Always a keen writer, Kris regularly shares his views which are often considered a bit out of the box. His original and creative thinking could spark something new in you that could lead to a positive development in your life.
- October 7 | Entry 69 – Adrian Stonebridge – part 8 – the deciding setWelcome to the last episode in the Adrian Stonebridge story. I cannot think of a better way to sign off this magnificent series than hearing more from Adrian on how he refined his tennis coaching academy. Just when I thought I’d heard all of his stories, he casually drops in the fact he was a […]
- September 26 | Entry 68 – Adrian Stonebridge – part 7 – from tennis court to stageWelcome to part 7 of the Adrian Stonebridge story. This episode is absolutely jam packed with amazing chapters from Adrian’s story. We start off by talking around a couple of typical issues I see in the tennis coaching world. We quickly then jump back into Adrian’s story and he unpacks what a typical year in […]
- August 26 | Entry 67 – Adrian Stonebridge – part 6 – 1st club – 1st tournamentWelcome to part 6 of the Adrian Stonebridge story where we venture back to Adrian’s first ever tennis club experience. We then hear about how the tennis tournament scene was in the 1950’s. It will be interesting to hear if you think things have changed that much. This is a lovely trip down memory lane […]
- July 11 | Entry 66 – Adrian Stonebridge – part 5 – starting up the Stonebridge Tennis AcademyIn this episode you will hear about the early days of the Adrian Stonebridge Tennis Academy. This led us naturally down a very relaxed chat about the tennis coaching world. I really enjoyed listening to this chat again and I hope you do also. Please pass it on to your friends. Intro/outro music by http://www.hueandcry.co.uk Artwork […]
- June 28 | Entry 65 – Adrian Stonebridge – part 4 – nothing possible without my wifeBringing you part 4 of the Adrian Stonebridge story where you will hear about another cruel twist of fate which brought Adrian and his wife, Jackie, together. It is very clear, Adrian and Jackie are a fantastic partnership and have supported each other throughout their lives. For me, this was a heartwarming listen. I hope […]
- June 21 | Entry 64 – Adrian Stonebridge – Part 3 – The origins of the Skeleton SystemPart 3 of the Adrian Stonebridge story is here and you will hear how Adrian first started making his name at the Westside Tennis Club in Wimbledon. We then move on to discuss the origins of his coaching methodology, the Skeleton System. More great storytelling from a brilliant man who has brought joy to many […]
- June 10 | Entry 63 – Adrian Stonebridge – part 2 – From RAF to Tennis CoachEntry no.63 brings you part 2 of the Adrian Stonebridge story. In this episode you will hear how being a tennis player gave Adrian a leg up when serving in the RAF (pun intended). You will then hear about Adrian’s first experiences attending coach education courses and his first jobs in tennis. A world-class story […]
- June 2 | Entry 62 – Adrian Stonebridge – Finding TennisEntry no.62 brings you the incredible Adrian Stonebridge. Adrian is 84 years old and has spent his entire life using the great game of tennis to help others. In the early 1980’s he founded the Stonebridge Tennis Academy which was a full-time training academy for tennis COACHES. This is part 1 of a series which […]
- May 10 | Entry 61 – Kris Gray – Tenerife Tennis AcademyEntry 61 brings you Scottish tennis coach, Kris Gray. Kris is the co-owner of the Tenerife Tennis Academy and has had quite the tennis journey. Having trained in various European locations as a junior and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Juan Carlos Fererro, David Ferrer and David Nalbandian. We talk through his junior playing […]
- May 4 | Entry 60 – Being consumedEntry 60 is a 7 minute dive into something I’ve been wrestling with recently. My hope is you can relate to this topic and find personal solutions to work through it. I would love to hear how you tackle this topic and welcome any feedback. Intro/outro music by http://www.hueandcry.co.uk Artwork by http://olinightingale.com
- April 26 | Entry 59 – Howard Green – Marine Commando to SupermoversThis journal entry brings you former Marine Commando, Howard Green. Howard left the marines and ventured into the world of strength and conditioning. Shortly after, he was attracted by the chaotic nature of tennis. Over the last 11 years he has built a brilliant reputation in the tennis world and now leads the fitness programme […]
- April 19 | Entry 58 – Be a show offThis weeks episode will feel like an actual journal entry. There is no guest as I had a week off so I decided to chat for 10 minutes on something I’ve changed my mind on in recent months. Take a listen and let me know your thoughts on my reframe. Intro/outro music by http://www.hueandcry.co.uk Artwork by http://www.olinightingale.com […]
- April 12 | Entry 57 – Rosie Sterk – Smashing through doorsThis journal entry brings you, 17 year old tennis player, Rosie Sterk. Rosie has just secured her full tennis scholarship at Montana University and I thought it would be great to chat around that process and some other tennis topics. What I wasn’t prepared for was just how amazingly articulate, wise and passionate Rosie is. […]
- April 5 | Entry 56 – Lara Suarez-Neves – To motherhood…. and beyondI am delighted to bring you Lara Suarez-Neves, mother, tennis coach and, now, working in brand identity within the tennis world. It is vital we get the messages from this podcast out there for people to speak about. Lara tells her story into tennis playing and coaching. Her coaching career was put on halt when […]
- April 2 | UNDERESTIMATED SUPERPOWERSWill we ever see a year like 2020? I bloody well hope not! Being stuck in a Co-Vid lockdown has offered a few silver linings. Spending way more time with my wife and children, learning how to adapt and pivot my business, getting even more used to delivering online and offering a chance to […]
- March 29 | Entry 55 – Nick Williams – Bringing vision to lifeJournal entry 55 brings you Nick Williams, LTA level 5 tennis coach and tutor, and now, qualified nutritional therapist. Already. this podcast has had quite the effect on me. This is a great chat about how Nick has gone about constantly evolved his career with his end game in mind. There are many great lessons […]
- March 22 | Entry 54 – Anne Keothavong – Searching for belongingThis journal entry brings you Anne Keothavong, former WTA player, career high ranking of 48 and now Britain’s Billie Jean Cup captain (formerly Fed Cup). This conversation is all about the sense of belonging in tennis. From the age of 4, Anne could feel she was different from the majority of others in tennis. We […]
