"We coach like we train ballet dancers - but tennis is an MMA fight"

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The Talent Equation Podcast

Stuart Armstrong

292 episodes

3 weeks ago

The Talent Equation podcast is an 'exploration in human advancement'... mostly (but not exclusively) through the lens of sport and physical activity.

Each episode is an 'emergent conversation' with practitioners, parents, researchers, authors (or some combination of all three) taking a deep dive into the ways that people can help others to enhance their developmental journey in whatever field they are committed to.

These conversations are not mainstream - you will not hear ideas that are provided on standard education courses - they often fly in the face of convention - they will sometimes be controversial and provocative - the show is about doing things differently and doing different things.

The people who come on the show are innovators - they are trying to break new ground or swim against the tide of what they see as a broken culture or an ineffective system - what they say will prompt new thinking or new ideas.

All that is asked of the listener is to embrace the conversation with an open mind.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.

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"We coach like we train ballet dancers - but tennis is an MMA fight" - a conversation with Steve Whelan

The Talent Equation Podcast

1 hour 30 minutes

8 months ago

"We coach like we train ballet dancers - but tennis is an MMA fight" - a conversation with Steve Whelan

In this episode I speak with tennis coach Steve Whelan about his transformative journey from traditional technical coaching to an ecological, constraints-led approach. Coming from a football and multi sport coaching background, Steve describes how his unorthodox path led him to question conventional coaching wisdom. After 18 years of frustration trying to conform to rigid technical models, Steve discovered the power of game-based learning and player-led exploration. He shares candid insights about the disconnect between traditional coaching and actual match performance, why children thrive when given freedom to explore, and how embracing uncertainty has not only made him a better coach but a happier person.

Key Takeaways:

Tennis coaching has become overly focused on technical perfection at the expense of developing adaptable, creative players who love the game.
Creating meaningful learning environments where players solve problems themselves builds more resilient competitors than prescriptive technical instruction.
Traditional coaching approaches often cause unnecessary stress for both coaches and players, while ecological approaches empower both to find joy in the learning process.

Join The Guild of Ecological Explorers by heading to www.thetalentequation.co.uk and clicking on the 'join a learning group' button to connect with like-minded coaches across various sports who are exploring alternative approaches to skill development.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-talent-equation-podcast--2186775/support.