This feature delves into the perspective of prominent Latvian beach volleyball coach Aigars Birzulis. His coaching career boasts numerous medals at various levels, including an Olympic bronze in 2012. More recently, he guided Anastasija Kravcenoka & Tina Graudina to the women`s European championship title at EuroBeachVolley 2022. Here are excerpts from his interview.
Birzulis on the Nations Cup podium with the Latvian women’s national team
What prompted you to become a beach volleyball coach? Please draw a comparison between the coaching roles in volleyball and beach volleyball.
Birzulis started coaching youth indoor teams in Latvia in the early 1990s, using beach volleyball for summer training. His transition to beach coaching officially began at the first Junior European Championship in Latvia in 1997, where his boys` teams secured gold and bronze. He notes a key distinction between indoor and beach coaching: unlike indoor, you cannot substitute players in beach volleyball, which demands greater mental and physical resilience from athletes.
Your most recent big success was the EuroBeachVolley title with Tina & Anastasija. Please tell us about your thoughts and emotions at the sidelines of that glorious moment.
He felt honored when the Latvian federation invited him to lead the teams for the Nations Cup and European Championship. As Tina & Anastasija were without a coach at the time, they asked him to join them for the European Championship. Having previously coached them as juniors, he was familiar with the team dynamic, which helped alleviate pressure and contributed to their successful outcome.
In many cases, a beach volleyball coach is an employee of the duo he/she is coaching. Please explain the psychology of such a relationship with the players.
Birzulis stresses the critical importance of a strong coach-player relationship for achieving positive results. He believes coaches must understand players both as individuals and as a cohesive unit within the team, fostering good relationships among all members – from players to coach and vice versa.
Celebrating Tina & Anastasija’s continental title in 2022
Unlike indoor volleyball, coaching during beach volleyball matches is generally not allowed. What is the reasoning behind this rule and would you change it?
Comparing beach volleyball to tennis in terms of competition structure, Birzulis sees both advantages and disadvantages, citing prize money as an example. He argues that allowing coaches to provide in-game input would enhance match quality and viewer experience by enabling strategic adjustments, a benefit demonstrated at events like the Nations Cup and youth championships.
Because of that rule, beach volleyball coaches are hardly ever in the media spotlight and generally unknown to the wide public. Is this good or bad for the sport?
He views the lack of public recognition for beach volleyball coaches negatively, believing it hinders the sport`s presentation. Birzulis asserts that coaches invest as much time, effort, and passion as players, and their vital role should be acknowledged publicly to better promote the sport.
The CEV Nations Cup you recently participated in as the coach of the women`s national team of Latvia was something different. Please share your experience at that competition.
Birzulis commends the Austrian organizers of the CEV Nations Cup for hosting a fantastic event with an incredible atmosphere, partly created by excellent DJs, reminiscent of Klagenfurt tournaments. He feels this positive environment encourages both players and coaches to perform at their peak, leading to a situation where everyone involved feels like a winner.
Torin Vale