Learn From The Best - December '24

Introducing: Gabor Pelva, a renowned figure in the world of tennis. As a consultant for player and coach development and the founder of GoCollegeSports, Gabor has dedicated his life to helping athletes reach their full potential.

In our latest blog post, we had the privilege of interviewing Gabor. He shared invaluable insights on a range of topics, including:

• Navigating the U.S. College Tennis Landscape: Learn how to maximise your chances of securing a college tennis scholarship.

• Developing a Strong Foundation: Discover essential training tips and drills to improve your skills.

• The Mental Game: Explore strategies to enhance your focus, confidence, and resilience.

The Importance of Early Planning: Understand the benefits of starting your college tennis journey early.

Read the full interview here

Did you know that, on average, 50 minutes of every hour in a tennis match are spent between points, with only 10 minutes dedicated to actual ball striking? Yet, many coaches focus exclusively on that 10-minute segment. It's time to shift the focus and unlock the full potential of your game!

The course includes:

• 12 detailed instructional videos

• 3 comprehensive ebooks

• Complete course materials with handouts and exercises

The program systematically covers crucial aspects of tennis psychology:

1. Foundational thinking patterns and mental strategies (Weeks 1-3)
2. Essential breathing techniques for during and between points (Weeks 4-5)
3. Body language and confidence building (Week 6)
4. Effective self-talk strategies (Week 7)
5. Between-point routines (Weeks 8-9)
6. Specialised routines for serving and returning (Weeks 10-11)
7. Advanced focus and concentration techniques (Week 12)

As a coach, you'll learn how to implement this 12-week psychology system alongside your existing technical and tactical coaching program. Plus, you'll discover how to differentiate yourself and your services from other clubs or coaches in your area, building a unique personal brand in tennis coaching.

Each module comes with practical handouts, detailed guides, and actionable exercises that make psychological training accessible and effective. Upon completion, you'll receive a certificate acknowledging your expertise in tennis psychology.

Sign Up Here

Transform your approach to tennis coaching and help your players maximize the full 60 minutes of match play – not just the 10 minutes of ball hitting!

Picture this: You’re working with a young tennis player, full of potential but just beginning their journey. How do you shape their growth in a way that not only develops their game but also molds them into resilient, well-rounded athletes? 

This is the challenge that Liam Smith, a leading ATP and WTA coach, dives into during his presentation at the World Tennis Conference.

From the start, Liam paints a clear picture of what it means to coach players aged 11 to 14. He emphasizes that this is a crucial time not just for their tennis skills but for their personal development. 

Liam believes that a good person becomes a better athlete, and a better athlete, in turn, becomes a great tennis player. He explains how focusing on personal growth first lays the foundation for all future success.

Watch Liam share his philosophy here

Liam delves deeper into the art of balancing structure with creativity. He speaks about keeping training sessions both productive and fun—integrating games and multisport activities to maintain engagement while boosting athletic performance. He reminds us that young players need to enjoy their time on the court, and by making the physical aspects of training fun, you can build strong athletes without losing their love for the game.

You can see how Liam incorporates this philosophy here.

Liam touches on a profound idea: recognizing the potential in those who may not excel immediately. He talks about the "late bloomers," players who might not be at the top of their game at 13 or 14 but show remarkable promise with the right guidance.

He shares how to nurture these players to ensure they reach their full potential, even if their journey takes a bit longer. Liam's wisdom in this area is invaluable, especially for coaches who see talent beyond immediate results.

Watch this thought-provoking segment here.

Liam’s approach to coaching young players is both thoughtful and effective.

If you want to dive deeper into his strategies, you can access the full presentation and many others through the WTC Club Membership by Segal Institute.

https://coachtu.be/membership/wtc-club-membership

P.S. If you are craving even more from strategies by accessing the full presentation, along with many other expert coaches, through the WTC Club Membership.

The WTC Club Membership includes:
More than 300 presentations from top coaches like Frederic Fontang, Toni Nadal, Gilles Cervara, and many more!

• Weekly emails with advice and suggestions on various tennis topics.

• Weekly resources (workbooks, infographics, books, and more).

• Free live webinars with top coaches.

• Exclusive invitations to all WTC events!

Join here: https://coachtu.be/membership/wtc-club-membership

For the love of tennis,

Fernando & WTC Team

Fernando has produced several tennis videos with recommendations for coaches in several crucial aspects of the development of the game. Topics like: the National Development Program, High Performance, how a coach has to implement his HP program, Tennis Schools recommendations, and many others.

Fernando is also one of a few coaches that have worked closely with the ITF.  He has produced and directed 5 ITF Regional Workshops (2 in Argentina and 3 in México) and also the 18th ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference in Cancun 2013. This was elected as the best organized in the history of the ITF by Development Director at that moment, Dave Miley.

He has also presented more than 100 tennis courses in many countries speaking about different aspects of tennis on subjects such as developing clubs, organization, and the game.