5 Things That Tennis Students Complain About.

As a tennis coach.

You must stay on top of your coaching game daily and always look to take it to the next level consistently.

That means.

Develop a coaching philosophy that is dedicated to helping your tennis students develop as fast as possible in and during your lessons.

With that being said.

Here are 5 things that many tennis students are complaining about.

1.

Coaches were talking too much.

I have been guilty of doing this before, and I wasn't even aware of it.

What helped me, though, was… to be conscious of talking 30% of the time and then listening to my students the rest of the time.

If you do this while asking insightful questions.

The student will actually figure it out on their own eventually.

By the way.

This is the modern way to coach the game as well.

2.

Not really listening to them.

Again.

I had a major problem listening too.

Most coaches are just waiting to get their 2 cents in and never really listen to their students.

So.

This is what I did to stop doing it.

Started listening with an intent to understand them, stopped interrupting them, and always paused, then repeated what they said back to them for clarification.

Those 3 things.

Helped me become a better listener to the point, that I actually enjoy listening now because it's really true that… the person doing the questioning, is in control of the conversation.

3.

Not maximizing my time during the lesson.

This is where you should be sure that you plan your lessons in advance and then think your plans through to the end and break down those plans to the point that… every minute on the court is a productive experience for your students.

Then use the feedback that you get after each lesson, to keep maximizing their time in your future lessons with them.

4.

They don't feel like they are progressing with their development.

In Japan.

I have seen this happening a lot and my answer to it is this.

You should never be coaching someone who isn't really improving under your watch!

Why would YOU?

It's like you are stealing money from them.

They came to you to learn the game, so if you can't do this, find them another coach and go to the next prospective student for your program.

I actually tell my students.

If you don't improve under my coaching, I will fire myself!!

Yeah.

It always gets a good laugh from them, but, I am always deadly serious about what I am saying to them.

The coaching point is… commit to becoming a great tennis coach and learn from the great coaches that are already out there.

5.

The coaches don't coach with passion.

Imagine if two coaches teach the same lesson plan.

But.

One does it with passion while the other one doesn't.

Even though the lesson plan was the same.

The group that learned with the passionate coach, had a better experience than the other group.

And that is the main point that all coaches should understand here.

I would go even one step further and add this.

I saw a college kid teaching a lesson in Nara the other day, and he looked just like a robot out there, just going through the motions.

This should never be happening in our game.

It starts with the club owners and the tennis directors too.

Yes.

Any tennis coach can become great at coaching by teaching with passion and spirit, and what happens is… that passion is transferred to their students, and they are impacted by it.

For the record.

That example I gave you about the coaches did take place in Tarumi.

We tested it out to show the coaches, and it had a powerful effect on them and their careers.

Well.

Those are 5 things that many tennis students are complaining about, and it's up to us coaches to do something about it.

Surveys are good, but sometimes can they be reliable?

Anyway.

I hope that data helps and if there is anything that you would like to add to this post.

Please do so in the comment section.

Have a great weekend!!

PS

Grab your free report here or learn how to become a 6 private tennis coach by clicking here.

Thomas Daniels is an MTM/ PTR tennis coach with more than 29 years of experience teaching all ages and levels of the game in Kansai.

He is now a tennis writer and online tennis consultant based in Osaka.

To hire him for seminars, clinics, or workshops, call 0798-51-4481 or email [email protected]