Early on in my journey as a Tennis Coach, I joined the Tennis Coaches’ Support Network - a Facebook Group for tennis coaches. It didn’t take me long to realise that is was going to be a really helpful resource for learning and a fantastic place to meet coaches around the UK. During lockdown the webinars and catch ups were so useful at a time when no tennis was possible.

The Group is run by a tennis coach called Jonty Solomons. In this episode, we hear about Jonty’s journey to becoming a Coach, how and why he started the Tennis Coaches’ Support Network and all about an exciting new Tennis Coaches Network Forum that Jonty and John Cavill are hosting on 10 January 2022. The forum will feature a keynote presentation from Dan Kiernan from the excellent Control The Controllables podcast.

Louise Holtum is Derbyshire Ladies Co-Captain. In this episode, we find out what’s in store for Derbyshire Ladies at the LTA Winter County Cup from 10-12 Dec and we hear about Louise’s journey from the beautiful courts of Bamford to Loughborough University and beyond. A journey accompanied by a passion for County Tennis! Enjoy…

Coaches can inspire players to start a life long journey with our brilliant sport. Today’s guest is Merlin Van de Braam, the Head of LTA Coach Development. It was great to speak to Merlin and hear how passionate he is about the new LTA Coach Development Plan and how he believes it will help support coaches be the best they can be. As Merlin says: ‘I hope we can reach all coaches out there to let them know we DO listen.’ Find out all about the new plan…

Today’s episode focuses around a really important topic - coaching and mental health. And we’re discussing it with a guest who is making a really positive contribution to a subject that can be tricky at times to talk about. Callum Gowling from Liquid Sport Psychology hosts regular coach catch ups where coaches come together for self and collective reflection. They are brilliant sessions.

Callum recently ran a get together in aid of Movember where mental health and coaching were discussed - I couldn’t make that one so I thought it would be brilliant to chat to Callum - and he kindly agreed…

Today’s episode has an important life lesson as well as many tennis ones and at the heart of it is the importance of BRAVERY in making things happen! Bravery has been a constant theme in Rob Morgan’s rapid ascent from a promising junior to Tour Coach helping Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram win Grand Slam titles. Enjoy listening to Rob's journey…

Could sport be a force for good that unites us all in these most challenging of times? That’s the question which today’s guest - the highly respected sports business leader - Matt Rogan looks to answer in his ace new book ‘All To Play For: How Sport Can Reboot Our Future’. The answer - of course - is that it most certainly can!

Speaking to Matt and reading his book have really got me fired up to do all I can to get more children to start a life of sport and more adults to realise the benefits of sport. I hope that after having a listen to our chat that you’ll be fired up too…

David Haggerty made a commitment to tennis aged 5 and many years later he is still delivering on it! His adventures as a player, an exec at Prince, Slazenger / Dunlop and Head, the Chair, CEO and President of the USTA and now ITF President form a compelling story. A story with a passion for tennis at its heart…

In today’s episode Keith Carder, the LTA’s Head of Competition, tells us all we need to know about the new ITF World Tennis Number. We get to the heart of this exciting new ITF system which is being adopted by the LTA and tennis federations around the World. As you’ll hear, the World Tennis Number is kind of similar to the golf handicap system. It aims to be at the heart of a new global tennis community…

To celebrate becoming a member of the coaching team that delivers County Training in Derbyshire, I’ve put a short little six min episode together on why I love County Tennis and why it can be a constant positive companion as tennis players make their way through life…

Derbyshire’s Millie Devey Smith had a glittering junior tennis career and after attending Repton School decided to head to the University of Bath rather than go on a US tennis scholarship. Find out why it’s a decision she’s glad she made as well as what it’s like to play Emma Raducanu and how she has ended up working at Nottingham Forest FC…

Abbie Breakwell may only be 18, but she’s already had a remarkable journey into the world of Wheelchair Tennis which has seen her rise to no.3 in the girls world rankings! Abbie is from Long Eaton in Derbyshire and also has a strong affinity to Nottingham.

I loved our chat because Abbie is great fun and as you’ll hear destiny really did come calling to start her on court adventures. Adventures which are set to get more exciting over the coming months and years…

In this short podcard, Lee Taylor explains why tennis coaches and players from 10 upwards should be wearing sunglasses on court to protect their eyes from the sun! As the Moorfield Eye Hospital website says: ‘Excessive sun exposure can cause irreversible damage to your eyesight.’  You use suncream to protect your skin so surely you should use sunglasses to protect your eyes when playing tennis?

As you’ll hear from Lee, who is the distributor of Solar Bat tennis sunglasses in Australia and Europe, the case for wearing sunglasses whilst coaching or playing is a compelling one…

I’m such a fan of what County Tennis can bring to you as a tennis player but also the amazing adventures and friendships it can bring to your life! Today’s podcard is from a man whose passion for County Tennis and Derbyshire Tennis absolutely shines through. Andy is now Head of Tennis at The Caesarean Tennis Club in Jersey and as you’ll hear he is as passionate now about County Tennis as he was when he first became involved as a lad growing up in Chesterfield…

Chris McPherson has had a remarkable sporting journey from the courts of Derbyshire to representing Brazil in hockey at the Olympic Games! Find out how it happened…

What a County Week it was for Derbyshire Men! The team played five and won five to win Division 3. In this episode, Derbyshire Men’s Captain James Rushby takes a look back at what was a memorable week in Ilkley…

Over the Summer Term I have LOVED teaching tennis in two schools near where I live - John of Rolleston and Outwoods. In this short episode, I look at why teaching tennis has been so rewarding for me and how sport can make such a positive contribution to the education and lives of pupils as well as being a whole lot of fun…

County Week is back and as James Rushby, Captain of Derbyshire Men says: ‘We are buzzing for it, we can’t wait!’ Listen to James’ quick fire preview of the action and hear which Grand Slam winners he’s managed to defeat in his time on LTA County Cup…

I love LTA County Cup and it was brilliant to speak with Danny and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the event many know as County Week!

Danny has played in every Grand Slam, he’s played Pete Sampras in the third round at Wimbledon and reached 170 in the World in singles. As you’ll hear, his record with Surrey, who he represented as a player or Captain for 35 years is remarkable.

Find out why Danny, who now runs an amazing charity called Bright Ideas For Tennis, and I and thousands of others around the Country think LTA County Cup is such a fantastic event.

To find out about Danny’s charity work, please head to: https://www.brightideasfortennis.org/

A lovely little story of how one of the World’s best tennis players ended up calling one of my pupils at Church Broughton Tennis Club a ‘legend’! It's a story that really does shows a positive side of social media.

Thanks very much to SiRobbiTennis.Photos for making the picture of John available on a share alike basis. Please check out https://www.sirobitennis.photos

In the first of a new series, Cal Loveridge delivers out first tennis podcard*. You’ll get the lowdown on Cal’s journey from Church Broughton primary school in Derbyshire to playing for his County, heading off to an American Uni and building a life with his family in the U S of A! It’s an inspiring story which shows just what an ACE role tennis can play in your journey through life…

* A short 10 min audio update - the podcast equivalent of a postcard!

PS If you have any ideas on guests that would make a great tennis podcard please comment on Apple Podcasts or visit my website at www.serveandvolley.net R x

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