“Become The Boss” by Nathalie Duchêne Marciano
Tuomas Sammelvuo has always had a taste for challenges, sport and flying. He would try every sport as a youngster, and ski jumping piqued his interest for a little while. It takes an incredible amount of bravery to climb to the top of the hill and take flight. Facing up to your feelings, overcoming your fears, and taking a leap of faith. This young Finnish man was definitely not the kind to be scared.
Growing up in Pudasjärvi, where Volleyball enjoyed some popularity, and with his dad being himself involved in the sport (Seppo Sammelvuo was Council President, then President of the Finnish Volleyball Association for 10 years), Sammelvuo naturally turned to Volleyball, and his passion would grow as the years went by. “It’s all about the emotions and feelings… The intensity of the moment… The emotional rollercoaster you go through during a game…,” Sammelvuo explains.
He was only 17 when he first played with the senior national team, and 20 years later, Tuomas Sammelvuo is head coach of Team Finland. A year in office already.
Sammelvuo has fundamentally upped Team Finland’s game since he took the reins of the men’s national team in March 2013. He has already enjoyed quite a bit of success, finishing his first season with the team on a 9-8 run in official matches and 8-5 in friendlies and, above all, helped the team qualify for its first World Championship in 32 years.
“Taking the team to the Worlds is a great achievement. It is the result of long-term work done by the Finnish Association in providing our national team with excellent conditions to let the players focus only on Volleyball and surrounding them with great coaching staff. I am not alone in this job, and I’m really lucky to have so great collaborators around me.”
However Sammelvuo is humble in his contribution. “It’s the players who did the work on the court and won this historic qualification. They kept their concentration till the end and found the inner resources to overcome the difficulties and believe that we could do it. For me it has been a great year to learn and I am satisfied that I have been able to help the players give their very best for the team at the right moment.”
The country’s last appearance in a World Championship dates all the way back to 1982, where they finished 17th – and the team’s recent resurgence has caught the attention of much of the press and public, something unusual for a country where cross-country skiing and ice hockey dominate. “We were quite close many times but I guess now was the right time. We were so focused and motivated. We only had in mind what we had to do to succeed, qualify and get this. But again this doesn’t come out of thin air; it comes from many years of hard work. I strongly believe nothing happens without a reason. Lately, many sports teams have shown that with true teamwork you could climb up mountains. Our Volleyball team has given a great example of what can be achieved with hard work and believing in yourself. A huge number of Finnish fans will come to Poland to support us, and people speak about Volleyball every day!”
A sign that Volleyball is growing in popularity in Finland. A few weeks ago, Sammelvuo created a certain buzz announcing the national team’s roster via Twitter. “This was the idea of our press team and they provided me with great support,” Sammelvuo explained, “I was very excited for this new way of communicating. I like doing something new and different. The goal is to bring positive energy around our great sport.” And, judging by the team’s soaring popularity, it is working. There is no better spokesperson than Sammelvuo for Finnish Volleyball right now, and he loves talking to the media.
For Sammelvuo, it was a natural progression to become coach once he retired as a player. It was a dream of his, and he could count on the support of his family. However, the 37-year-old didn’t expect to jump immediately to the national team head coaching gig. When the Finnish Association hired Sammelvuo as coach, his almost 20 years of commitment to the national team (296 caps) and ability to lead on the court (team captain since 1997) carried a lot of weight, despite his lack of bench experience.
There is no secret though, and Sammelvuo had to grow into his new role and find his way. “For sure, it’s been a big step and a real challenge for me, and the transition was clearly not easy. I could feel a little inexperienced at times and had some adjustment problems. In last year’s World League, it was a learning process not only for me but also for the team, and we all had to adapt to the new situation. My feeling is that, step-by-step, we are improving as a group. I often say that in one year as coach I have learned more about myself than in my whole life. I have had to learn more about coaching and leadership skills including the human aspects. I am working hard on this last point, certainly the most challenging and interesting. It takes time to find yourself as a coach, every day your learn something.”
One can speculate that a deeper understanding of Volleyball gives top-players-turned-coaches a significant edge over other coaches. This may come through greater credibility with players. “I played alongside some of the players I’m coaching now (including Olli Kunnari) and, of course, the relationship is a little different now. Trust and respect are central, you always need to treat everyone in the same way: this is the most important thing.”
Sammelvuo knows precisely what to do in difficult circumstances – because he has been there himself. “I know what it takes to be on the court, and I can understand quite well the feelings and emotions my players go through during a high-tension match. As a coach, I am trying to make sure each player understands his own qualities and performance potential and the importance of his role. Not only at individual level but also in relation to his team-mates. What I try to do is to inspire the team to think they are stronger than any difficulties they face, and to push their limits until the end. You can always do something until the ball has touched the floor.”