- March 15 | Entry 53 – Mike Aitken – Changing lives for 36 yearsJournal entry no.53 brings you Scottish coach, Mike Aitken. A true Scottish tennis stalwart, who is admired by everyone in the game. One of the most honest and humble coaches you could ever meet. In this episode you will hear how he got into the game, took the brave plunge to go into full-time coaching […]
- March 3 | Entry 52 – Alan Beaddie – Clontarf Tennis Club Aces the Majors – St Francis HospiceThis impromptu episode brings you Irish tennis coach, Alan Beaddie. Alan has been raising funds for St Francis Hospice for the last 4 years and has created an imaginative initiative to raise more funds while in lockdown. We talk about his idea, the hospice and then have a great chat about his tennis coaching career […]
- March 1 | Entry 51 – Cultiv8 Tennis – Developing people for lifeEntry 51 brings you 4 of the 7 team at Cultiv8 Tennis. A fantastic player development and sports science company based out of Leeds, England. We have head of coaching, sports science, nutrition and strength and conditioning all chatting through the what, why and how of their work. It was a fascinating insight to how […]
- February 22 | Entry 50 – Anna Smith – Journey to top 50Podcast journal entry no.50 sees former top 50 WTA doubles player, Anna Smith, bring you her tennis journey. This podcast gives you a real insight to the key learnings and reflections of a successful professional tennis player. You will hear how Anna first got into tennis and how tennis wasn’t necessarily her first choice sport. […]
- February 15 | Entry 49 – Pete Bothwell – his journey to Davis Cup teamEntry 49 brings you, former ATP pro and Irish Davis Cup player, Pete Bothwell. Pete reached a career high of 602 in singles and retired at the tender age of 24. He is now steaming ahead with a career in coaching. He reflects on his tennis journey, from sleeping in airports to catch early flights […]
- February 8 | Entry 48 – Mark WalkerEntry 48 brings you Scottish tennis coach, Mark Walker. Mark has developed many Scottish players from their early years, through to playing international level tennis. Coach to ATP top 50 doubles player, Jonny O’Mara for 12 years. This is podcast of 2 halves. 1st half we delve into the unique route Mark took into tennis […]
- February 1 | Entry 47 – Emma Doyle – Dream SeekersMy 47th tennis journal entry brings you Emma Doyle. Hailing from Australia, Emma has constantly invested in her skills as a coach over many years and has worked in many areas of tennis and business. You will hear about Emma’s journey and how she has transformed her business in the early months of Co-Vid hitting […]
- January 25 | Entry 46 – Mike Castle – Learning about learningKSTJ podcast is back! I’m delighted to bring you Mike Castle of Cardiff Met University. Mike is a lecturer in physical education and sport pedagogy and is currently near the end of his PHD in sports coaching which focuses on the social nature of learning within a coach education context. This podcast has really got […]
- July 13 | Entry 45 – Ze Lopes – Portuguese Tennis CultureLast week, my Portuguese friend, Ze Lopes, told me he had quit his secure and salaried job in a fantastic tennis club. When I asked him why, I was blown away by his response. I asked him on the show to talk about his new venture, the Portuguese tennis culture and the why he’s made […]
- July 6 | Entry 44 – Rodney Rapson – PlaysightEntry 44 brings you Australian tennis coach, and now, Playsight Managing Director for Europe and UK. Rodney didn’t start playing tennis until he was 12 and entered his 1st competition at 13. Less than 5 years later, he was competing in the Australian Open Junior Event. This is a meteoric rise. He took up a […]
- July 2 | Entry 43 – My Lockdown ReflectionsEntry 43 is a proper journal entry. 13 minutes of my lockdown reflections. I talk about professional tennis and what it has revealed, including Novak Djokovic’s exhibition. I then move on to my reflections on what I need to be truly happy I get a little controversial on how some coaches believe they are entitled […]
- June 22 | Entry 42 – Elizabeth Caproni – Being YourselfEntry 42 was an emotional chat for me. Elizabeth Caproni is an actor, writer and impersonator. In her mid-teens she was bullied by her, so called friends, to such a degree she left school with no qualifications despite being in the top classes in most subjects. Why was she bullied? Simply because she expressed the […]
- June 15 | Entry 41 – Mike James – Halton Tennis Club – a constant evolution of a visionEntry number 41 to my tennis journal is with UK legendary coach, Mike James. Mike is the director of coaching at one the of the UK’s best tennis clubs, Halton. He has been there for 27 years which is testament to his ability to have a clear vision which constantly evolves. Originally from Kenya, he […]
- June 11 | Entry 40 LOVE – Judy Murray – Back to Tennis with BrodiesThis was an impromptu podcast where Judy tells us about her exciting new ‘Back to Tennis with Brodies’ programme. You will hear about the 3 programmes which are now available, FREE OF CHARGE, on the Judy Murray Foundation YouTube Channel. Link is below. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9saCl8cTnHNdUi54Iglhj_3S8e5jAOmE It is an amazing programme and features many of the great […]
- June 8 | Entry 39 – Jonny O’Mara – ATP Tour Doubles PlayerJournal entry 39 is from Scottish ATP Tour Doubles player, Jonny O’Mara. Currently (June 2020) is ranked number 54 in the world. Reached the quarter final of the Australian Open Doubles in 2020 before Co-Vid struck and wiped out the tour. Jonny talks brilliantly about his junior days, his coaches to date and his learnings […]
- June 1 | Entry 38 – Hazel & Jordan Gray – Tennis & Fitness industriesIn journal entry 38, I speak to two guests at same time. Husband and wife dynamic duo of Jordan and Hazel Gray. Jordan is an internationalist in senior tennis, representing Scotland and Britain many times. He is also a fantastic and passionate tennis coach. Hazel runs a great fitness business out of their house in […]
- May 25 | Entry 37 – Toby Smith – A tennis journey of joyWelcome to entry #37 to my journal where I speak to my pal, and tour coach, Toby Smith. Toby is the travelling coach to world #54 doubles player, Jonny O’Mara. He has experienced success at every age of coaching, having worked with some of the world’s best players U10 all the way through to the […]
- May 18 | Entry 36 – Mel Benson – Girls in sport, creating opportunitiesWelcome to the 36th entry into my tennis journal. This weeks guest is part of the senior leadership team at St Georges School for girls in Edinburgh. Mel Benson started getting involved in delivery of tennis only 4 years ago and in that time has becomes a genuinely inspirational leader in creating opportunities for her […]
