On Tuesday 2nd April, Middlesex Tennis, in partnership with UCoach, held its first-ever Coach Conference at Virgin Active Riverside in Chiswick. Over 70 coaches gathered for a vibrant day of learning, connection, and inspiration led by seven expert speakers.
The conference was officially opened by Lorraine Ristic from UCoach and Andrew Lewandowski, Middlesex Tennis Manager, who welcomed attendees and set the tone for a collaborative and energising event.
The day began with Matt Little, long-time S&C coach to Andy Murray, whose session, The Role of Motivation Through Positive Mindset and Action in Junior Player Development, blended practical theory with entertaining anecdotes from life on tour. In his lively presentation, Matt got all the coaches up and moving as he demonstrated movement-based activities to reinforce his message. He encouraged coaches to nurture a proactive mindset in junior players and highlighted how mindset and physical actions go hand in hand.
Next, Sergio Gomez-Cuesta, Tennis Technical Skills Specialist delivered a highly detailed presentation on How to Coach Optimal Biomechanics for Transferable and Adaptable Competitive Skills. He offered practical insights into movement efficiency and technical simplicity, showing how focusing on a few key mechanics can produce adaptable, well-rounded athletes.
Suzanne Williams, Head of S&C at The Parklangley Club and LTA consultant, presented on On-Court Movement Assessments Linking with Off-Court Training. She introduced her “movement cycle” model and showed how physical limitations can affect on-court performance. Coaches left with tools to integrate movement screening and fitness-based interventions into their sessions.
The focus then shifted to the digital world. Dylan Gee, a tennis content creator and coach with over 700k followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, shared his five-step content creation process and inspired coaches to use storytelling and creativity to connect with the next generation.
Mark Bullock followed with a session on inclusion in tennis through social media. He discussed how to make content more accessible—using alt text (image descriptions for screen readers), subtitles, and inclusive visuals. He was joined by Lily Mills, who recently competed at the Australian Open’s Players with Intellectual Impairment Championships. Her confident contribution highlighted the importance of representation in our sport.
Alistair Higham, Director of Coaching Edge UK and GB Students Team Captain, presented Developing Thinking Players, showing how players can use game management tools to influence match momentum. He encouraged coaches to replicate real match scenarios in training to help athletes become tactically smart and self-sufficient, especially with limited coaching allowed during competition. Alistair explored strategies to help players recognise turning points, manage momentum, and beat higher-rated opponents using the structure of the scoring system.
The conference concluded with keynote speaker Mark Hayden, who presented on 10U Player Development Themes Linked to Awareness of Standards. As LTA National Coach and lead for the 10U South East Programme, Mark delivered a high-impact session highlighting the importance of awareness of standards—both technical and behavioural—in the development of young players. Assisted by four impressive young Middlesex players, Mark brought the themes to life through live on-court demonstrations. Middlesex is proud to have over 11 juniors currently ranked No.1 or winning national titles—many of whom have progressed through county and regional training programmes—and Mark’s session powerfully reinforced what it takes to reach that level.
This first Middlesex Tennis Coach Conference marked a significant milestone in the county’s coach development journey. With practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and an inclusive atmosphere, the day was truly inspiring. We’re excited to build on this success in 2026.
