The Coaches Playbook Newsletter

Hey Reader, As tennis coaches, we've all witnessed players like one of my former players Kieran. The challenging transition from Orange to Green courts. It's a crucial stage in a young athlete's development, where foundational skills are put to the test in new, demanding conditions. Let’s explore why this transition can be particularly tough, through Kieran’s journey. Kieran’s Challenge: Stepping Up to Green Kieran had been thriving on the Orange courts, where the ball's lower bounce and the...

February is often treated as a “technical month.”I used to do the same. Now I see it differently. Here’s what’s shaping my thinking this week: 3 Coaching Ideas Serve and return are informational problems firstBefore mechanics matter, players must learn what to attend to — opponent position, court space, and score. Most serve practices remove the very thing that mattersWhen there’s no receiver, players don’t learn when or why to vary the serve. Return skill is shaped by intention, not reaction...

I’m pleased to share some important news. My Tennis Coaching has today announced a new strategic partnership with the British Tennis Coaches Association (BTCA). This collaboration is focused on strengthening coach education, increasing access to high-quality professional development, and supporting the long-term growth of the UK coaching community. The partnership brings together: The BTCA’s long-standing role as a national coaches’ association, and My Tennis Coaching’s evidence-informed...

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone For a long time, I thought good coaches figured things out on their own. You planned better.You worked harder.You fixed problems quietly. So that’s what I did. When sessions didn’t transfer, I assumed it was my fault.When players struggled, I added more structure.When things felt unclear, I kept it to myself. From the outside, everything looked fine. Inside, it felt lonely. 3 Quiet Struggles Most Coaches Don’t Admit Not knowing if you’re doing the right...

If This Frustrates You, That’s a Good Sign There was a point in my coaching where something kept bothering me. Players looked fine in practice.Sessions felt productive.Parents were happy. And yet… Matches told a different story. The frustration wasn’t loud.It was subtle. A feeling that something should be working — but wasn’t. For a while, I tried to get rid of that feeling. I added more drills.More explanations.More structure. It didn’t help. Eventually, I realised something uncomfortable....

The Question Every Practice Should Answer For a long time, I planned sessions by asking the wrong questions. What drill should I run?What technique needs work?How do I keep them busy? The sessions looked good.The baskets were full.The players were moving. But something didn’t add up. When matches came around, the behaviours didn’t show up. That’s when I realised I was missing a more important question. Not about drills.Not about technique. But about learning. The Question What is this...

I Used to Blame the Drill Years ago, I ran a session with a strong group of 12U players. I set up a drill I’d used countless times before.Cross-court. Targets. Clear instructions. It should have worked. But something felt off. The ball moved, but the energy didn’t.The decisions were safe.And when we moved into match play later, none of it showed up. So I did what most coaches do. I blamed the drill. I told myself: “They’re not focused today.” “This drill usually works.” “Let’s switch it next...

Time to Pause .......and Breathe This will be my final weekly email of the year. I’m taking a break over Christmas — and honestly, I think more tennis coaches should do the same. We give everything to others all year.We carry the emotional weight of players, parents, committees, expectations, results…And too often, we forget to carry ourselves. So this is your permission — not just from me, but from someone who gets it: Log off. Step back. Slow down. And while you’re at it, here’s a final...

Do You Want Drills — or Do You Want Mastery? After presenting at the BTCA Conference, I couldn’t shake one uncomfortable question: Do we give coaches what they want… or what they need? Here’s what coaches often want:✓ Drills✓ Games✓ Quick wins✓ Easy answers✓ No theory, no challenge, no friction But here’s what I believe they need:✓ A deep understanding of learning✓ Principles of human behaviour✓ Ecological theory that explains why players succeed or struggle✓ Complexity that reflects the real...