The Coaching Podcast

This episode is a combination of a farewell to Simon Blair for being a fantastic co-host on The Coaching Podcast and a tribute to former professional tennis player, Johanna Konta (highest ranking of WTA #4 in the world). Simon and Emma discuss the interview with Johanna like they used to do in the original episodes on The Coaching Podcast.

Emma Doyle first met Johanna Konta when she was a young junior tennis player training at the National Academy in Melbourne as part of the TAP (targeted Athlete Project) program. Emma had the fortunate experience of working on court with Johanna was she was around 12 years of age and coaching her during the World Junior U14 teams event. Therefore, when Emma was in London in November of 2017 and they reconnected at the London National Training Centre, she took the opportunity to record this interview. Johanna talks about the importance of the coach being in 'partnership' with their athlete. What she looks for in a great coach is someone who is open-minded and who has strong values - values that align with her own. Johanna was one of the most hard-working, dedicated and professional players on the tour. She retired in December of 2021 and we wish her all the success in the world for the next chapter of her life. If you would like to go straight to the interview, start this episode at 12 minutes - it is another gold dust short yet impactful interview not to be missed.

Johanna Konta is a British former professional tennis player, having represented Australia until 2012. She won four singles titles on the WTA Tour, as well as 11 singles and four doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. The former British No. 1 reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 4 on 17 July 2017. You can follow her on Twitter @JohannaKonta

Thank you to Simon Blair for helping to create such a successful Podcast and securing the name, The Coaching Podcast. Your time, effort and energy have been much appreciated and we look forward to having you back on the show once a year for your coaching success updates. Simon is the Owner & Founder of Five Degrees and is a Customer Experience Coach specialising in sales and customer service for Contact Centres. Five Degrees is one of Australia's #1 in Call Quality Monitoring & Coaching for Contact Centres. Visit www.fivedegrees.com.au to find out how you can supercharge your sales and customer service efforts.

Kim Miles and Emma Doyle connected through the ICF (International Coach Federation) Colorado chapter. Kim and Emma chat about so many coaching gold nuggets, like;

•When you can get to the 'WHO' a person is, that is where the magic happens

•As coaches, you can help express your client's inner voice with comments, such as;

•"What I am hearing you say ..."

•"You are using these words ..."

•"Your body language is expressing this ... which is not in alignment with ..."

•And pick up on their;

•"Energy shifts."

•"Presence and their being."

•All of which helps your client to hear themselves and gain valuable insights around.

What does Kim think makes a great coach?

"Accessing your intuition." This was the through-line for this episode.

And she went on to say, "Being so incredibly present so that then you can access the deepest level of your client beyond what they are even accessing."

As for her 3 tops tips:

1) Coach More

2) Reflect More

3) Engage with other Coaches

May we all strive to gain coaching mastery in the present moment - the way of the future.

Kim Miles is an Executive Coach specializing in Leadership and Team Development. Kim partners with individual contributors, leaders, and executives to create a fulfilling career and life by supporting them in navigating external situations and internal mindset challenges. She has a master's in organizational leadership and certifications in mentor coaching and team coaching. With 1,200+ hours of coaching working, Kim has worked with CEOs, CIOs, VPs, Presidents, Directors of Operations, managers and individual contributors in Fortune 100, midsized, and small organizations. Past clients worked in industries including telecommunications, energy, engineering consulting, marketing & advertising, and nonprofits. Clients describe Kim's coaching style as practical/pragmatic, direct, and supportive. Throughout Kim's 20+ year career, she served in a variety of organizations in roles including internal coach, leadership development specialist, project manager, corporate account manager, technical recruiter, project engineer, contracts coordinator, and program controls analyst.

Kim's philosophy

Your values not only indicate what is most important to you but also drive your behaviors and decision making to ultimately steer you in a specific direction. When your values aren't aligned with the organization you are in, or the specific work you do, you find yourself off course. There is a sense of feeling lost or exhausted from navigating incredibly strong headwinds. My top values are empowerment and freedom (financial and time) which is why I love working with people who want to create alignment of their values with the work they do, so they are empowered to create a life and career they love.

