This Is the Bit Most Coaches Miss

For years, I thought players struggled on serve and return because they needed more repetition.

I was wrong.

They needed better information.

3 Coaching Ideas

1. Repetition without intention teaches compliance, not adaptability​
   Players learn to repeat a movement, not solve a problem.
2. Serve practice should shape behaviour under pressure​
   Score, targets, and opponent position matter more than basket volume.
3. Return improves fastest when players are allowed to fail intelligently​
   Early misses often mean the information is finally representative.

2 Insights from Others

• “Learning is a search process, not a storage process.”​
  — Karl Newell
• “Practice should exaggerate information, not simplify it away.”​
  — Keith Davids (paraphrased)

1 Question to Reflect On

If your players trained serve and return exactly as they do now, would anything change in a match?

​These questions are exactly why I’m hosting the Modern Tennis Coach Virtual Conference this weekend (14–15 Feb).​

It’s not about adding drills.
It’s about understanding why certain practices work — and why others don’t.

If you’re joining us, I’m looking forward to the conversations.

Practice Design of the Week - Level Up

​
“Every game you win, the challenge gets harder. Every mistake now has consequences. Can your serve hold up when the pressure builds—and your legs give out?”

This is not just about technical skill—it’s about composure, momentum, and adaptability across states of advantage and adversity.