Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach, President of the USCCE and professor at West Virginia University, drops by the podcast to discuss the status of coaching in the US. The episode details the importance of the coach developer and what the role entails. The role of coaching in tennis, the continued need for coaches to develop their craft and what parents should expect in a coach is also discussed. 

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Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny observe the 2019 US Open and discuss factors that are determining the outcome of matches. The guys talk strategies on how to manage the stress and chaos of a Grand Slam in the Big Apple. 

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Ed Ryan, Director of Medical Services at USTA Player Development, joins the podcast to talk about his role at the National Campus and how the athletic medicine team works to support the players. The episode tackles what players go through psychologically after an injury and/or surgery and what goes into a successful return to play.

Collegiate National Coach Mat Cloer joins Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on the podcast to discuss how to create accountability with your players. Coach Mat and the hosts comment on how to build ownership in the player, the common challenges you experience, and they provide recommendations for creating accountability with the current generation of tennis players.

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We love summer and all of the great junior and professional tennis tournaments that are going on, and it is very hot and humid. So much so that the on-court conditions are a challenge for players of all ages and skill levels and are affecting the results of the matches. The team dives into how a player can beat the heat and perform well in extremely hot, humid conditions. The guys review recommendations for how to prepare for the conditions and how to psychologically thrive in extreme environments.

Mistakes are inherent to sport. This episode delves into how athletes have bounced back from big mistakes that have altered the course of games or even a season. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny focus in on how to use mistakes and failure to inspire the process of improvement, including specific ways to talk about the event. Ideas are also discussed for how coaches can respond to mistakes and help the athlete process and be resilient.

Dr. Paul Lubbers joins the team again to discuss the current generation of players, their characteristics, and how best to coach Generation Z. They break down some of the assumptions made about Gen Z and how coaches must adapt to this generation in creative ways to get the most out of them.

Dr. Paul Lubbers joins Coach Johnny and Dr. Larry to discuss what is truly at the essence of coaching; how coaches make the decisions they make to help someone move from where they are to where they want to go. They dive into the concept generalist versus specialist and how coaches must consider the whole player to get the most out of him or her. Paul details how great coaches learn and prepare, and how that knowledge is integrated into a team approach to performance.

Stress leads to growth; Coach Johnny and Dr. Larry talk about the stress that occurs in everyday life and how we can rise above it. They share personal stories of overcoming adversity and how it prepared them for their current missions.

Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny have an enlightening discussion with National Coach and Grand Slam doubles champion, Stephen Huss about the intricacies of communicating with professional tennis players. Coach Huss provides some communication strategies that all tennis coaches will want to know.