In this episode of the My Tennis Coaching Podcast, host Steve Whelan welcomes Greg from Mini Tennis Insight to discuss the intricacies of coaching under-eight tennis players.

They explore innovative coaching methods, such as the ecological dynamics approach and player-centered tactics, to make tennis engaging and effective for young players.

The discussion emphasizes building a community feel within an individual sport, the significance of making sessions fun and educational, and the importance of fostering essential life skills alongside tennis skills.

Greg shares insights from his successful Instagram journey and offers practical tips on practice design and engaging parents in the coaching process.

The episode concludes with Steve and Greg highlighting the necessity of creating an environment that balances structured learning with the freedom to explore and solve problems.

00:00 Introduction to My Tennis Coaching Podcast
00:45 Special Guest: Greg from Mini Tennis Insight
01:26 Greg's Coaching Journey and Social Media Success
03:30 Challenges and Rewards of Coaching Under 8s
06:13 Creating a Welcoming Tennis Community
08:32 Innovative Coaching Techniques and Player Development
18:56 The Importance of Fun and Problem-Solving in Tennis
31:17 The Importance of the Serve
31:59 Creative Drills for Serve Practice
33:17 Addressing Coaching Challenges
40:15 Teaching the Basics of Tennis
52:50 The Value of Group Sessions
57:16 Final Thoughts and Resources