# @mytenniscoaching on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcMvlkIAu0t
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69372496-mytenniscoaching-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/ceb57336bb.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-18T23:00:05.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Steve Whelan | International Tennis Coach Developer (@mytenniscoaching) — https://gondola.cc/mytenniscoaching

## Caption

Conversation 31/43 

The same ball does not present the same problem to every player.

That can be difficult for tennis coaches to understand because we often assume players see what we see.

But perception is not a neutral recording of the world.

What a player perceives is shaped by their body, abilities, experiences, confidence, intentions and relationship with the environment.

Two players can receive the same ball, yet perceive different opportunities for action.

One may perceive an opportunity to attack.

Another may perceive pressure and attempt to survive.

One may recognise space down the line.

Another may perceive the cross-court ball as the more achievable option.

They may therefore discover completely different movement solutions—and both solutions could be functional for the individual player at that moment.

This is why great coaching cannot be reduced to giving every player the same technical answer.

Your preferred solution may not fit that player’s body, intentions, capabilities or the problem they are attempting to solve.

Great coaching means recognising the individual in front of you, designing an appropriate problem and shaping the environment so they can search for their own functional solution.

That does not mean the coach becomes passive.

It means we guide learning without assuming our solution is the only solution.

Before jumping in with an answer, ask:

What does this player perceive?

What are they trying to achieve?

What solution might this problem invite them to discover?

The same ball does not create the same problem for everyone.

Coach the player not your picture of the perfect movement.

Our journey towards Conversation 43 continues tomorrow.

Follow mytenniscoaching for evidence-based coach education.

#TennisCoaching #CoachEducation #EcologicalPsychology #EcologicalDynamics #ConstraintsLedApproach

## Stats

- **Views:** 1,526
- **Likes:** 17
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- **Comments:** 1

## Tags

constraintsledapproach, ecologicaldynamics, coacheducation, ecologicalpsychology, tenniscoaching

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