- May 11 | Entry 35 – Vania King – Serving Up HopeThe 35th entry into my tennis journal is from Wimbledon and US Open doubles champion, Vania King. Former world number 3 in doubles and top 50 in singles. 15 doubles titles and 1 singles title to her name and is now come to the end of her playing career but starting a new chapter with […]
- May 4 | Entry 34 – DR DAVID HAMILTON – When tennis and science collideIt was a great pleasure to finally chat with my friend, David Hamilton. Author, Speaker and columnist, and genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever met. He is world renowned for his work in the mind and body connection. 10 books later, he has made the time to leave an entry in my […]
- April 30 | GOAL-SETTING THINK TANK PLAYLIST
- April 27 | Entry 33 – MILES MACLAGAN – his journey from playing to coachingWelcome to journal entry number 33 and what a fantastic chat I had with Mile MacLagan. Former ATP player, GB Davis Cup team member and tour coach to Andy Murray, Borna Coric, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Sam Stosor and Laura Robson. Equally important, he is a great person who clearly loves tennis and learning. We chat through […]
- April 20 | Entry 32 – GREG MCHUGH – from sporting obsession to professional actorGreg McHugh is a very successful professional actor. Made famous for his creation of Gary Tank Commander, playing Howard on Fresh Meat and starring in The A Word. A talented writer, actor and comedian for sure. However, what most people don’t know, is Greg’s first passion was sport. In this episode, he talks of his […]
- April 13 | Entry 31 – Ed Corrie – reflections from Junior to ATP careerIt was a real pleasure chatting with ex-ATP player, Ed Corrie. He left a fantastic entry in my journal and one that had me thinking for hours afterwards. You will hear lots of fantastic reflections from his journey through international’s junior events, US college and on to the ATP Tour. We discuss so many different […]
- April 12 | TENNIS AT HOME – Footwork – Athletic Hop
- April 12 | Changing your grip at home
- April 12 | TENNIS AT HOME – Chute to Score
- April 12 | TENNIS AT HOME – using Balloons at home
- April 12 | TENNIS AT HOME – Learning tennis on paper
- April 12 | TENNIS AT HOME – Footwork – Hops and Jumps
- April 12 | Project Dinosaur to Dynamo – part 2
- April 12 | Project Dinosaur to Dynamo – part 1
- December 23 | Entry 30 – SARAH FLOTEL – TRANSFORMING YOUR INNNER GAMEIn this episode you will hear from wellbeing coach, Sarah Flotel. This was an enlightening chat, as my perception of spiritual and soulful work was that it is intangible. However, I could not have been any more mistaken as most of the work results in practical activities you can do in your own time. You […]
- December 2 | Let’s throw out the patchwork quiltI’m going back to my blogging roots. When I first started blogging, I had a rule of 15 minutes typing without major editing. Essentially, I type what is on my mind and don’t change my mind so here goes…. I am not politically minded and couldn’t tell you what the major differences are between the […]
- October 23 | Entry 29 Garry Cahill – Prodigy TennisIn this episode you will hear from the one and only Garry Cahill. Gary was the performance director and national academy coach for Tennis Ireland for 14 years. 4 of those years he was Davis Cup Captain for Ireland. He has worked with players who have played the main draw of grand slams at senior […]
- September 18 | Entry 28 – Barry Fulcher – Progress Tour – Bridging the gap in competitionIn this 28th episode, you will hear from former ATP Professional, Barry Fulcher. Barry is the founder and director of the fabulous Progress Tour. Providing a money tour for tennis players wishing to compete to a high level on their doorstep, earn money to keep them in the professional game and prolong their competitive careers […]
- August 21 | Scratching under the surface of the 1-4 shot statOn average, 70% of all points are finished within 4 shots on the professional tour. In typical fashion, many coaches are jumping on the bandwagon and perceiving that we should be placing most of our focus on to the 1st 4 shots at all levels. In this blog, I will offer a different view to […]
- August 21 | Entry 27 – Scratching under the surface of the 1-4 shot statisticI have taken a different approach for this podcast. In this 7 minute podcast you will hear my thoughts on the statistic that is dominating tennis. 70% of all points are finished within 4 shots. I believe this stat is being butchered and misunderstood by coaches. In this show, you will hear me scratch beneath […]
- August 5 | Entry 26 – DEAN SUTHERLAND – POWER RANGER – WORLD CHAMP KICKBOXER – PRO BOXERIn this episode you will hear from the exceptional Dean Sutherland. Dean is a former multiple world kickboxing champion and has made a smooth transition into the world of professional boxing. You will hear how he was transformed into a fighting machine from the age of 3 and exhausted all options in kickboxing. Now he […]
- August 1 | THE TIPPING POINT BETWEEN WHINING AND WINNINGDuring Wimbledon, I spent some time with someone who used to work in tennis and now works in a different sport. He made a statement which has been running around my mind gathering moss. This blog is my attempt to weed kill between my ears. The essence of his statement was, the people who work […]
- July 12 | Entry 25 – MARK BULLOCK – the vision of inclusive tennisWelcome to another episode and another guest. In this show, you will hear from internationally respected disability coach, Mark Bullock will let you know how he got into disability sport by the nature of him having a driving licence. Most importantly, you will hear how open and honest Mark is about his journey to becoming […]
- June 21 | THE SUPERPOWER OF SENSITIVITYLong before I can even remember, I’ve been labelled sensitive. It has come in many shapes and sizes and as I have become more mature and reflected on this label, it strikes me, it has never had a positive slant. In this blog, I will share how I developed certain coping strategies to transform my […]
- June 5 | Entry 24 – Road Tripping with Judy Murray – Bonus EpisodeIn this bonus episode, you’ll hear Judy and I discuss two topics. First, I ask Judy what Andy and Jamie would have made of mini-tennis if they were 7 and 8 years old nowadays Secondly, I ask her opinions on Sir Alex Fergusons method of identifying some of his players through the parents, mainly the […]
