Welcome to the My Tennis Coaching podcast, your go-to resource for all things tennis coaching. This week, I had planned to discuss Nikolai Bernstein and the concept of degrees of freedom. But instead, we’re diving into something just as important: the state of tennis coaching on social media, the danger of misinformation, and what happened when one of my reels was remixed and ridiculed.
What Happened: A Reel Gone Rogue
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some recent stories addressing a remix of one of my reels. A coach took one of my clips—about fostering player independence—and used it as a springboard for a video in which he criticized my methods, questioned my integrity, and accused me of “conning” parents.
Let’s get this clear: I’m all for being challenged. I welcome respectful debate. In fact, I find value in it. When coaches ask hard questions—like about memory in ecological psychology—I go and research, reflect, and grow. That’s how we evolve as educators.
But what happened here wasn’t a conversation. It was a public takedown for views and sales.
Why It Matters: The Danger of Dismissive Coaching Content
What struck me wasn’t just the criticism. It was the dismissiveness and the underlying message this coach put out:
- That players must always follow orders.
- That failure should be met with punishment (e.g. push-ups for errors).
- That shouting and control equate to effective coaching.
- That success on paper (e.g. claiming to have produced champions) equals knowledge.
Each of these ideas is deeply flawed. They promote:
- A misunderstanding of how human learning actually works.
- A dangerous level of coach authority that borders on emotional and physical abuse.
- A reinforcement of outdated military-style training dressed up as discipline.
Coaching Isn’t About Ego. It’s About Understanding Humans
Modern coaching—at least the kind grounded in evidence and research—moves away from these approaches. In ecological psychology and ecological dynamics, we know that:
- Learning is messy, not linear.
- Players develop skill by interacting with information, not receiving instruction.
- Shouting, punishment, and compliance suppress creativity and autonomy.
- Coaches should guide, not dictate.
This approach isn’t just more humane—it’s more effective.
The Real Problem: Social Media Credibility
The real issue is how easily parents and even coaches are swayed by social media. A few polished reels, big claims, and a slick website create the illusion of authority.
But ask yourself:
- Does this coach explain their methodology?
- Do they understand the science behind skill acquisition?
- Do they treat players with respect, or do they just bark orders?
I always say: the best question you can ask a coach is, “Why do you coach the way you do?” If they can’t answer that beyond, “because it works” or “because that’s how I was coached,” that’s a red flag.
For Parents and Players: What to Watch Out For
- Beware of the shouty coach. Discipline isn’t about domination.
- Beware of buzzwords without substance. “High performance,” “elite methodology,” etc.
- Beware of coaches who shame or punish players. This is not how humans learn.
- Beware of social media “track records.” Survivorship bias is real.
And please, don’t mistake loud for effective.
A Final Word: We Need Better Conversations
This podcast, my posts, and my courses exist to offer an alternative—to explore a better way to coach that is rooted in science, experience, and care for the player.
I don’t expect everyone to agree. But if you want to challenge me, let’s have a proper discussion. Present your reasoning. Share your research. Let’s elevate the coaching conversation.
I’m not here to win arguments. I’m here to grow tennis.
If you’re curious about a better way to coach, check out My Tennis Coach Academy. Click here to learn more.
Thanks for listening. Until next time, keep learning and stay curious.
#TennisCoaching #EcologicalDynamics #SocialMediaMyths #ConstraintLedApproach #SkillAcquisition #CoachBetter
