I Did Everything by the Textbook… and It Still Didn’t Work

I did everything by the textbook.

I planned every session.
I followed lesson progressions.
I basket fed hundreds—thousands—of balls.
I mimicked the biomechanics guides, the technical checklists, the “perfect” model forehand.

But when my players stepped onto the match court?
They crumbled.

They couldn’t problem-solve.
They couldn’t make simple decisions under pressure.
They were lost—and honestly, so was I.

I was coaching the way I was taught.
But the results? They just weren’t there.

Maybe you feel the same way.

You care.
You plan.
You keep learning.
But your players still fall apart under pressure.

You start to wonder… Is it me?
Is it how I coach?

That’s exactly why I started My Tennis Coaching, to explore a different way.
A way built not on controlling every move, but on designing environments that guide learning naturally.

What Changed?

Over the past 6 years, I’ve embraced Ecological Dynamics and the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA).
It’s not a drill system. It’s a mindset shift.

Recently, I worked with an under-9 player who had been traditionally coached traditionally—using explicit instructions, basket drills, and mechanical breakdowns.

We stripped all of that away.

🎯 We focused on intention: “Can you jam or stretch your opponent?”
🎯 We designed tasks, not techniques.
🎯 We created environments where solutions emerged.

No demonstrations. No corrections.
Now? He serves effectively and plays with purpose in matches.

That’s the power of contextual coaching.
That’s the shift I want to help more coaches make.

If you’re still coaching the way you did 10 years ago, it’s time to ask:
Is this the most efficient and effective way to coach?

And if you’re ready to take the next step:
🎓 Join the From Coach to Entrepreneur course and get a sneak peek at how the Academy can transform your coaching, for the price of a single private lesson.

📩 Just click below to start the shift.

You don’t need to chase more drills.
You need a better framework.

See you on the inside,
Steve

See you on court,
Steve Whelan
My Tennis Coach Academy

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