- May 30 | Entry 23 – Road Tripping with Judy MurrayIn my latest podcast show, you will hear a 40 minute conversation between myself and Judy Murray while we were driving on the M25 in London. We were coming to the end of an epic National workshop roadshow and we discuss Judy’s crazy schedule, all the what’s, why’s and how’s of everything we were doing […]
- May 7 | The most important ingredient is LOVEWe all know that ‘love’ in tennis means zero but, in life, it means everything. Did you know, the origin of the term in tennis derives from the French word ‘l’oeuf’, which means egg. This represented the number zero and, for some reason, it stuck. However, the purpose of this blog is not to speak of […]
- March 28 | Remember the days of the autodidact?This week I listened to an amazing man speak on a podcast. His name is Colin Salmon and he is an actor, plays jazz trumpet and has a steel drum band. I didn’t know his name but I recognised his voice. When I googled him, I recognised his face from various TV programmes. About 2/3 […]
- March 1 | Entry 22 – Nicholas Jacobsen – see the ability not the disabilityIn January 2019, I met an exceptional young man on a coach education workshop I ran in London. I asked for a volunteer to help demonstrate some exercises and his exact reply was “I will, I have cerebral palsy but I’ll be fine” Nick is a level 3 tennis coach, working out of David Lloyd […]
- February 27 | TENNIS DRILL – WRONG FOOTING YOUR OPPONENT
- February 25 | 5 reasons why mini-tennis is not workingLast week a colleague and friend sent me a video of a young player’s forehand. It was, what I describe, a Frankenstein Forehand. Meaning, it looked like a science experiment where a coach had taken a piece of every forehand trend and meshed it all together to create this monster. This forehand quickly lead to […]
- February 18 | 8 STEPS TO A HEALTHIER TENNIS COACH – COMMITTEE RELATIONSHIPI believe we are at a tipping point in tennis….. The Davis Cup reforms – FANS being disregarded ITF World Tour – PLAYERS being disregarded Tennis Clubs – COACHES and committees appear to be battling with each other. The world of tennis has changed massively in the last 10-15 years. Some for the better and some […]
- February 5 | DON’T POUR POISON INTO EARSWords do matter! When it comes to language, we have a responsibility to ensure we do all we can to make our words as impactful as possible. I hear impactful words all time. Unfortunately, the words have a negative impact. People are, on a daily basis, pouring poison into each others ears. Last Sunday I […]
- February 4 | Entry 21 – Max Evans – Rugby pro to Padel Tennis ambassadorIt has been a real pleasure getting to know Max in the last 5 months. Former rugby professional, capped 44 times for Scotland and, most recently known for his 3rd place finish on Dancing Ice. In this chat we cover a range of topics from what motivated him to become a sporting star, how his […]
- January 22 | BUILDING CONFIDENCE
- January 18 | My love/hate affair with social mediaI can’t quite recall when I entered into the world of social media. In some ways, it feels like it was just yesterday, in others it feels like it was a lifetime ago. It is safe to say, I have a very strange relationship with social media. I am going to attempt to articulate it […]
- January 12 | My favourite Andy Murray memoryIt has been a slightly surreal 24 hours since Andy gave his emotional press conference in Australia. There has been an outpouring of emotion from his many fans around the world and huge support from his peers and legends of the game. This speaks volumes, not just for the player, but for the person he […]
- December 29 | 2018 Tennis Tour ReviewSo Christmas is over, we’re all probably full to the gills with unhealthy food and in just a few days, the 2019 tennis season will be upon us. In this week’s hit in the service box, I will review the tennis year and give my predictions on who may break through in 2019. So let’s […]
- December 18 | Entry 20 – The new ITF World Tennis TourIn this bonus episode, I unpack the new ITF World Tennis Tour. You will hear how the new tour is to be structured, how the new rankings are calculated, how players gain entries to all the different levels and, finally, what I think it will mean to British tennis players. I am looking for your […]
- December 11 | WRITE THE BEST SONG YOU CANThe title will make sense nearer the end of this blog. DISCLAIMER: I am ambitious, always have been, always will be. I am competitive, always have been, always will be. I want every single player to reach the level they deserve to. I want more British players to be self-sustaining tennis professionals. Never, in my […]
- December 11 | Entry 19 – Ally Begg – from boyband to football producerWelcome to part 2 of the Ally Begg chat. In this episode you will hear how Ally carved out a career in TV presenting after his spell in boyband, Bad Boys Inc. Ally did what I wish more would do. He attached his newfound skill set to his passion, in this case, football. Ally immersed […]
- December 7 | Entry 18 – Ally Begg – from footballer to boybandWelcome to episode 18 of the podcast and what a cracker it is In this show, you will hear from BeIn Sports Senior Football producer on how he dreamed of being a professional footballer for Aberdeen Football Club and, instead, ended up being in a successful boyband. Yes, you read that correctly, a boyband. Ally […]
- November 27 | IT’S WHAT WE DON’T SEE THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCEI have re-written the start of this blog about 10 times now. This is very unusual for me as writing normally comes naturally to me. The reason I’ve struggled, I didn’t want to write about myself as I’m concerned I come across as narcissistic. As with a lot of people, I tend to overly worry […]
- November 25 | DADDY – DAUGHTER TIME – kitchen tennis
- November 20 | FAMILY TENNIS TIME PLAYLIST
- November 14 | USING EMOJIS TO CHART MENTAL SKILLS IN TENNIS
- November 12 | Being NORMAL is the new exceptionalI entered the words ‘being normal’ into the google search bar and was confronted with pages upon pages of pictures stating that ‘normal’ is boring and, would appear, is frowned upon in modern society. Last week I was speaking with a friend and colleague and we were both agreeing that, what was once considered normal […]
- November 9 | MATCH CHARTING #5 – STATISTICS AND PERFORMANCE
- November 8 | DEVELOPING RALLY SKILLS IN TENNIS
- November 6 | “You can tell they have been coached!”This is a saying I have found myself saying more and more in recent years. The sad thing being I have found myself saying it with a heavy heart. What am I seeing when I see someone who I think has received a lot of coaching? Wooden strokes Posed finishes to their strokes Poor movement […]
- October 16 | RALLY THRESHOLD OR FIRST STRIKE MENTALITY?
