You can teach player everything but psychologically to transfer the passion is a challenge – said Vladimir Grbić. Serb told also about generational change and that being a coach is the last thing he wants to do.

 

Have you thought a long time about accepting an invitation to the Hall of Fame in Milicz?

Vladimir Grbić: No because such invitation is a kind of honor, distinction and when you get it, you can’t think about whether  to accept it or not. In addition, I believe that Poland is a country with rich volleyball traditions. Volleyball is very popular here. For this reason, an invitation to the Hall of Fame is a great honor for me and I had no doubts about accepting it.

Previously, you were invited to the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke. These types of projects are needed, or maybe the trophies that players gain with their teams or individual awards are sufficient distinction?

– Volleyball is a team sport. However, such events are very important, we need to tell the players who sign up in the history of volleyball, who contributed to its development, who gave their best, that’s what they did, they did well. For me it is a recognition that what I did, confirmed that I learned a lot from the older than me and I understood properly the passion, the thrill of volleyball. Because here is not just about to play, it’s to represent. And that’s something I want to teach the generations that come after ours. Volleyball is a sport where you need support to develop. This is not a sport of money. Volleyball is a sport for smart people, passionate people who know how to communicate. Volleyball player’s role is not only to be an athlete, but to transfer the intelligence to the community. For this reason I believe that the volleyball is very important as part of the culture of each country.

That’s why you’ve decided to work in the Serbian federation?

– Yes, but in the federation my work is focused on youth beach volleyball. Last year for my school of volleyball attended 2000 children and this year will be more than 5000. The number of students is increasing and we try to arrange some special activities, such as street volleyball. This project we will try to organize in about fifty cities across Serbia, with the participation of about 50 000 children. I think it will be one of the biggest events around the world. I would like the associations in other countries to undertake this kind of activity.

So the popularity of volleyball in Serbia is increasing?

– Yes, definitely! We are the leader when in promotion of volleyball among children, youth. Serbian Volleyball Federation is the largest, best organized union in the whole Serbia. All other sports organizations, and not just sports, they take the innovation and solutions that we are introducing. With each passing day, month and year we try to develop, to raise our standard.

You spoke about beach volley but also in indoor volleyball in the Serbian team there are many new players. This change of generations went without pain.

– As I said, the most important thing is to transfer the passion that generations that come after ours. You can learn the player technique, tactics, strength, everything but psychologically, emotionally transfer to them the passion is a challenge for the coaching staff. Coaches need to inspire, to be idols, to transfer love for the sport. Especially that at the moment the world is ruled by money. A weakness of our times is the wrong understanding, reevaluation of the importance of money. They should be motivated, they should be a rewarded for a job well done. It’s the most important to teach the young players to enjoy the game, to play with the passion and as the result will come, the money. Nowadays it’s very difficult because there are other values but we will continue our idea and we will fight for it not to die.

This team has the passion? Do you see yours, your brother’s or Ivan Miljković’s successors?

– Look, all the success that they have achieved, it is like our success. For us the most important thing is to support them, to help them as much as it is needed. At the moment I don’t see any other role for us because volleyball is not started from us and doesn’t finish on us. The fundamental value is to maintain continuity, to continue the road which has started long time ago.

You’ve decided to retire four years ago – don’t you miss all these emotions?

– I’ve told many times that I would give the rest of my life to be able to play for five years longer in national team. But this is a very selfish, egoistic approach because it’s only my personal feeling, my reflection of how much means to me to represent the national team. Of course, I miss that game but I realize that time still goes on. I may be able to help staff, federation, supporting them in any other way than on the court. I want to transfer my passion to new generations.

So haven’t you thought about becoming a coach?

– In my opinion, the fact that you were a good player doesn’t mean that you will be a good coach. Actually, it’s never like that because it’s very difficult to look at it all from a broader, proper perspective. I finished coaching course and I’ve got the rights to be a coach, I graduated the academy of physical education. However coaching is the last work I would like to do. My point of view, as a coach, it is very complicated and everything I do, I do always giving 100%, and the job as a coach takes twenty-four hours a day.

source: siatka.org