Tuomas Sammelvuo seems to have successfully completed his switch from world-class player to a coach whose potential is still to be fully discovered. In the first part of this long interview (see here), he already shared some impressions from the past 12 months where his life underwent many changes. Though he is happy with what he has already achieved so far, there are many other goals that Finland’s current mentor has set for the future, for himself as well as for Finnish Volleyball, starting with the 2014 FIVB World Championship that will follow later this summer.
Sammelvuo played professionally in Finland and overseas from 1993 to 2012, under many different coaches and playing styles. He has used this experience to develop his vision for Finland’s team, keeping things that could work and adding fresh ideas. He wants to infuse fresh confidence into his squad. “We are not so tall, so we have to play smart with the skills that we have. Defence, covering, play smart in attack. And of course we have to be solid in service-reception. All this can happen if the players feel good and have enough confidence – they need to be mentally ready. And it is precisely this aspect I want to reinforce.”
Sammelvuo has learned something from each of the coaches he had during his playing career. Amongst those who have inspired him, there is Finland coach Timo Hoivala who was his mentor in the national team during many years and trusted him with a lot of responsibilities. Italian Mauro Berruto has also rubbed off on Sammelvuo, particularly for his way of getting the best out of the team.
Sammelvuo is not the only one to have taken up the challenge of switching from player to coach. We currently see the rise of a young generation of coaches in European Volleyball such as Antiga and Bernardi in Poland, Giani in Italy. “It’s a great move that ex-players start to coach at an early stage, I believe they have a lot to give and a huge motivation. I am happy for this new situation, with all the respect for the “older” coaches that I really admire.”
Pressure is inevitable for these “new school” coaches. Sammelvuo is conscious of it but stays true to his mantra of working hard and staying focused. He coaches with the same passion and high energy level he had as a player. “Being a coach is great experience that puts things into perspective especially going from playing to coaching but passion remains unchanged. I love Volleyball.”
Even if Sammelvuo gives himself fully over to the team, it has always been a balancing act for him between family and Volleyball. Married and a father of two children, it is with them that he likes to spend his free time and relax. Sammelvuo’s new coaching life brought the family even closer as he is more around than when he used to be on the court.
The agenda ahead of the men’s World Championship in Poland is going to be busy for Team Finland. There will be first the qualification round for the 2015 CEV Men’s European Championship in May, a priority for him (winning their pool will qualify them directly for the European Championship).
Then, the FIVB World League will start. Finland has been a regular feature in the World League for the last few years, with a 7th place finish, in 2007, being their best ever result (Sammelvuo was part of the team). “The World League is always good to test your level, competing with the best teams and seeing regularly where you are. This brings a lot of energy to every player. Of course, we’ll be using the World League as a way to gain momentum heading to Poland and to test new players at this top level.”
The objective of the year remains clear for coach Sammelvuo: a good performance at the FIVB Men’s World Championship next September. Finland is in Pool B with world champions Brazil, the second team of Norceca (still to be determined), Germany, Korea and Tunisia. “Every team is very good. Of course Brazil is the favourite. Germany also has a great team, and Cuba is also likely to be in our pool. It is a tough pool, but we will go there to fight for every ball and never give up. We want to arrive in Poland in the best technical, physical and mental conditions, and we are going to give ourselves all the chances to make it happen.”
Looking beyond the World Championship, it is evident that Sammelvuo and Team Finland want to continue to be part of Europe’s top Volleyball teams. “If we think how small Finland is, we have to be very proud to be where we are already, believe me it’s hard work… however, as always, we want to keep on improving ourselves. But one small step at a time. Right now the goal is to play very well in Poland, so the big dream, Rio 2016, will be a little bit closer. In the long term, we are conscious that we need to build more players.”
Does a part of him wish to be still on the other side of the line, playing alongside his players in Poland? “Not even once! I have been so focused on coaching that I didn’t even have time to think about it. I was happy when I stopped my career as a professional player. I absolutely love my new job and having passed from court to side-lines. I keep doing daily physical workout to keep myself in a good shape – and it actually helps me with my coaching work.”
His ultimate goals as a coach? “Of course I have also personal goals and I would like to coach abroad later. I am proud to have made an effort to learn different languages while playing for foreign clubs, it helps keep good contacts. In my heart I want to improve the Finnish National Team and Finnish Volleyball, create a good collaboration and a Finnish way to work and play Volleyball.”
Tuomas Sammelvuo briefing one of Finland’s key players, Mikko Oivanen
Sammelvuo currently mentors many of his former teammates, including Olli Kunnari
(source & images: cev.lu)