- October 14 | Entry 17 – Georgie Bruinvels – FITR Women “A game changer for girls”In this episode I am working with a co-host, Judy Murray, and a special guest, Georgie Bruinvels Georgie is the research scientist responsible for the development and launch of an amazing new app which helps females track and support themselves through their menstrual cycle. There is also a brand new app which allows the coach […]
- October 8 | MATCH CHARTING #4 – PATTERNS OF PLAY
- October 1 | MATCH CHARTING – #2 – TACTICS INTO TECHNIQUE
- September 20 | HOW TO WRITE A MATCH REPORT IN TENNIS
- September 18 | Changing the feeling of THREAT into the feeling of OPPORTUNITYIt is said, the only instinct we are born with is survival. It this instinct that drives our behaviour while under pressure. It is amazing that our brain took millions of years to evolve and millions of years later it remains the same. When there is a perceived threat to our ‘survival’ we act in […]
- September 10 | Serena is guilty…… of being human….On Saturday evening a 36 year old mother and a 20 year old lady walked on a court to play a game. It just so happened there were around 23,000 people there to witness this game and countless millions watching on various devices around the world. On this occasion, it was the younger lady who […]
- September 6 | BAN COACHING FOR A YEARDon’t worry, I’ve not lost my mind but please bear with me while I unpack this statement. I was a speaker at a conference last year and, as per normal, you do a Q&A at the end. Quite often people don’t want to ask questions in case they look foolish so I prompted the facilitator […]
- August 28 | Entry 16 – Yasmin Clarke – from playing on tour to coaching on tourIn this episode you will hear from Yasmin Clarke, former tour professional who now, plays an integral part, of Jay Clarke’s team. We discuss Jasmin’s quick rise to international level junior tennis and whether she believes her quick transition to the senior game was a positive or a negative. You will hear Jasmin speak fondly […]
- August 24 | How much time do you spend with your loved ones?Last week’s journal entry was around the subject of contribution. I have had lot’s of nice messages on the blog with many stating they are reflecting how they view their contribution. That is the exact reason I write blogs and post on social media. All I want people to do is reflect on how they […]
- August 17 | The Cogs of ContributionIt has been a strange week for tennis. For the first time in my 33 years involved in tennis, it feels like a fundamental change has happened within the game. The ITF nations voted 71% in favour of the new Davis Cup reforms. The competition, as we know it, will no longer feel remotely the […]
- July 24 | Learnings from the world of boxingFor those of you that know me a little bit, get ready to have a chuckle. For those of you know me best, you’ll get this! I have taken up……. BOXING!! Why, I hear you ask? Three reasons, I want to get fit (hate going to the gym by myself), I prefer to learn a […]
- July 18 | The Irish Tennis FamilyI am a big fan of the proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. I strongly believe the tennis world needs to embrace the essence of this proverb when it comes to creating a culture of tennis. The reality for most countries is they don’t have singular places which can cater for the […]
- July 4 | Story instead of StatsIt is estimated 67.4% of all statistics are made up on the spot 😉 Yes, I am sarcastic and cynical. Not a great combination but it does make me constantly challenge things and ask questions. I can’t help but question almost every statistic I hear especially when it is used to highlight growth in tennis. […]
- June 28 | Determination vs DesperationI wrote this blog over 3.5 years ago. As I watch Columbia vs Sengal in the World Cup, I cannot help but think how important it is to remain determined to perform and not desperate to win. Some of the play acting I am seeing in this football tournament sometimes makes me embarrassed to be a […]
- June 25 | To GROW-UP or PLAY?“Oh, grow-up for goodness sake” How many times have you heard that in your life? Have you found yourself saying this to your children? I have told my son to grow up and he’s 3-years old. I remember telling him not to be such a baby and his response was priceless…… “but I am a […]
- June 22 | BOP itNo, this latest journal entry is not about a toy! If you don’t know me, I am a huge believer in developing tennis players with a tactical focus. Tennis a game and I believe the most fun you can have on a tennis court is in playing the game. With that in mind, I thought […]
- June 18 | Bring back the poster daysWas your bedroom wall plastered with posters of your sporting heroes? Mine were and I think we have an opportunity to bring the nostalgic days of posters on children’s bedroom walls. I am fed up of competitive tennis players not following professional tennis. There are more opportunities to watch tennis than at any point in […]
- June 15 | Entry 15 – Judy Murray – building from the foundation upWelcome to another episode of Kris Soutar’s Tennis Journal. In this episode you will hear from the one and only Judy Murray. You will hear about Judy’s exciting new foundation which will help develop tennis in rural and/or socially deprived areas around Scotland. You will get great insights into one of the world’s best tennis […]
- June 11 | Be a problem solverThis is a follow up from last week’s ‘does your coaching reflect life?‘ blog. I’m writing this to expand on the list of problems tennis players have to overcome if they are competitive tennis players. https://theservicebox.com/2018/06/05/does-your-coaching-reflect-the-game/ The reason I am writing this particular blog is to raise awareness on how many different areas there are […]
- June 5 | Does your coaching reflect life?Recent studies have suggested we spent just under 50% of our waking lives on autopilot. The rest of the time we are problem solving. Does your coaching reflect life? A tennis match involves so much problem solving from start to finish and our goal is to help players be able to solve a large […]
