Are we coaching too much and playing too little?

Steve is a tennis coach and a leading authority on methods of learning. He wants to challenge perceptions and ask coaches to think about their own methods whilst detailing an alternative option that he believes will improve you as a coach

At a recent coach meeting, I found myself increasingly frustrated with the same tired narrative that seems to plague tennis development: there aren’t enough good players coming through.

Let’s break this down. Despite an extensive National Governing Body (NGB) player pathway, regional and national camps, and dedicated performance centers supported by smaller satellite programs, the complaint remains. Kids are attending 2-6 lessons a week, often indoors, with so-called performance players—and yet, they’re still not improving.

And what’s the brilliant solution to this crisis? More coaching.

More Coaching Isn’t the Answer

Here’s the absurdity: these players already spend 3-8 hours a week in coaching sessions, yet the system’s solution is to add even more coaching. Worse, the suggestion was to run these extra sessions at weekends—not because it would benefit the players, but because it wouldn’t interfere with the weekly coaching business.

Do you know what happens at weekends? Competitions. You know, the actual game that these players are supposedly training for. By adding more coaching during this critical time, we’re actively taking away the chance for kids to compete and develop their match skills.

And for what? To get the “best of the best” sparring together more often? If that’s truly necessary, then why do we have performance centers and a player pathway in the first place? Are these programs just shiny titles and cash cows for centers?

What’s Really Going Wrong?

Let’s take a hard look at why players aren’t improving:

1. Outdated Coaching Methods Many players are stuck in isolated, highly repetitive, and overly technical lessons. These methods feel like they’re straight out of 1925, not 2025. Fred Perry himself might raise an eyebrow at how outdated some of these approaches are.

   Players are drilled endlessly in static environments, focusing on mechanics that crumble the moment they step onto a match court. Why? Because they haven’t been trained to adapt to the dynamic, unpredictable nature of real tennis.

2. Lack of Match Play If players are struggling to perform in matches, the solution isn’t more hours of the same ineffective coaching. It’s more matches. Players need the chance to apply what they’re learning, to make decisions under pressure, and to learn from their mistakes in real game situations.

   Training without competition is like learning vocabulary words without ever speaking the language. You can memorize all the “right” techniques, but if you don’t practice using them in context, they’ll never transfer.

3. Ego-Driven Coaching The arrogance of thinking that coaching is the sole answer to player development is staggering. The emphasis on coaching hours over playing hours reflects a system more concerned with revenue than results.

   Yes, coaching plays a role, but tennis is a player’s game—not a coach’s game. Until we shift the focus away from “what” we coach and toward “how” we coach, tennis will continue to struggle to produce well-rounded, competitive players.

A Radical Idea: Let Them Play Tennis

Here’s a wild thought: instead of adding more coaching hours, why not put on more matches and competitions? Give kids the opportunity to play the sport they’re spending hours training for.

Matches teach players:

• How to adapt to different opponents.

• How to handle pressure.

• How to problem-solve on the fly.

• How to win and lose gracefully.

No amount of isolated forehand drills or technical breakdowns will teach players these skills. Only match play can.

Rethinking the System

If we’re serious about developing better players, it’s time to stop relying on the same old formula of endless coaching and start questioning the quality and structure of those sessions.

• Are players spending their time in representative learning environments that mimic the realities of match play?

• Are they being given the chance to make decisions, take risks, and solve problems on court?

• Are they spending enough time competing to develop the resilience and adaptability required to succeed in tennis?

Until we address these questions, adding more coaching hours is like pouring water into a leaky bucket. It might feel productive, but it won’t solve the problem.

Final Thoughts

Tennis development isn’t just about coaching—it’s about creating environments where players can thrive. That means balancing structured training with plenty of opportunities to play, compete, and learn the game in its entirety.

If we keep treating coaching as the magic solution to every problem, we’re doing a disservice to the players, the sport, and ourselves. It’s time to focus less on the quantity of coaching and more on the quality of experiences we provide for our players.

Let’s stop blaming the kids or the lack of talent and start taking a hard look at how we, as coaches and organizations, are contributing to the problem. It’s time for a change—and it starts with letting them play.

If you’re ready to question the traditional norms and move beyond confirmation bias, I invite you to check out my “From Drills to Skills” course. Designed with modern skill acquisition theories in mind, this course will guide you in creating practices that focus on adaptability, decision-making, and real-game scenarios. You’ll learn how to implement representative learning environments and challenge players in ways that traditional drills can’t.

Breaking free from confirmation bias isn’t easy, but it’s essential if we want to develop players who can thrive in the dynamic, unpredictable environment of competitive tennis. With the right tools and an open mind, you can make coaching decisions that truly benefit your players and bring fresh insight into the way tennis coaching is approached.

https://mytenniscoaching.com/drills-to-skills-fast-track-to-match-success/