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...

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...

Why I Feel Bad for Tennis Parents (A Story From 25 Years on Court) A few weeks ago, I was thinking back over my 25 years in player development. Not the trophies, the squads, or the “talented” players…But the parents. The uncomfortable conversations.The accusations.The shouting matches I never wanted.The tears — theirs and sometimes mine. I’ve been called everything under the sun:“You’re holding my child back.”“You’re jealous.”“You’re arrogant.”“You’re not qualified.” But here’s the truth no...

BLACK FRIDAY 2025............. 🎉 Today only........everything is 50% off. ✅ 50% off ALL certifications ✅ 50% off FULL Academy membership ✅ No code needed, discount applied automatically at checkout Here’s what’s waiting for you (but only until midnight): 🎓 From Drills to Skills – Just £29.97 - My world best-selling course for turning traditional drills into adaptable, match-ready skills.✔ Based on the Constraints-Led Approach✔ Learn how to coach in context✔ Includes examples, frameworks, and...

We’re thrilled to confirm two internationally renowned coaching leaders for this year’s conference: Headline Guest: Louis Cayer “Behind the Scenes: Candid Coaching Reflections”Exclusive podcast-style interview Go behind the scenes with one of the most respected minds in global coaching.From Olympic and Davis Cup sidelines to shaping multiple world No.1s, Louis Cayer opens up about: ✅ The foundations that shaped his coaching✅ How his philosophy evolved over decades✅ Designing environments that...

The Trap We Fall Into Without Realising A few years ago, I was asked a simple question: “If you want to turn left on a bike at full speed, which way do you move first?” Easy, right? You turn the handlebars left. Except that’s wrong. At speed, you actually turn right first. The initial movement to go left… is to go right. It’s called “countersteering.” And unless you’ve ridden a bike fast enough to feel it, you’d never know. You can know about cycling — the parts, the physics, the rules. But...

Hey Coach, Ever thought about coaching abroad?Maybe you're craving a new challenge…Or ready to join a forward-thinking team that values long-term development over short-term results. If that sounds like you, I’ve got something worth checking out. 🚨 TennisAsia Is Hiring TennisAsia is on the lookout for motivated, curious, and modern tennis professionals to join their international team in Hong Kong. They're not looking for "just another coach"—they want open-minded, passionate professionals...

How to Coach Kids Without Losing the Plot (or the Player) Hey coach, Imagine this:You’ve got a group of 5–7-year-olds.One can rally, one can’t hit a ball, one is melting down, and one is obsessed with climbing the net post. Sound familiar? That’s the reality of grassroots performance coaching. But here’s the thing: most session plans don’t account for it.They’re built around perfect behaviour, ideal technique, and linear progress. And that’s the problem. Here’s what we unpacked in a recent...