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Hey coach,
I used to write lesson plans like scripts.
Every detail mapped out:
- Internal rotation
- Shoulder-to-shoulder recovery
- Tactical cues
I’d plan the drill, the feed, the progression.
It felt good. It looked good.
But when match day came, the players froze.
They hesitated.
They missed.
They fell apart.
I blamed effort. I blamed nerves.
But really? I was planning practice, not performance.
And it’s not just me.
Coaches I mentor around the world report the same:
Players shine in training, but can’t apply it when it matters.
Here’s what I’ve learned since shifting my approach.
3 Coaching Insights
1️⃣ Skill needs context, not isolation
When you strip away game context (opponent, space, score), you strip away the very information needed for skill to emerge.
The skill you built in drills isn’t the skill they need on court.
2️⃣ A good contact point isn’t enough
Players don’t need a textbook strike.
They need an adaptable one.
Stop rehearsing the same swing—start guiding them to solve real-time problems.
3️⃣ Performance comes from problems, not patterns
Want players to recover quicker?
Don’t drill a return to center.
Create a scoring system where two bounces loses them points.
Let the behaviour emerge from the game, not your instruction.
2 Questions to Reflect On
🔹 Are your sessions building real match behaviour, or just good-looking mechanics?
🔹 Do your players know how they win points, or are they just hitting shots?
1 Challenge for This Week
🎾 Watch a match your player plays.
Instead of spotting errors, ask:
- How did they win points?
- How did they lose them?
- Where did they miss an opportunity to strike?
Design your next session around those answers.
📺 Watch the Full Episode
🎥 “If Your Players Keep Failing in Matches, This Is Why”
 It breaks down 4 core lessons that changed how I coach forever.
This one’s essential viewing—especially if you're tired of seeing skills disappear under pressure.
See you on court,
Steve Whelan
My Tennis Coach Academy
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$29.97
From Drills to Decisions: Designing Practice that Transfers
Traditional tennis drills might look clean, but they often fail when it counts: in the match.
This practical virtual... Read more |
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