- May 28 | Cutting the cords of dependancy – part two – for the coachIs a player dependant on the coach or is the coach dependant on the player? Hopefully, the answer is neither but I am seeing a worrying trend of coaches creating a dependency between themselves and the player. As usual, if you are offended by that statement then I am clearly not meaning you. I am […]
- May 22 | Cutting the cords of dependancyI recently heard a coach say ‘we are putting a strong team around him’ As with most things in tennis, trends are often set by the very best players in the world. The emergence of large tennis teams accompanying the very best players around the globe has raised awareness of the hugely important aspect of […]
- May 15 | Entry 14 – Elliott Mould – ADHD – a journey of self discoveryThis show brings you an extraordinary story from an incredible young man. Elliott Mould was a full-time tennis and has been world no.1 in touchtennis on and off for the last 7 years. However, this is not his story. Elliott was diagnosed with ADHD at 7 years old and spent the next 7 years […]
- May 7 | Stats the way ….ahaha I like it ….ahahaI’m hoping I’ve not been either, too clever or too old, with my title. I am a geek. I say that as it has taken me decades to embrace this side of me and I would say it is only in recent years I am now openly proud to say I am this way. When […]
- May 7 | Reflective Questions Playlist
- May 3 | Be a Michelin starred Tennis CoachThis is going to be a super quick little read. Something for you to mull over as you sit and have your next cup of tea or coffee. Are you a Michelin starred tennis coach? I don’t mean do you coach the best players in the world. Do you strive to maintain and constantly develop […]
- May 1 | Entry 13 – Leolia JeanJean – the pressures of being a child prodigy in tennisLeolia JeanJean is a tennis player from France with an exciting future ahead of her. Once considered a tennis prodigy with long-term contracts from Nike and Lacoste, Leolia suffered a bad injury which saw her sponsors drop her like a stone. Reaching a career high WTA ranking of 548 using her own money she decided […]
- April 30 | Compare with Caution -the pitfalls of taking your eye off the ballIt all starts at a very early age…. “Max, you don’t need a nappy, be a big boy like your friends. None of them still wear a nappy” Max is 3 years old and already I am questioning whether this common tactic is sewing the seeds for a life of comparing himself with other people […]
- April 25 | Time to Invest in the CockroachesI bet your wondering where I am going with this blog? A colleague of mine recently, affectionally, referred to me as a cockroach. Perhaps you are wondering how on earth it is possible to affectionally call someone a cockroach. I asked exactly the same question. He explained, cockroaches apparently would survive a nuclear war. I […]
- April 25 | The Realities of Coaching Playlist
- April 13 | Let’s farm out tennis!!April 2018 Last weekend we took the kids to one of our favourite places in the world, Aviemore. I love this place as the pace of life is so much slower and relaxed and there are tons of things to do. When I sit back and look at the town I see it as a […]
- April 4 | Facebook Live Q&A from 23rd March 2018
- April 4 | Tennis Methodology Playlist
- April 4 | Player Development Pathway Playlist
- April 1 | Entry 12 – Stuart Fraser – insights to tennis tour journalismWelcome to another show where you will hear from The Times tennis correspondent, Stuart Fraser. Stuart travels the world reporting on the tennis tour and in this show you will hear what a typical year looks like, how Stuart got into journalism and worked his way up to be the main man at the UK’s […]
- March 29 | Be Bully ProofThis has been tough, really tough to write. It is such an emotive topic and I found myself writing with too much emotion. It is unlike me to take a long time to write but in this instance this article has been edited more than all my other blogs put together. So here goes…. First […]
- March 26 | Feel sorry for the cheats….The first thing I want to clarify is the title of this blog is tongue in cheek…… slightly. The second thing I want to mention is I hate the word cheat and something in me recoils when I hear people refer to people as cheats especially when they are referring to young children. So this […]
- March 16 | Hierarchy is the root of all evilThis is something I have been thinking for a while, and more recently, saying out loud. The more I think about it the more I believe it to be true and not just for tennis but in society also. Let’s list all of the areas of tennis where there is a hierarchy: Rankings Ratings Coaching […]
- March 15 | Entry 11 – Kelsey Stewart – Commonwealth Games AthleteIn this episode I bring you my first non-tennis guest. Kelsey is the British U23 400m champion and is representing Scotland in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Australia. This episode was recorded several weeks before she travelled to OZ. In this show you will gain insights to the world of an international level athlete […]
- March 14 | DEATH BY COMMITTEE – PART 2
- March 13 | FOOTWORK CYCLE PLAYLIST
- March 1 | Entry 10 – Jenny Claffey – Mindset of a ChampionIn this show you will hear from former WTA tour pro, Jenny Claffey. If you are a coach get this into the ears of any pupil you have that has competitive aspirations. Jenny has a world class mindset and you will hear exactly how she goes about her business. You will hear what motivated Jenny […]
- February 28 | Competing with instant gratificationDuring the mid-term holidays I took my family…….. trampolining!! I was literally jumping for joy (puntastic). I had never been to one of these facilities before but I’d heard a lot about them. The building was approximately the size of 3 court indoor hall and housed a multitude of jump related equipment for all ages. […]
- February 28 | BACKHAND PREPARATION TIPS
- February 28 | SLICE BACKHAND TIPS
- February 28 | Tactical Analysis FIRST Technical Analysis SECOND
- February 28 | HOW DO YOU SET GOALS??
