 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 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 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) 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??? 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? 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
Why ‘Play With Better Players’ Isn’t Always Good Advice Oct 16, 2025 00:18:07 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
Why Kids Must Hit (Not Catch) to Learn the Game Oct 10, 2025 00:28:09 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
"But What About the Basics?" Tackling the Real Questions Around Skill Learning Jul 4, 2025 00:26:50 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

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