Stepping onto a tennis court to deliver a presentation in front of 30 peers, international tennis coaches, and industry leaders is no small feat. This week, I had the privilege of doing just that at the British Tennis Coaches Association (BTCA) National Coaches Conference in Northampton. It was a moment to share my coaching philosophy, methodology, and approach to serving—a core element of the game.
This opportunity wasn’t just about showcasing ideas. It was a chance to contribute to a growing conversation about how tennis coaching can evolve to better meet the demands of the modern game. Here’s a look back at my presentation, the feedback it received, and my reflections on the state of coach education today.
Setting the Stage for Change
At the start of 2024, I set myself the goal of speaking at a national coaching conference. While I’ve been involved in coach education for over a decade—delivering workshops, forums, and qualifications—conference presentations are different. Unlike delivering pre-written content for a governing body, presenting at a conference is personal. It’s an opportunity to share your unique philosophy and ideas, challenge the status quo, and influence the coaching community.
This year, I exceeded my goal by speaking at three national conferences, including Tennis South Africa and the PTR UK National Conference. Each experience reinforced my belief that tennis needs a shift in focus, particularly toward ecological dynamics, constraint-led approaches, and player-centered coaching.
Why the Serve?
For my presentation at the BTCA, I chose to focus on the serve. Why the serve? Because it’s one of the most critical and under-practiced elements of the game. Statistics show that many points are decided by serves, yet it’s often relegated to the last 10 minutes of a lesson.
Reflecting on my own coaching journey, I realized that traditional methods of teaching the serve—isolated drills, biomechanical cues, and repetition—didn’t translate to match performance. Players might look great in practice, but when under the pressure of a real match, their serve would break down. This realization was pivotal in my shift toward ecological psychology and the constraint-led approach (CLA).
The Problem with Traditional Serve Coaching
During my presentation, I shared a story about my frustrations as a coach four years ago. I worked tirelessly with players, focusing on biomechanical details like elbow position and weight transfer, only to watch their serves crumble during competition. Why? Because I was coaching the serve in isolation, divorced from the context of a real match.
In a live game, the serve is influenced by countless factors: the opponent’s position, the score, previous points, and the emotional state of the player. Traditional serve coaching often neglects these critical elements, making it ineffective for skill transfer.
A New Approach to Coaching the Serve
Using ecological psychology as a foundation, I now approach the serve differently. Instead of isolating it, I embed the serve within the game. Here’s how I demonstrated this during my session:
- Adding a Returner
The first step was simple yet transformative: adding a returner. When a returner is present, the server must process additional information, such as the opponent’s positioning and body language. This aligns the practice more closely with the reality of match play. - Manipulating Constraints
Using the constraint-led approach, I introduced specific tasks and environmental adjustments to guide players toward better serves. For example, I positioned the returner slightly out of place to encourage the server to exploit wider angles. This allowed players to explore options naturally without explicit technical instruction. - Encouraging Intentionality
A major theme of the session was intentionality. Players were given clear goals—such as hitting specific zones or increasing racket speed—while still maintaining the freedom to experiment and adapt. - Highlighting Real-Time Feedback
Instead of focusing on biomechanics, I encouraged players to assess their own performance based on the outcomes of their serves. Did their serve put the returner under pressure? What adjustments could they make next time?
Coach Feedback and the Future of Coach Education
The feedback from coaches after my presentation was overwhelmingly positive. Several mentioned how the practical games I introduced made the serve more engaging and relevant for players. One coach even noted how quickly a young player’s serve improved during the session—not because of explicit technical instruction, but because he was immersed in a game-like environment.
This experience underscored a larger trend in coach education. Increasingly, concepts like problem-solving, decision-making, and representative learning environments are gaining traction. However, there’s still a need to challenge traditional methods and embrace approaches grounded in modern learning science.
A Call for Independent Learning and Collaboration
One unexpected takeaway from the BTCA Conference was the importance of independent organizations in coach education. While national governing bodies play a crucial role, relying solely on their content can create an echo chamber. Independent conferences, like the BTCA, provide a platform for diverse perspectives, fostering innovation and challenging outdated ideas.
As coaches, we must continuously question our methods and seek out alternative viewpoints. Whether it’s attending conferences, joining online communities, or engaging in discussions with peers, growth happens when we step outside our comfort zones.
Your Next Step: From Drills to Skills
If you’re ready to revolutionize the way you coach, I invite you to explore my From Drills to Skills course. This course is designed to help coaches create practices that reflect the real demands of tennis, ensuring better skill transfer and more engaging sessions for players.
👉 join From Drills to Skills to learn how to make your coaching more effective, dynamic, and player-centered.
Let’s move beyond traditional methods and embrace a coaching philosophy that truly prepares players for the challenges of the game. 🎾
