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He has won a series of trophies with Vilnius “Rytas” Andrius Šležas he is currently developing young talents. The coach, who has been working at Vilnius Basketball School (VKM) for the sixth season, is responsible for the development of the most promising U-13 and U-18 basketball players at the start of the season of the School Basketball League of Lithuania (MKL).
“I like the job of a coach. I work with great enthusiasm, I try to improve, search, discover. You don’t just want victories. We also want to make professional players grow ”, says the 45-year-old specialist.
In an exclusive interview for the Vilniauskm.lt website, A. Šležas revealed the goals of his trained teams for 2020-2021. The MKL season and emphasized the most important thing to become a professional basketball player.
The forward, who triumphed in the European Cup, Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), Northern European Basketball League (NEBL) and Baltic Basketball League (BBL) with Rytas, was happy to discuss current issues of the Vilnius club.
Only the highest goals
– In what mood is the start of the MKL season? – Vilniauskm.lt asked A.Šležas.
– The humor is good. With 2008 basketball players born we have already started the year in the U-14 men’s championship. In the first match of Division B, a strong SKM team was defeated. In the U-13 B division, the VKM-II team started with an easy victory, but I’m not serious. I enjoy my teams, especially the little basketball players. They are very hard-working, trying. 2008 The VKM-I team is generally very motivated and I am very happy to work with them. Here the goals are the highest: in our division A of the U-13 year, we have to fight for the first places. This championship should be very competitive and fun. I want to have as many “stressful” games as possible, because in them the children and I, as a coach, grow more, we get into the highest gear.
How many more questions arise in the U-18 Championship. Last season, before stopping the U-17 championship, we marched with confidence: we had 14 wins and 2 losses. There were many changes in the summer: we gave several basketball players to the youth teams “Rytas”, 4 main basketball players of the team decided to continue their studies and play sports abroad.
– What is the most important thing to become a professional basketball player? What should children and parents pay attention to?
– To play at a high level, sincere and honest work is very important from an early age. Of course, you need to have physical data, but you also need to develop and strengthen it. And, of course, you have to listen to the coach (smile).
Coach sees great meaning at work
– You have been working as a VKM coach for 6 seasons. What vivid memories would you highlight from recent times?
– When I came to work in children’s basketball 5 years ago, my way of thinking was completely different. I communicated a lot with the coaches, I attended seminars where the most important topics in basketball education were discussed. Of course, now there is a lot to create, adapt, adapt to specific exercises, combinations, etc.
I like active parents, children who want to play sports and work, who want to win and go to professional basketball. When we talk to friends, former basketball players, they say that while I was still playing professionally, I enjoyed coaching adults and children. In fact, I didn’t even realize it myself (smiles). I like the job of a coach. I work with great enthusiasm, I try to improve, search, discover. You don’t just want victories. You also want to develop professional players.
– Do you have the ambition to become the Morning Club manager in the future?
– Why not? If you work as a coach, you want to push yourself more and more, that leads you to professional basketball. I spent the most beautiful years of my career and my life in the morning. I know everything there, mine. I look at everything simply – if you ever need it, I’ll invite you. Maybe not necessarily as the head coach, maybe you can start with, say, a third assistant who would work with young players to share information with the head coach. coach.
– In the last 3 years, ERM has been characterized by generations of extremely strong graduates. It was from them that Ąžuolas Tubelis, Augustas Marčiulionis, Marekas Blaževičius, Deividas Sirvydis, Domantas Vilys and others came to big basketball. Do you see basketball players of a similar caliber among current ERM students?
– There really are. I don’t want to name last names just because I wouldn’t do them a favor. Sadly, the statistics are cutthroat. The ratio is such that 3-4 out of every 1000 children become professionals. If you are the best among your peers now, it doesn’t mean that it will be in 2-3 years. Also, do not forget about the subsequent maturation of basketball players. They may not be seen anywhere today, but in a few years they will develop and reach the level of the basketball players you mentioned.
“Tomorrow” – always in the heart
– What do you think of this season’s “Morning” set?
– This year I have fun watching legionaries. It can be seen that Andrew Goudelock himself is trying to defend himself, playing in the attack on a team. There’s really no way for him to break down, play solo or be lazy on defense. It’s not all that and I really like it. I also liked Chris McCullough who has now contributed something (the conversation took place Monday morning, author’s note). He is a moving and mobile midfielder who can play away from the basket, hitting. It would even encourage him to shoot 3s more often and thus expand the game. Of course, I also like Demetrius Jackson.
All Lithuanians with Arnas Butkevičius at the forefront are hard workers. I also really like Dovis Bičkauskis. I had to train with him and play at the Trakai club. He is a very hardworking guy and I wish him all the best. It’s not fear of hard work that got him from “Trakai” to “Rytas.” It’s a shame for Karolis Giedraitis, because I also had to work with him. This is a very good and hardworking guy. Everyone talks about looking to the future, but everyone is still looking today. Perhaps coach K. Giedraitis does not see in his system, perhaps he is still missing physical data or something else, and today the result is needed. But I really like Carol. In the past, Šiauliai welcomed all the young people and gave them useful lessons. Maybe Karolis should play with the same Antanas Sireikas?
– Do you agree that a more persistent fight between “Rytas” and “Žalgiris” can be expected this season?
– We’re all looking forward to that fight. It depends on many factors. If you break up with Ch.McCullough, the hole will open again, as it will be difficult for Martin Echod. Ch.McCullough added a lot of fun to the game. If A. Goelelock continues to improve his form and stays in the Morning until the end of the season, his experience and skills will be of great use in the duel with Žalgiris.
Let’s not forget that “Rytas” managed to win the Copa Rey Mindaugas a couple of times. There was a lot of enthusiasm for the team at those finals and it was a great pleasure to see such a “Tomorrow”. Of course, I would like to see “Morning” again with the LKL rings. I am in favor of pronouncing the name “Ryto” in Lithuania and Europe with respect.
– You mentioned about A. Seikas, with whom you sought victories in “Šiauliai”. What are the memories of this professional stage?
– For me, A. Needa only left the best memories. This is a very fluid trainer. Everyone clearly understood that he was a coach and we were players, but we did not miss the opportunity to joke about trips, buses, etc. (smile). This is a coach with a lot of tips and ideas, giving a bit of freedom.
– Do you communicate with former teammates?
– We speak mainly on the phone. We keep talking about the need to comply. I really would like a more serious meeting. I communicate with Roberts Javtokas, Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Kęstutis Šeštokas, Arvydas Macijauskas, Gintaras Kadžiulis, Rimantas Kaukėnas. Corte, 2019 In summer, Gintautas Vileita organized a very fun stay for the former Šiauliai players. I would like to organize something similar with the former “Rytas” players (smiles).
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