Steve Whelan: Rallying For A Different Approach To Junior Tennis Development
The further I’ve gone on this tennis parenting journey, the more I’ve come to believe there are an awful lot of opportunities to make the junior tennis development system in the UK a whole load better.
And for that reason, I’m really interested in people who are prepared to do things differently when it comes to junior tennis development.
Which is why I so enjoyed speaking to today’s guest.
Steve Whelan isn’t just talking about different ways of developing junior players - he’s actually putting them into practice in a leading junior tennis programme. And importantly, much of what he’s doing is grounded in published research and evidence about how young players learn, develop and enjoy their sport.
Steve is a hugely respected tennis coach and coach educator, as well as a prolific writer and podcaster and the founder of My Tennis Coaching.
He has a real passion for making the development pathway for junior tennis players both more effective and more enjoyable - something he’s now putting into practice at the academy he heads up at Batchwood Tennis Centre in Hertfordshire.
I hope you enjoy hearing Steve’s approach to junior tennis development as much as I enjoyed talking to him!
SOME QUESTIONS I HAVE ON JUNIOR TENNIS DEVELOPMENT IN THE UK (we explore some of these in this episode)
Why do we have Recent Form (aka rankings) for 9 yr olds?
Why are children encouraged to specialise at an early age and is that a good idea?
Why can going to tournaments be so stressful for all involved?
Is the RPDC system - where regional centres take children aged 10 from their clubs to a completely new environment and new coaches always in the best interests of the players?
Is the system in Italy where clubs are positioned at the heart of junior development more effective? I certainly love the club environment our family is based at.
Does the system in Norway where there are no rankings or results list until junior tennis players turn 11 result in kids having more fun and falling more in love with the sport?
I could go on and on. And on. You probably could too. Why not listen to the episode and let me know your thoughts?
PS Do follow Steve on Instagram if you get a minute - well worth it!
Steve Whalen uses published research to inform the approach he takes to junior tennis development. An approach I hope you’ll enjoy finding out about.
