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My Tennis Coaching PodcastAuthor: 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 youre ready to challenge convention and coach in a way that matches how players really learn, youre in the right place. Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Are Tennis Parents the Problem or Just Misunderstood?
Wednesday, 14 October, 2026
🎾 Players look great in practice but struggle in matches? Download the free Practice-to-Match Scorecard and access the mini-course here https://mytenniscoaching.com/tennis-practice-to-matchplay/ 🏆Tennis parents are frequently blamed for applying too much pressure, becoming obsessed with results or interfering in their child’s development.But what if much of that behaviour is being shaped by the junior tennis system itself?In this honest and frank episode, Steve Whelan examines the incredibly difficult position occupied by tennis parents particularly within the UK player-development system.Parents are repeatedly told that results do not matter. Yet rankings, competition results and performances can influence access to under-10 and under-12 player pathways, regional training and other development opportunities.Parents are encouraged to think long term, while simultaneously being exposed to early identification, selection and comparison. They naturally want to give their child the best possible opportunity—but are asked to make important decisions within an uncertain and often contradictory system.Steve discusses:• Are tennis parents genuinely challenging or misunderstood? • How early identification and pathway selection shape parental behaviour • Whether junior tennis encourages early specialisation • Why saying “results don’t matter” can conflict with how players are selected • How uncertainty creates anxiety, comparison and fear of missing out • Why parents continually ask how many hours their child should practise • Whether anyone can reliably know if a young player “has what it takes” • What becoming a professional tennis player actually involves • What young players should focus on now to support their future development • Why coaches and federations must examine the environment they create This is not an attempt to excuse controlling, abusive or inappropriate parental behaviour. Parents remain responsible for how they behave.However, simply labelling parents as “difficult” allows coaches, organisations and governing bodies to avoid examining the incentives, uncertainty and mixed messages built into junior tennis.Most tennis parents are not trying to damage their children. They are trying to navigate a confusing system while providing the best opportunities they can.Perhaps the problem is not simply the parents.Perhaps we need to examine the system shaping their behaviour.What has your experience of the junior tennis pathway been—as a parent, player or coach? Share your thoughts in the comments.#TennisParents #JuniorTennis #TennisCoachingWhy do tennis players perform well in practice but struggle in matches?Most coaching focuses on technique, drills, and repetition…But that’s not how skill actually develops.On this channel, I break down:• Why tennis practice doesn’t transfer to matches• How to design match-ready sessions• Ecological dynamics & constraints-led coaching (explained simply)• Real coaching examples you can use immediatelyIf you’re a tennis coach who wants players to think, adapt, and perform under pressure, you’re in the right place.📩 Get my FREE practice design guide:https://mytenniscoaching.com/serve-return/🏆 Join My Tennis Coach Academy:https://mytenniscoaching.comSteve WhelanCoach Developer & Researcher