Her website is: www.KimLMiles.com

And she can be reached via: [email protected]

Mike Digby contacted Emma Doyle via Instagram as a passionate listener of The Coaching Podcast. Emma immediately wanted to have him on the show to ensure that young coaches have a voice in coaching and that "great minds don't always think alike." Mike believes that a great coach needs to be a great listener and Mike shares a great story about the first time he served as Roger Federer's hitting partner (the power of building relationships). One of the highlights of the show is when Mike shares his tips for young coaches;

1. Be eager to learn

2. There is no need to be in a rush

3. Be as organic as possible

In other words, take the knowledge from other great coaches and then adapt it within your personality. Wise words from a young game-changer. We can't wait to follow your coaching journey.

Mike Digby graduated college in America playing NCAA college tennis in 2019. He always wanted to be a pro tennis player but he found himself as a hitting partner with some of the best players in the world, such as Djokovic, Federer, and Halep at many of the biggest tournaments around the world.

After graduating, he was a full time hitting partner for a few players gaining vital experience working at the top end of the game and slowly being an assistant coach to a few top WTA players on the tour.

Whilst he was hitting with Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019, he had a chat with the Director at Soto Tennis Academy, Dan Kiernan, about the academy and he offered Mike a chance to start his coaching career. He has now been in Spain for 1.5 years and he serves as a hitting partner for Matteo Berrettini (current ATP world No.8). In addition, he is a performance coach working with some of the best juniors and professionals in the world.

We hope you enjoy 'listening' to this unique, young and fresh perspective on The Coaching Podcast.

Cari Buck met Emma Doyle at the 2021 USPTA World Conference via their mutual friend, Bill Riddle. Emma could instantly feel her passion along with her wealth of experience in the tennis and coaching industry that she had to have her on The Coaching Podcast. What does Cari look for when she is hiring a tennis pro?

1) Are they qualified? Do they value investing in their education?

2) Are they a good personality fit? How will they fit in with the rest of the team?

3) Are they committed? Do their goals and expectations fit with what she is looking for?

Finally, her top question for referrals/references is "Would you hire them again?"

You are in for a real treat - Thank you Cari Buck for everything you do in the tennis industry.

Cari Buck is currently the Director of Tennis Operations - Griffin Club Los Angeles.

Growing up in a tennis family, it only makes sense that Cari Buck has spent most of her professional career in the tennis industry. To say tennis is in her blood would be an understatement. Born into a tennis family, Cari grew up splitting time between Southern California and Cape Cod where her family ran a summer tennis club for over 20 years

Buck has held numerous positions throughout all areas of the tennis industry, and brings a wealth of experience with her. She has held positions across the country including Teaching Pro/Tennis Director (in Massachusetts, Florida, Hawaii and California), Inside Sales for a tennis apparel company, Operations at two ATP events (LA Open and Tennis Channel Open), Marketing Manager/Client Services at Tennis Channel, Director of Marketing for USTA Southern California and GM for the WTT San Diego Aviators.

A USPTA Pro for over 25 years, Cari has served on both USTA and USPTA National Committees and has won many awards and accolades for her work and service in the industry both on and off the court, including USPTA Southern California Pro of the year in 2017, and a USTA Service award for her work with Wheelchair Tennis. But the one that Cari says means the most, was when she and her family won the USTA National Family of the Year in 1985.

Paul Shirley use to play professional basketball in Russia with one of Emma Doyle's best friends, Chris Anstey. Paul has a wealth of experience in mentoring, writing and entrepreneurial coaching. He is the founder of The Process, which helps workers find structure, accountability, and community online and in person. This interview covers a wide range of topics from the reasons behind The Great Resignation to the secret formula to giving feedback in the workplace. You are in for a real treat - filled with care, empathy and love!

