Zack OhlinJan 285 minScoring Systems and External Motivation in TennisMuch has been written by academics and sports psychologists about internal versus external sources of motivation and the roles they play ...
Zack OhlinAug 13, 20207 minThe Role of the Coach: Teaching vs. TrainingThis is the third part in a series on the differences between teaching and training. Part one (The Distinction) is here. Part two (When t...
Zack OhlinJul 18, 20205 minTeaching vs. Training: When to do WhatLast week, I wrote about the difference between learning/teaching (changing a motor pattern) and training (refining a motor pattern). Und...
Zack OhlinJul 5, 20203 minLearning vs. Training: The DistinctionIf we really wanted to divide athletes into two groups, we could make the argument that there are thinkers, and there are grinders. This ...
Zack OhlinJun 27, 20204 minSmart Tennis: Playing Both Sides of the BallAs coaches, we often talk about players being smart. But what does that mean? Is it that they are creative or crafty? Is it that they mak...
Zack OhlinJun 14, 20205 minOn the Use of Questions When CoachingQuestioning is a valuable tool for any coach – the benefits are numerous and include increased retention, a greater sense of ownership, a...
Zack OhlinJun 6, 20206 minFostering Connection and Competitiveness in the Era of COVID-19As many parts of the world are loosening the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, most competitive athletes are returning to training, albei...
Zack OhlinMay 30, 20205 minPlanning for Performance: Designing Training Sessions for Maximum ImprovementAs mentioned in last week’s post on designing training blocks, the quality of the work we do on court is often more important than the qu...
Zack OhlinMay 23, 20205 minPlanning for Performance: Designing Training Blocks for Maximum ImprovementProper planning prevents poor performance, especially in the case of high-level tennis. Athletes are always in competition with one anoth...
Zack OhlinMay 9, 20206 minDeveloping Confident Net Players: The Three F'sI suspect that most everyone reading this agrees on the importance of developing net skills. I won’t bore you with reasons why, but I wil...
Zack OhlinApr 25, 20205 minConsiderations When Training the First 4 ShotsFew topics have captivated the coaching world in recent years like that of the “First 4 Shots”, popularized by Craig O’Shannessy. It’s we...
Zack OhlinApr 21, 20201 minInterview with Zack Ohlin on Teach Like a ChampionLast week, I was interviewed by Doug Lemov, Managing Director of Uncommon Schools and Teach Like a Champion. Doug is an author and expert...
Zack OhlinApr 18, 20204 minTraining Depth is OverratedYes, I said it. But before you accuse me of heresy, note the phrasing – I didn’t say that depth is overrated, just that training it is. I...
Zack OhlinApr 13, 20201 minInterview with Zack Ohlin on Tennis 2020 with Duey EvansLast week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Duey Evans on his show Real Talk. We discussed what I'm doing to help our athletes ...
Zack OhlinApr 11, 20205 minSuccess Quality #3: MaturityLife as an aspiring professional athlete differs from regular life in many ways, and one of them is the requirement to be among the top i...
Zack OhlinApr 8, 20206 minSuccess Quality #2: Fast LearnerIn Part 1 of the Success Qualities, I discussed the importance of being a hard worker. I chose to put it first because I believe it is th...
Zack OhlinApr 5, 20204 minSuccess Quality #1: Hard WorkerHard work is the factor most commonly quoted when discussing what differentiates high achievers. However, I believe the devil is in the d...
Zack OhlinMar 31, 20202 minIntroduction to the Success QualitiesThe legendary Canadian coach Louis Cayer often says, “I coach people tennis — not tennis to people.” The message is clear: our primary jo...
Zack OhlinMar 31, 20202 minPerformance Tennis During COVID-19Coaches, This is, it goes without saying, a challenging time for both us and our players. But while the world is in crisis, it’s importan...