Conversation #20 The activity written in your lesson plan is not necessarily the activity your players experience. Two coaches can deliver exactly the same drill, yet create completely different learning environments. Why? Because the drill only describes the basic task. What the player actually experiences is shaped by the interaction between: The environment. The task constraints. The coach’s behaviour. The other players. The individual’s abilities, intentions and previous experiences. Every player brings something different to the activity. They notice different information, perceive different opportunities and discover different movement solutions. This challenges one of the biggest assumptions in tennis coaching: The drill shapes the player. But the relationship works both ways. The player also shapes the drill. A practice that challenges one player may be too easy for another. A rule intended to invite attacking behaviour may make a different player more cautious. Th...