przegladsportowy.pl/ Janusz Uznański, fot. Piotr Sumara, 28 December 2017

Sebastian Pawlik nominated to the Coach of the Year Award

One more pleasant and well-deserved nomination in the 83rd Plebiscite of Przegląd Sportowy. This time for the chief of the "Dominators" - Sebastian Pawlik, the coach who led not only the junior world champions. This nomination is a distinction on the absolute four-year supremacy of the Polish youth on the European and world courts.

The winner in this prestigious category will be selected by the Established Chapter, however our fans can already prove that this nomination is totally condign. We encourage everyone to visit the Przegląd Sportowy: https://www.facebook.com/przegladsport or our fanpage on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PolskaSiatkowkaOfficial/

Below you will find the official presentation of Sebatian Pawlik available on the official website of the 83rd Plebiscite of Przegląd Sportowy:

PRESENTATION OF THE NOMINEES FOR THE COACH OF THE YEAR - SEBASTIAN PAWLIK

Under the guidance of Sebastian Pawlik, Poland national junior volleyball team won everything that was possible to win. However, the coach prefers to stay out of the spotlight. - Do not talk about me. The real heroes are the players, theses talented boys who devoted themselves 100% to volleyball and achieved huge success. I feel proud that I could work with them - said Sebastian Pawlik, when the junior world champions returned home.

FROM GOLD TO GOLD

The national team led by him earned the gold medal at the Volleyball Men's Junior World Championship in Brno in an impressive style, winning all eight encounters. The golden juniors, who with a smile on their faces demolished their opponents, delighted all supporters. The compliments seemed to know no bounds. But how can one not commend the players who have won everything what was possible to win in four years, first - in youth category, and then in juniors. In both age categories they triumphed at the World and European Championships, they won gold at the European Youth Olympic Festival, and although it is hard to believe, for four years they won all 48 matches in official competitions. - We lost two friendly matches. One against Brazil and the other against Russia. However, we defeated both teams during the championships - said Pawlik, who prepared the team together with Maciej Zendeł in Sports Championship School, leading them at all events. Despite his huge success, he remains in the shade.

- Sebastian is a very modest man. He prefers to stay out the spotlight and media attention. He focuses on hard work not on distinctions. Sometimes, I even have impression that he should be more of a go-getter, because he deserves to be recognized for the amazing work which he has done at school. He is a hardworking person, who always wants to improve. He has a flair for work with youth, he can teach and educate. He is a real educator - said Leon Bartman, director of the Sports Championship School in Spała.

He has known Pawlik for six years. In 2011 he started his work at Sports Championship School in 2011 as a coach trainee. - He came to us right after the graduation from Academy of Physical Education in Biała Podlaska. He was young, but promising from the very beginning. First, he was assistant coach of the youth team led by Wiesław Czaja, then by Jacek Nawrocki. And finally, he became the head coach of the team - explained Bartman.

"GOOD COP"

Pawlik gives the impression of a calm and modest man. So how did he handle a group of talented but cocky young players, who were not always good boys? - Work at school was a team work and coaches shared their duties. The "bad cop" role was usually played by Maciej Zendeł, who has worked at school longer and has more experience. Sebastian rather used to soothe the conflicts, he was looking for compromise. And as you can see, everything worked as it should, and the team were headed up, from gold to gold - said Bartman.

The key to success, alongside the talent of players and training system developed in the school, was a perfect atmosphere within the team. - There was chemistry between us. We all felt good together - said Pawlik.

When, after returning from the Junior World Championship, he was asked if he is ready to lead the senior national team, he vehemently negated. - I fulfil myself in work at SMS, we are starting preparations for the youth world championship with another group of boys. I want to focus on it - he emphasized in July.

Now, after rethinking this, he changed his mind. - Maybe, I really should use my experience working with the senior national team. I have been working with youth for a long time and I know most of the new generation of players who will be considered in the context of senior team. It would be beneficial for both national team and the Sports Championship School. The roles of assistant coach or member of national team coaching staff and school coach should be possible to combine - said Pawlik. However, he immediately added: I am glad that someone came up with the idea of including me in coaching staff of senior national team and I am ready to talk. However first, the Polish Volleyball Federation has to name a head coach, who will decide if he needs me in the coaching staff - said the coach of golden juniors. The hero, who even after a series of spectacular victories prefers to stay out of spotlight, remaining in shade and calmly doing his job.

© Polish Volleyball Federation, 2017