BBF continues a series of interviews with Belarusian players and coaches, which tell stories about how basketball appeared in their lives and what role it plays. Our hero today is the trainer of Women’s National Team of the Republic of Belarus – Uladzislau Milasheuski.
During a warm-up before the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers – Estonia vs Belarus. 2018 year
How basketball came into my life
When I was in 4th grade, coach Dmitry Trifonov came to our school. He recruited a group of boys born in 1998 for basketball. I really got into the idea of playing this sport, despite the fact that I was a year younger than needed. Up to that point in my life there have been football and combat sport. In general, my father always was of the opinion that children's energy should be guided to the right direction and not wasted on the meaningless pastime with peers. Therefore, my desire to play basketball found support and encouragement from my parents. Since then it all started.
Uladzislau Milasheuski (No. 16) in the jersey of the Sports School “Tsmoki-Minsk”. 2013
First coach
It is difficult to overestimate the influence of the first coach. Despite the fact that Dzmitry Nikolaevich never played basketball at a professional level himself, he was always extremely responsible in his work, demanding the same from his students. In addition to the discipline for training, he also accustomed us to order in everyday life. I remember how during first sports camps he paid great attention to the fact that we should regularly wash uniform by ourselves and adhere to the sports regime. Later I also had an opportunity to work with such coaches as Aliaksander Verenich, Igor Korneenkov, Dmitry Koltounov, Aliaksander Krutsikau and Konstantin Khoroshilov. However, it was the first coach who developed such features in me as a responsibility and serious attitude to the matter. There were times that I even went too far with responsibility: I had come to the practices an hour and a half before it began to work on my own.
The working process. 2018
The beginning of the coaching path
When it came time to graduate from the “Tsmoki-Minsk” Sports School and go into adult sport, sadly I could not stay in the in this system. At that time, there was a great competition for a point guard position in the second team and as it turned out, I was not quite ready for that. However, fortunately, I managed to get into the existing BSEU-GrandPrint team at that time, where experienced players such as Siarhei Vabishchevich, Dzmitry Paliashchuk, Ilyas Salsanov, and many promising young guys were gathered. In addition to playing basketball and studying at the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture, I also had to earn a living. Then I decided that at the weekend I’ll work as a fitness instructor in the gym. Due to this I came to a decision to work as a fitness instructor in the gym at the weekend. It all started with this: many friends from the sport began to turn to me for consultations on physical conditions and later began to cooperate with some of them on an ongoing basis. At that moment I have realized that as a trainer I could do much more good than as an athlete. Although I will not hide the fact that the game does not let me go: I constantly participate in competitions for the university, the Unprofessional Basketball League (the NBL) and 3x3 tournaments. Since 2016, when I got into the BSUPC in the specialty of “a basketball coach”, I began actively attending various seminars, took video lessons online, read all kinds of books on the training methodology. As I went in for sports for many years and knew how this process is arranged from the inside, it was easy to absorb new material. I had a little left to do: to learn how to correctly apply the acquired knowledge in practice and to properly build the workflow. In addition to theory, I also tried to learn from older colleagues, for example, from Aliaksander Krivtsun. I have been to his seminars more than once, the most memorable of which was the one featuring trainers from the CSKA system Yevgeny Burin and Kostas Khatsichristos. After this event, I realized that I certainly want to work with the basketball team. Before concentrating completely on the basketball environment, together with Nikita Krivtsun, who is now working with our national 3x3 teams, I managed to work very productively with tennis players, even only for a short while.
With the basketball team of Belarus Viktoryia Hasper. 2019
Work with Women's National Team of Belarus
I began to work with Women's National Team of Belarus in 2018. Head coach Nataliya Trafimova wanted somebody from the basketball community to work with the team, who at the same time strives to develop in the field of physical condition. Then someone recommended me to the executives of the Belarusian Basketball Federation, knowing that I have already been conducting active practice. After that, they contacted me through my mentor at the university, asking me to try it. I remember the first time I worked with the National Team, the girls kindly made fun of me about my age. In fact, I was only 19 years old, so I had to work hard and prove myself from the professional side, to prove that I was in the team for a reason. It should be noted that the work with the team was also supervised by the trainer of handball club “SKA” Vadzim Sashurin, with whom we were responsible for the physical condition of the players. Vadim is a very competent specialist and I gained a lot of knowledge from communicating with him, especially with regard to the specifics of endurance development. The introduction of his methodology in the preparation of the team, of course, had results. His participation in the training process helped not only girls to become better, but also me to adjust my work plan, taking into account the tips of such experienced specialist.
During the cooperation with the National Team, I realized that everyone who is part of it, lives by one common idea of winning and becoming better day by day. Both the girls and the coaching staff are well aware of their work and devote themselves for it. Speaking about Nataliya Trafimava, I emphasize that she always treats work of her colleagues with respect and trust, listening to the relevant advice of each of us.
FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers – Belarus vs Turkey. 2018
Preparation for the European Championship 2019. 2019
Bright moments with the National Team
Of course, the very first game of me being a member of the coaching staff will forever remain in our memory. Back then in February 2018, our team played against the Turkish one during FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 Qualifiers at the Sports Palace. At that moment, for the first time I felt what is it like to be a part of such a big thing as a national team. After 10 months, we went to Turkey, where we enchantingly defeated the hosts and won the opportunity to the EuroBasket. Those emotions, perhaps, stand apart: the full arena of local fans, the incredible noise of the stands, and despite this we win and get a ticket to the Continental Championship. Then followed the process of preparation for Eurobasket-2019, which took a lot of time and effort. Yet, last summer was the best in my life. The whole team worked great, even obsessed, because everyone had one common goal. I think that at the very championship we were not lucky enough. After losing to the Russians, we felt devastated. However, this is a sport, anything can happen. However, I am sure that our team will still take its toll and all its successes are ahead.
With the youth team “Tsmoki-Minsk” during a game of the Championship of Belarus. Season 2018-2019
With pupils of the DBA. 2019
Cooperation with BC “Tsmoki-Minsk” and DBA (Children’s Basketball Academy)
I had the opportunity to work in the “Dragons” system as a trainer of the youth team “Tsmoki-2” in the season 2018-2019. At that time, Heorhi Kandrusevich was a head coach and Aleksei Pyntsikau assisted him. At the same time, I took up work with children and girls from the Sports School, so that they had the opportunity to develop comprehensively, so that the adult basketball will not be too traumatic for them. The Children's Basketball Academy appeared in my life also in 2018. At first, I participated in the process only periodically and only as a trainer, but then the founder of the DBA Mikalai Fakeyeu offered me to work as a basketball coach. I agreed without hesitation and never regretted it. In classes with children, I always get tons of positive emotions. In addition, I believe that the activities that we carry out within the framework of the academy are very useful for the future of our national basketball.
At the practice with Women's National Team of Belarus. 2018
Why basketball is the best sport
Basketball movement is like a one big family. Everyone is familiar with each other, either through social networks or personally. I often meet guys with whom I once started playing, with whom I have already worked as a coach. It is always great to be involved in a process in which you have many like-minded people. Also, keep in mind that basketball is some kind of creativity. I find it more than just a work. Just like an artist paints a picture, a musician composes music, so a basketball player on the court makes decisions, gracefully mastering his/her techniques, and the coach direct the team during games. Therefore, it is certainly nice to be a part of such process, where you can prove yourself and contribute to the formation of our players and the victory of our teams.
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