Tennis Works Limited

19/10/2026

Drill of the Week: Forehand & Backhand Combination

Consistency is important in tennis, but so is the ability to control direction and move efficiently between shots.

In this drill, we’re working on a simple but effective basket-feed pattern from the baseline:

2 Forehands Crosscourt → 1 Backhand Crosscourt

The basket feed allows the player to focus on shot ex*****on, footwork and recovery without having to worry about a live rally.

The key coaching points are to prepare early, move into position, maintain good balance through contact and recover ready for the next ball. Repeating this pattern also helps players develop rhythm and consistency on both sides.

As coaches, we want players to do more than simply hit the ball over the net. We want them to build reliable patterns they can use when it matters in a match.

Try this drill in your next session: Can your player maintain the pattern while keeping depth, control and accuracy?

Happy tennising, John Cavill

16/10/2026

I ran a Coach Seminar yesterday centered on Emotional Intelligence, and it sparked some fascinating debate. We looked at a few key moments in elite sport to explore how athletes navigate pressure, self-belief, and accountability.

We watched Coco Gauff speak openly about coaches coming and going, realizing that while people enter and exit her team, she ultimately has to take full responsibility and believe in herself. That stood in stark contrast to Nick Kyrgios unraveling against an umpire and the crowd, demonstrating what happens when accountability gets shifted entirely outward. We also reflected on Andy Murray’s emotional speech after losing at Wimbledon, showing raw vulnerability at the highest level, alongside Naomi Osaka’s troubling post-match interview where she admitted to feeling relief instead of joy when winning, which was an overwhelming dynamic that eventually led to her taking a break from the sport.

When we reached the 'Parents' section of the seminar, we watched one clip in particular that really hit home regarding the pressures placed on young athletes. It’s a powerful watch for any parent navigating the fine line between healthy encouragement and over-pushing.
I’d be really interested to get your thoughts on this:

https://youtu.be/ReJSPjSiMYQ?si=TjweRiS9JdCeP8br

Happy tennising!

John

In Give Sport Back To The Kids, Matt Young explains how parents, co...

15/10/2026

Sometimes, the best way to move your coaching business forward is to have the right conversation.

After many years in tennis, I’ve learnt that running a successful coaching business involves much more than delivering great sessions on court.

You might want to attract more players, improve player retention, develop your coaching programmes, reduce your administrative workload or simply find a better way to manage your business.

But sometimes, it’s difficult to know where to start or which changes will make the biggest difference.

That’s why I offer a free consultation call to discuss your goals, challenges and the opportunities available to you.

Whether you’re an independent coach, running a tennis academy or managing a club coaching programme, I’d be happy to hear about your situation and explore how I might be able to help.

No pressure just an opportunity to talk things through and gain a fresh perspective.

Ready to take the next step?

👉 Book your free call: https://tennisworks.net/free-call/

John Cavill

08/10/2026

When Coaches Doubt Themselves

Even experienced coaches can have moments where they question themselves.

“Am I good enough?”
“Do I really know what I’m doing?”
“What if people realise I’m not as good as they think I am?”

These thoughts can be part of what psychologists describe as the impostor phenomenon feeling like your achievements are down to luck rather than your own ability.

For coaches, this can be particularly difficult. We’re often expected to have the answers, lead others and project confidence, even when we’re dealing with our own uncertainty.

In this episode of the series, Dr Callum explores self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome in coaches, looking at why these feelings can develop and how coaches can start to manage them.

Because being a confident coach doesn’t mean you never doubt yourself. It means learning how to recognise those doubts without allowing them to define your ability or your potential.

Watch Dr Callum’s latest video and explore the mental side of coaching.

06/10/2026

Drill of the Week: Two Crosscourt, One Down the Line

In this drill, we’re working on direction, consistency and the ability to change the pattern of play.

The player starts on the baseline and receives a hand feed, hitting:

2 × Backhands Crosscourt → 1 × Backhand Down the Line

The first two balls are about building control and consistency crosscourt, before changing direction on the third ball and finding the down-the-line target.

It’s a simple pattern, but it encourages players to think about where they are sending the ball, how they recover after each shot and when to change direction. Crosscourt is generally a higher-percentage option because the ball travels over the lower part of the net, while changing direction down the line requires good control and accuracy.

A great drill for developing backhand consistency, directional control, footwork and tactical awareness.

Give it a try in your next session.

Happy tennising, John Cavill.

05/10/2026

The 15th October is coming around quickly, and there are still places available for my upcoming Mastering Emotional Intelligence & Parent Partnerships seminar.

After years of coaching, I’ve learnt that the technical side of tennis is only part of the job. Understanding players, communicating with parents, managing difficult situations and knowing when to push or step back can make a huge difference to a coach’s success.