- February 26 | Facebook Live – 24th February 2018
- February 16 | THREE LAYERS OF TECHNIQUE – CONFORM – APPLY – ADAPT
- February 15 | Entry 9 – Paul Delgado – Living Tennis – Building a Tennis BusinessWelcome to a cheeky bonus episode where I hear about developing a large tennis coaching business from director of Living Tennis, Paul Delgado. Paul is one of four directors with the others being his two brothers, Jamie and Johnny Delgado and ex top 100 pro, Martin Lee. In this episode he will tell […]
- February 14 | A little less conversation….Has tennis development largely become a paper exercise? There are now more people employed under ‘tennis development’ than ever before. I have been involved in the game for 33 years and in that time it has gone from having zero employees and hardly any coaches to 100’s of employees and 1000’s of coaches. So, here […]
- February 13 | Entry 8 – Half Hour Haver – Cameron Norrie – Implicit vs Explicit learningIn this haver I talk about Cameron Norrie’s amazing Davis Cup debut and then answer Ben Roberts-Law’s question on implicit vs explicit learning. I finish by setting up my next guest on the show, former tour pro and Irish Intro/outro music by http://www.hueandcry.co.uk Artwork by http://www.olinightingale.com
- February 13 | #13 – How do you YOU deal with cheats??
- February 7 | Don’t become a chef just because you like eating foodStrange title for a tennis blog huh! Last week I drove 27 hours for my week of work. This gave me time to do what has become a new passion, listen to 27 hours of podcasts. I did not listen to 1 minute of radio in that time. Podcasts allow me to do one of […]
- February 6 | How do you train?
- February 1 | Entry 7 – Dan Kiernan – Soto Tennis AcademyIn this episode you will hear from former ATP pro Dan Kiernan. Once Britain’s number 1 doubles player Dan brings a wealth of playing and coaching experience and is now director of the ever growing Soto Tennis Academy in the south of Spain. Dan will speak about how he first got into tennis and how […]
- January 27 | Do our players study for their exams?Earlier this week I was training with a player who is in the process of doing his prelims or mock exams as you may know them as. These are for his highers (Scottish equivalent to A levels) and are therefore pretty important. Ace your highers and all sort of doors can be opened for you […]
- January 27 | Entry 6 – Half Hour Haver – tennis philosophies and methodsIn this episode I have a haver while driving back from 3 long days of work. A haver is Scottish for a chat and I speak about what I’ve done last 3 days and give a little insight into some of my philosophies and principles. I also set up my next podcast which is released […]
- January 16 | I’ll see you in the gutter….Around 250 years ago our world experienced an industrial revolution. Measures were put in place to ensure the population had key skills to service this time in history and school education as we know it was born. The subjects of English and Math were prioritised as companies needed staff who could at least read, write […]
- January 3 | Entry 5 – Kenneth Bastiaens – Activate your PotentialWelcome to the 7th entry into my journal where I bring you world class motor skills expert, Kenneth Bastiaens. Kenneth was the head of fitness for the Belgian Tennis Federation for 10 years working with all their top players including Kim Clijsters, Ruben Bemelmans & Yanina Wickmayer. After coming away from life on the […]
- December 21 | Does the tennis world suffer from Destination Addiction?I am taking the unusual step of writing this blog as if it to a tennis player. The reality is not many tennis players will read this. It will be mainly coaches and parents.. However, if you read this and like it I would appreciate you sharing it with a tennis player who could benefit. […]
- December 18 | Be Kind…. it worksI have read around 20 books this year and the most impactful has been ‘The five side effects of kindness‘ by Dr David Hamilton. As the twists of fate had it David and I would become friends in 2017 and the impact of his book has been greater than he would ever know (until […]
- December 13 | Kris Soutar Tennis Journal – BLOG – Be the calm within the stormI am hearing more and more chat about the need for children to have emotional control on the tennis court. Funnily enough I have a slightly bizarre theory. Telling a child to control their emotions is bullshit! I know from being a dad to 2 young children, if they are upset […]
- December 11 | Kris Soutar Tennis Journal – BLOG – Talent Attraction for….. CoachingIf you have been watching my VLOGS you will know I have been talking about the world of coaching as an industry. I received an excellent email from a friend and colleague, Andrew Haw who now coaches in Germany. Amongst many great things he mentioned in his email he wrote “using the term ‘industry’ is […]
- December 6 | Entry 4 – Melissa Pine – WTA Finals Tournament DirectorIn this episode you will hear from the inspirational Melissa Pine. Melissa is the WTA Finals Tournament Director as well as Vice-President for WTA Asia/Pacific region. You will hear how Melissa first got into tennis and where this journey took her not only in her career but her learnings about how tennis transcends into life. […]
- November 22 | Entry 3 – Matt Little – the story of the tortoiseIn this episode you will hear from Matt Little. Matt leads Andy Murray’s fitness programme and has been a key member of team Murray for just over 10 years. You will hear Matt talk about how he got into strength and conditioning coaching. How he has proactively carved his own path up the tennis world, […]
- November 8 | Entry 2 – Louis Cayer – how he works with playersEpisode 1 went down a storm so as promised here we have part 2 of the Louis Cayer interview. In this show we go into more specific details on player and coach development. Louis shares his wisdom, thoughts and experience on the wide range of topics. We start by hearing how Louis prepares to work […]
- November 2 | Entry 1 – Louis Cayer – his journey through coachingWelcome to my first podcast! I figure that if you’re going to be listening to what I have to say, then I should tell you a bit about who I am. So that’s where this podcast starts; who is Kris Soutar, why is he talking about tennis and what is the Tennis Journal about? That […]
- October 31 | Soapy’s Singapore SwingIn October 2017 I had the pleasure of working with Judy Murray for the WTA at the end of year WTA championships in Singapore. I thought what better opportunity will I have than to write my first KS Tennis Journal Blog. The outward trip was a 22.5 hour affair and I’ll spare you the details […]
- October 31 | Episode 2
- December 15 | The Ace of ClubsTHE ACE OF CLUBS I recently had a spare day of time and decided to use this time to go and visit a place and person I had heard was great. I had met the coach several times and he always struck me as someone who knew his mind and didn’t conform (my favourite types). […]
