A Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching Tennis

A Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching Tennis presents a new evidence-based approach to develop and train tennis players. Coaching philosophy, technique, tactics, physical development, and mental strength, pertaining to beginners and professionals, are covered. This text bridges the gap between theoretical principles from within the most recent research and its practical application. Included are real-world examples of how different sets of constraints may be manipulated in order to develop more adaptable, skilled athletes. The reader will be challenged to create athlete-centered activities using variability, adaptability, and self-organization that guide individual athletes to find their own adaptable movement solutions. A Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching Tennis is an essential read for all tennis coaches, undergraduate students, physical education teachers, and those working within the growing racket sports industry.

Isaac McBroom is a seasoned tennis professional and an influential figure in coach development. As the co-founder of the Barnes Tennis Academy in San Diego, CA, Isaac honed his expertise by developing aspiring players and coaching ATP and WTA players over a distinguished 15-year span. His passion for nurturing talent led him to Life Time Fitness in 2013, where he spearheaded Junior Performance Programs before being appointed as National Coach Education Lead in 2015. Isaac's dedication to coach education extended further when he founded McBroom Coach Consulting, a premier organization devoted to empowering coaches to achieve their fullest potential. He now serves as the Education Manager for the Professional Tennis Registry. Rob Gray is a professor at Arizona State University who has been conducting research on, and teaching courses related to, perceptual-motor skills for over 25 years. He received his MS and PhD from York University in Canada with a focus on the visual control of movement. He has served as an expert consultant with the Nissan Motor Corporation, the U.S. Air Force, and several sports teams and organizations. He is the author of several books, including How We Learn to Move, Learning to Optimize Movement, and The Constraints Led Approach to Coaching Baseball. He is the host and producer of the popular Perception & Action podcast.

1. Introduction 2. The Traditional Approach to Coaching Tennis 3. Overview of Ecological Dynamics: The Constraints-Led Approach 4. The Control of Movements in Tennis 5. Affordances and Invitations 6. Gaze Behavior and the Pickup of Visual Information in Tennis 7. Practical Application 8. Representative Learning Design 9. Coaching Youth Tennis using the Constraints-Led Approach 10. Overcoming Perception and Challenges of Implementing the Constraints-Led Approach 11. Application to Other Racquet Sports 12. Final Reflections