Paul Shirley is a National Merit Scholar and engineering major at Iowa State University. Paul played for 17 professional basketball teams in a nine-year career, including stops in Spain, Greece, Russia, and with three teams in the NBA.

He's the author of three works of nonfiction: Can I Keep My Jersey?, Stories I Tell On Dates, and The Process is the Product. His first novel, Ball Boy, came out in February of 2021.

You can learn more about The Process here: createyourprocess.com

"Something every day, everything someday."

Darryl Lewis is a fellow Aussie whom Emma Doyle met at a conference about eight years ago and they have connected ever since. What does Darryl think makes a great coach? Someone who demonstrates flexibility, consistency and care. Listen to the extended interview to hear about what Darryl thinks makes a great leader.

Darryl Lewis is the Director of Athletics at Old Town Club in Winston Salem, North Carolina where he manages Aquatics, Fitness, and Racquet Sports (Tennis, Platform Tennis, and Pickleball). He is one of less than 20 pros that are designated as both a USPTA Master Professional, and a PTR International Master Professional. He has worked in all areas of the industry, including private country clubs, corporate clubs, public parks, resorts, the USTA and was part of the management team that ran the tennis event at the Atlanta Olympic Games. He is a leader in coach education, and enjoys growing the game and the knowledge of younger tennis professionals.

Emma Doyle interviews brothers, Mark and Scott Draper. Emma and Mark were the coaches for the Australian 2018 Junior Fed Cup and Davis Cup. Emma has always been inspired by both of the Draper brothers, as they are dream-seekers and she relates to Scott's transition from tennis into Corporate coaching.

Scott Draper is a Sports and Business Leader, Performance Consultant and Coach who has achieved extraordinary feats in the challenging world of professional sport. Competing at national and international levels, he has successfully crossed from one sport to another, from his first love of tennis to a passion for golf.

Scott's amazing sporting story, coupled with his life experiences, professional journey and education, have equipped him to become a leading performance consultant and coach for any business. He achieved a world ranking of 42 on the ATP tour.

His brother, Mark Draper, is a former professional tennis player as well reaching from Australia and competing in the singles draw of three Grand Slams. He is a Tennis Australia High-Performance Coach and the current National Academy Coach in Queensland.

This is our Festive Season special mini-episode with the one and only coaching legend, Nick Bollettieri. Emma Doyle interviews Nick during the Italian Coaches Conference Symposium where the Pope was the keynote speaker. It was one of the few times where there were more people to see the Pope that's Nick presentation!! He is cheeky and passionate and I'm so grateful for his support over the years. What does Nick think makes a great coach?

"knowing your student."

He shares a very honest moment about his worse coaching experience and the lessons that we can all learn as coaches. 'Keep your tips simple' according to Nick and he asked us all to reflect on the following question:

"Are you willing to dedicate your life to your profession?"

Thank you Nick for the laughs, teaching me to learn the look and for your sense of humour.

Considered by many to be one of the best tennis coaches of all time. Nick Bollettieri has changed the way the game is played and taught at every level. He founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy - now IMG Academy - with a focus on intense physical training, total immersion and ongoing competition among the most talented players in the world. He has helped shape the careers of Andre Agassi, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jim Courier, Boris Becker, Monica Seles, Anna Kournikova, Tommy Haas, and other tennis champions. His accomplishments have been imitated but never equalled. Now in his 80s, he's still going strong developing the next crop of young champions and working to bring tennis to inner-city children.

Learn more: www.imgacademy.com/people/nick-bollettieri

Emma Doyle has followed Louis Cayer's coaching methodologies and attended many of his lectures over the years. When jumped at the opportunity to interview him when they both presented in London at the Lawn Tennis Association Coaches Conference right before Wimbledon in 2017.