That’s exactly what we’ll be exploring during this practical coach seminar the Coaching Triangle of coach, player and parent.

Thursday 15th October 2026
10am–1pm
Stony Stratford Tennis Club
£30 including VAT
3 LTA Accreditation Points available via Independent Learning

If you’ve been thinking about coming along, now is the time to book your place.

I’d love to see you there, meet other coaches, share experiences and have some honest conversations about the people side of coaching.

Book your place here - https://tennisworks.net/events/mastering-emotional-intelligence/

Happy tennising, John Cavill

Thurs 15th October 2026, 10am–1pm, Stony Stratford Tennis Club The Coaching Triangle: Mastering Emotional Intelligence & Parent Partnerships The technical side of tennis is only half the battle. Navigating the complex human dynamics between coach, player, and parent is often where the real challen...

30/09/2026

Recovery from injury isn’t just about getting the body back to where it was.

There’s another side that we don’t always talk about enough the mental struggle that can come with being injured and trying to return to sport.

Fear, frustration, loss of confidence and the uncertainty of whether your body will hold up again can all become part of the recovery process. The IOC has highlighted the importance of psychological support, goal-setting and maintaining connection with the sporting environment during rehabilitation.

In this video, Dr Callum Gowling explores the mental challenges athletes can experience during recovery and why psychological readiness deserves just as much attention as physical rehabilitation.

For coaches, understanding this side of recovery is important. Sometimes the player who looks physically ready to return may still need time to rebuild trust and confidence.

Watch Dr Callum’s talk and learn more about the mental side of recovery.

28/09/2026

Good volleying isn’t just about having a good racket technique it’s about timing, movement, balance and being able to control direction under pressure.

In this drill, Kyle and I are working on a simple but effective combination from the baseline:

2 × Backhand Drive Volleys Crosscourt → 1 × Forehand Drive Volley Crosscourt

The hand feed keeps the focus on the player’s movement and ex*****on, while the three-shot pattern encourages them to adjust quickly between the backhand and forehand sides.

Drive volleys are particularly useful when players are looking to take the ball early and apply pressure rather than allowing it to drop and giving their opponent more time.

For me, the key coaching points are simple: get into position early, make contact in front, keep the movement controlled and recover ready for the next ball.

It’s a great drill for developing consistency, directional control, footwork and attacking intent.

Give it a go in your next session and see how well you can maintain the pattern.

Happy tennising,
John

23/09/2026

You don’t need more hours. You need better systems.

I’ve spent years coaching, running tennis programmes and working with coaches who are trying to grow their businesses.

And one thing I’ve seen repeatedly is this:

Working harder doesn’t always solve the problem.

If you’re spending your evenings catching up on admin, constantly dealing with operational issues, trying to market your business and still finding time to coach, adding more hours to the week isn’t necessarily the answer.

The TennisWorks Business Hub is designed to help independent coaches build a stronger business around the tennis they love.

We look at the areas that make the difference:

Finance → Marketing → Operations → Team → Customer Journey

And depending on your membership, you can access mentoring, strategy support, consultancy, business resources, CPD, expert advice and a community of other coaches.

For me, it’s about helping coaches move from doing everything themselves to building systems that allow their business to work more effectively.

Because a successful coaching business shouldn’t depend on you working every available hour.

If you’re ready to look at your coaching business differently, take a look at the Business Hub.

👉 Discover the TennisWorks Business Hub: https://tennisworks.net/businesshub/

Happy tennising, John

22/09/2026

The best coaches don’t just understand tennis. They understand people.

After years of coaching, I’ve learnt that some of the hardest situations we deal with have very little to do with what happens on court.

A player loses confidence.
A parent becomes frustrated.
A difficult conversation needs to happen.
Or a coach has to decide when to push and when to step back.

These are the moments where emotional intelligence really matters.

That’s why I’ve created Mastering Emotional Intelligence & Parent Partnerships a practical coach seminar focused on the relationships at the heart of tennis: coach, player and parent.

We’ll explore how to:

* Recognise emotional cues and respond appropriately
* Build clearer boundaries with parents
* Handle difficult conversations and conflict
* Manage the all-important “car ride home”
* Create stronger relationships that support player development
* Build a coaching environment where players can thrive

And importantly, it’s not just about sitting and listening. It’s an opportunity to meet other coaches, share experiences and have honest conversations about the challenges we face in the profession.

Thursday 15 October 2026
10am–1pm
Stony Stratford Tennis Club
£30 including VAT
3 LTA Accreditation Points available via Independent Learning.

If you’re a coach who wants to become better at managing the people side of coaching, I’d love to see you there.

👉 Book your place: https://tennisworks.net/events/mastering-emotional-intelligence/

Happy tennising, John Cavill