"WHAT WILL YOU WORK ON TODAY?" — Avoiding the Deaf Ear


"What Will You Work On Today?" — Avoiding the Deaf Ear

By Paul Dale | The 3AM Tennis Method

In many tennis lessons around the world, the routine is familiar: players show up, coaches deliver instructions, and students follow along. However, this top-down approach often creates a dangerous by-product — players who become passive learners. They nod, they drill, they respond politely, but mentally, they’re not invested. They become robots, going through the motions without actual ownership of their development.

One powerful phrase can shift that dynamic instantly:

"What will you work on today?"

It’s a simple question, but one that flips the responsibility back onto the player. It invites reflection, focuses attention, and builds accountability.

In this blog, I aim to explore the "What will you work on?" approach and provide you with practical ways to integrate it into your coaching sessions.

Why This Phrase Matters

When players aren’t mentally engaged in their learning, development slows. They may comply with drills and repeat instructions, but actual improvement requires intentional repetition. When players choose their focus, they develop a sense of ownership, and that’s when learning sticks.

This approach also helps eliminate the “deaf ear” effect — that glazed look when a player is being told the same thing again and again without personal investment. Asking the right question turns their brain on, not off.

5 Key Moments to Ask "What Will You Work On?"

Here are five practical times during a session when this phrase can be introduced, each with a unique purpose:

1. During the Warm-Up

✅ Set the tone early.

As the player begins their rally or hitting routine, ask: “What will you work on today during this warm-up?”

This is especially effective if you’re continuing a topic from the previous session (e.g. creating better contact on groundstrokes). It mentally reactivates the player’s prior focus.

It doesn’t matter if the ball isn't being hit perfectly yet — what matters is intention.

2. At the Start of a Drill

✅ Clarify the personal goal inside the drill.

Before the first ball is fed, pause and ask: “What’s your work-on in this drill?”

Even if you’ve already explained the purpose, this reinforces it as their goal, not just your instruction.

You’ll notice players shift from executing the drill passively to treating it like a deliberate rehearsal of something important.

3. When Old Habits Reappear

✅ Realign focus mid-session.

When a player slips back into an unhelpful habit, use the question as a soft reset:
“Quick check — what are you working on right now?”

This reminds them without criticism. It also invites them to self-correct instead of relying on constant external cues.

4. After the Drink Break

✅ Re-energize and re-focus.

Coming out of a break, I often say: “Do you remember what we’re working on?”

This helps players mentally re-engage with the session. It realigns them with their purpose, even when fatigue or distraction may be creeping in.

5. At the End of the Session

✅ Plant the seed for continuity.

Before they walk off the court, say: “Let’s work on that again tomorrow.”

This isn’t just a throwaway comment — it builds the idea that practice is a continuum, not a series of disconnected lessons. Progress happens through conscious repetition.

Make This a Habit

Over time, players start to anticipate the question. That’s the goal. You’ll find that instead of waiting passively for instruction, they arrive ready to say: “Today I want to work on…”

That’s when you know you’re building not just strokes, but self-aware athletes.

 Final Thoughts

Coaches are often the loudest voice in the session. But the most valuable progress sometimes begins with the smallest question. If you want your players to grow faster, perform better, and take ownership of their game…

Try asking:

“What will you work on today?”

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

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