Williams Tennis School & Front Range Academy

The FRA Podcast

Transforming
Tennis.

Coach Steve and Coach Bob on how players really learn this game — and why our classes look the way they do. The best place to start if you want to understand our coaching philosophy.

The shot is the goal,
not the swing.

“We teach kids proper bio-mechanics and technique, but we also want kids to own their own swing (and eventually back off from over thinking technique and “fixing” strokes). Technique obsession can really hurt a player. “The shot is the goal, not the swing” is something that we discuss with our students.
Technique matters, it matters a lot, but it’s secondary to the concepts of “timing and spacing” in an open skill activity like tennis. At its core, tennis is a game of time and space (and taking time and space away from your opponent). If I taught a diving or gymnastics academy, form and technique would be everything. Tennis is different.
Our podcast shares our philosophy and follows the science and evidence with skill acquisition and how kids learn.”

— Coach Steve Williams

Featured guest · Episode 14

Philip O'Callaghan

One of the premier coaches in Europe — and he coaches the game-based way we do.

67 min · Apr 2023Skill acquisition with Philip O'CallaghanIrish coach Philip O'Callaghan joins Steve and Bob to compare approaches to skill development.Listen

Listen anywhere

17 full episodes on game-based coaching, fixing strokes, mental toughness, doubles, and the path to high school and college tennis.

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New to Williams Tennis School?

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The episodes that explain our approach best — great listening for parents before a first season.

Episode 1 · 68 min · Jan 2022Game-based approach vs technique firstA game-based approach vs a technique-first approach to coaching tennis groups.Listen Episode 2 · 41 min · Jan 2022High school and college tennisThe value of high school tennis, and the pathways, levels and scholarships in college tennis.Listen Episode 7 · 52 min · Mar 2022Fixing strokesThe dangers of a hyper-focus on technique, and the real reason players miss.Listen Episode 8 · 58 min · Mar 2022Proper form and bad habits (Fixing Strokes, part 2)Learning “proper form” early, and the worry that a child will pick up bad habits.Listen Episode 9 · 55 min · Mar 2022Introducing people to tennisThe how and why of introducing people to the greatest lifetime sport.Listen Episode 13 · 86 min · Nov 2022Revisiting traditional approaches to skill acquisitionThe flaws of the traditional tennis lesson.Listen

All episodes

Episode 17 · 45 min · Dec 2023USTA vs UTR and the tournament experienceThoughts on USTA and UTR from the FRA team tournament in Colorado Springs.Listen Episode 16 · 71 min · Dec 2023X Misses the MarkHow the Spanish X Drill fails tennis players, and how coaches can do better.Listen Episode 15 · 54 min · Nov 2023Season recap and a look aheadHow Steve's summer in Loveland went, and what's next.Listen Episode 12 · 74 min · Apr 2022Doubles!Doubles positioning, formations and shot selection.Listen Episode 11 · 50 min · Mar 2022The fundamentals of tennis and the impact of altitudeThe fundamentals of the game and how they play out in Colorado.Listen Episode 10 · 32 min · Mar 2022Proposed changes to CO high school tennisFour steps that would improve high school tennis in the area.Listen Episode 6 · 51 min · Jan 2022Mental toughness and chokingMental toughness and how to stop getting tight in matches.Listen Episode 5 · 38 min · Jan 2022Closing out sets and matchesClosing out matches, practice sets, and how the FRA trains for both.Listen Episode 4 · 36 min · Jan 2022The pusherWhat pushing is, why it works, and how to beat it.Listen Episode 3 · 38 min · Jan 20225 tactical areas of tennisThe five tactical areas, and what coaches should focus on in a group.Listen