- July 6 | Kyrgios as Kyrgios can beKyrgios as Kyrgios can be Its been just under two days since Nick Kyrgios sat in the press room at Wimbledon and answered truthfully the questions that were fired at him. There has been some support for the Aussie kid but in the main he appears to be getting a ridiculous amount of grief. I’ve […]
- June 29 | Tennis IdentityTennis Identity On Monday I watched James Ward take on defending champion, Novak Djokovic. Tim Henman was in the commentary booth and was asked what he felt James Ward would have to do to develop his ranking. His answer……….. ‘he needs to have a tennis identity’ His point was that the individual parts of James’ […]
- May 23 | The numbers gameThe numbers game Does Scotland have the luxury of having performance tennis programmes? As things stand Scotland has one tennis coach dedicated fully to junior performance tennis, take a bow Toby Smith! I feel a change coming…. In my opinion Scotland does not need talent ID programmes or specific performance programmes. Just so we’re clear […]
- May 18 | Could we farm tennis out a bit more….Could we farm tennis out a bit more…. Last Sunday I spent several hours at a local farm with my family and friends. We arrived, had a lovely lunch then played with the children in a huge playground which included trampolines, toy houses, bikes, cars, a huge fort, a go kart track and excellent pedal […]
- April 12 | How could a healthy competition structure help develop coaches?How could a healthy competition structure help develop coaches? “Most people work hard. Hard work is the common denominator in this equation. I’m tired of the story we tell that hard work leads to success. That story allows those of us who make it to believe that we deserve it and by implication those who […]
- March 23 | High Performing vs High PerformanceHigh Performing vs High Performance Last Friday I attended an excellent workshop hosted by SportScotland. It was to sound out representatives from many different sports on a new High Performance Coach Development Strategy. It was so interesting to hear from coaches in other sports and one particular area of interest was when one coach asked […]
- March 11 | People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you carePeople don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care Last night I was a guest at the Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust annual dinner. As part of the evening they held a Q&A with three of the clubs playing legends, Neale Cooper, Neil Simpson and John Hewitt. They were all […]
- March 10 | Parents – don’t make robots out of your childrenParents – don’t make robots out of your children The other day a coach and I found ourselves speaking about the myth of ‘you can only get better training with better players’. I used an analogy I’d never thought of before. I said, imagine there were 1000 robots all programmed to play tennis and part […]
- March 3 | Product of our environmentsProduct of our environments Ok, so I am going to stick to my 15 minute rule here and type as fast as I can and highlight my main message. A bunch of local coaches have a whatsapp thread, a great idea by the way. We use it for sharing events, news and the occasional debate […]
- January 21 | Technique has become……. too technical!!Technique has become………… too technical!! As I promised to myself at the start of my site, I am going to attempt to write this article in under 15 minutes. No editing other than spell check……… so here goes! Technique is my least favourite subject in tennis. I know it is important, I get that but […]
- September 30 | No such thing as easyNo such thing as easy How many times have you had someone ask for a lesson on returning slow second serves, hitting a mid court ball which sits up or easy put away volleys? It is often said that in order to change someones behaviour you first have to change the way they perceive or […]
- September 27 | Career paths in tennisRaising the bar This site is all about connection and collaboration. I believe together we can collectively contribute to raising the bar across the industry. It is often forgotten just how massive the tennis industry is. No matter what you interest you have you could connect it to tennis and create your dream job. Last […]
- September 24 | Naomi Cavaday on the perception of female coaches in British tennisNaomi is not only an excellent tennis player, she is an excellent tennis coach. She has amazing has had amazing experiences and has great skills. She desperately wants to use these to help tennis players develop. What is holding her back? She is a female. Read her excellent words as this happens in many parts […]
- September 24 | Take what you do seriously but not yourselfTake what you do seriously but not yourself! A lot of my blogs may feel like they are not tennis specific. I tend to write to get people thinking and there is enough reinventing of the wheel going on in the tennis world so I like to write about generic coaching principles which could potentially lead […]
- September 23 | Don’t get strung alongIt is my pleasure to introduce you to Huw Philips. Huw has been stringing for nearly 20 years and is qualified as a ERSA Master Racket Technician. Huw has been stringing at Professional tournaments including the Boodles championships at Stoke Park. His company, Racketspec provide a full racket matching and customisation service. If you […]
- March 30 | Feedback PyramidFeeding back by Kris Soutar “Be specific with your feedback” This is a comment I write on many a feedback form during coach education. Can you see the irony? I don’t like repeating myself so when I found myself saying the same thing over and over I had to ask myself what I could […]
- March 30 | Developing ConfidenceKris is a Scottish tennis coach who has been working within British Tennis for 23 years. He is an LTA Master Performance Coach and Senior Performance Tutor. As well as coaching and tutoring Kris is a speaker at National & International Conferences. Kris is the director of the high performance tennis company, The Service Box […]
- December 11 | Determination vs Desperation‘They only get emotional because they are so competitive’ These are the type of words and sentiment I hear often from parents when describing why their child folds under pressure. If someone loses emotional control it does not mean they are ‘more’ competitive than a person who maintains control. True competitiveness begins from within. Tennis […]
- December 3 | Help or HinderI am writing this days away from becoming a father for the second time. I am looking over at my 3 year old daughter lying sleeping on the sofa suffering from a cold that has floored her. I have spent the whole day helping my daughter mainly in the form of comforting her. I am […]