In this episode, Louis talks about what makes a great coach - someone who cares and has a vision for the player. He said, "the player has a dream-goal vision. For me (as a coach) I have a process vision.' And therefore, as a coach, 'I need (to have) an awareness of standards, assess where they are, (and then focus on) how will I bridge the gap. And when I have a clear vision of how I can bridge that gap, I know very well that they will succeed and I share that belief with them.'

As a coach for over 44 years, Louis Cayer has made a name for himself in tennis here and abroad. He started out in the sport at 16 years old, working for the city of Montreal. In 1976, he pursued his career at the Club de tennis Îles des Soeurs, where he spent 30 years. Cayer has worked with nine Top 100 singles players and over 30 Top 100 doubles specialists. He coached the Canadian Davis Cup team from 1989 to 1993 and was team captain from 1994 to 2000. He also prepared Sébastien Lareau and Daniel Nestor for their quest for gold at the Sydney Olympics.

Cayer played a determining role in coach training in Canada. While earning his degree in education, he developed an actions oriented methodology that, in 1989, formed the educational framework for the Canadien tennis coaching certification system and led to the game-based approach promoted by the International Tennis Federation. He oversaw the national certification program from 1989 until his departure for Great Britain. A gifted speaker, Cayer has travelled to over 30 countries to take part in every ITF conference since 1987. In 2011, he was awarded the ITF Service to the Game award in recognition of his remarkable contribution to tennis. Since 2007, Cayer has lived in England and worked at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) as the director of high-performance coaching. His collaborations with the British Fed Cup and Davis Cup teams were key to the nation's success in doubles. In 2012, Cayer's efforts helped Jonny Marray take the Wimbledon doubles crown after Britain's 76-year wait.

Louis Cayer was inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the history of tennis in Canada.

Mary Pat Faley and Emma Doyle share one thing in common - an abundance of energy and love for the sport of tennis that is contagious. Check out this week's episode on the coaching podcast to learn about:

•How to handle the cheat

•What makes a great coach? Mary Pat said: Energy (no surprises there), information and caring

•And the importance of learning the look from other coaches - never stop learning!

Mary Pat Faley was the Southern California 2011 USPTA Tennis Pro of the Year. She is a published author, Tennis Channel Celebrity, keynote speaker, tennis entrepreneur, elite member of the Babolat Advisory Team and she can be described in five words: A spirit of boundless energy!

A "Tennis Pro's Pro" - Mary Pat is committed to sharing her tennis teaching secrets with tennis pros all over the country. After publishing, Winning in Tennis and Life in 2009 - a blueprint for healthy living on and off the court, Mary Pat went on to produce a series of YouTube videos in 2011 demonstrating the unique, action-packed tennis drills that made her a success on and off the court. The summer of 2013, she launched her new program, Mary Pat's Force of Three - designed to help tennis professionals run productive, challenging tennis drills for groups of 4-10 players. The system can also be used by any tennis player at every level.

MP played tennis at the University Of Alabama, Birmingham on a full scholarship and she was sectionally and nationally ranked. She has coached high school and college tennis - working with hundreds of players who have gone on to receive college scholarships and national rankings. Many of her students have become full-time tennis professionals at various clubs around the country.

Mary Pat taught for 39 years at Calabasas Tenniss & Swim Club in Calabasas, CA. In September 2016, she became the Tennis Director at The Riviera Tennis Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in the United States.

She spends her time coaching and directing 24 pro's at The Riviera Tennis Club as well as still being a speaker/consultant all over the country. A member of the USPTA for over 35 years, Mary Pat was one of the premier speakers at the 2010 USPTA World Conference in Palm Springs, CA. Mary Pat is available to speak at your tennis facility and share her secrets from her successful 42-year tennis career.

Glam Slam Tennis

Mary Pat is also the co-founder of Glam Slam Tennis. This is a platform of clinics, academics and on-lone coaching for women of all levels taught by ONLY women coaches.

Questions: [email protected]

Website for More info & free tips:

www.GlamSlamTennis.com