Jan José (wonderful, a portuguese name!:) De Brandt (born 20 January 1959) is a Belgian former volleyball
player and current coach with vast curriculum, mainly in women international volleyball. As you will see throughout his answers to our inquiry, he is a passionate and fair man devoted to the universal outbreak of volleyball passion. So, here how Jan De Brandt thinks volleyball today:
1 - Volleyball is the 4 or 5th sport in the world with a wider base of fans, even greater than basketball. What should be made to communicate and show better this sport that so many millions pratice and love?
Jan De Brandt: I think that our sport should be broadcast more all around the world. All big competitions like Olympic Games, World Championships for seniors and youth should be seen by all people all over the world. Of course with the internet, Laola1.tv, there has already been made a big step but still more could be done. Young people like idols in their sport. Volleyball is not a sport known by the young people who won the Olympic Games or who are world champions. Stars like for example N' Gapeth, Bruninho, Zu, Boscovic are still unknown in the world!!!
2 - Concepts like NBA make the show and the sport themselves. Do you think volleyball, as a show, would benefit from concepts like those? If yes, how and where should it be built? World League? In a strong national league like NBA?
Jan De Brandt: I think our sport does not need to be changed a lot! Now, all the year through you have big competitions going on and a real volley fanatic can enjoy our sport almost every day. The most important thing is that people are well informed and that when they watch volleyball on television the comments are made with enthusiasm and knowledge! It is important that ex-volleyball players promote our sport all over the world. They can give interesting tips to all young volleyball players and make a big publicity for our sport!
3
– Means and goals, strategy and principles. Are there any limits in
strategy to the victory? For example, do you admit pressure inside
the court, with your players bullying players from the opposite team?
What are the limits? And when you want to hire a certain player,
should there be a regulation to the way athletes are contacted and by
whom?
Jan De Brandt: I think our sport is one of the fairest sports in the world. Let us keep it like this. Referees try to guide the game in the best possible way, players play the best they can and coaches should prepare the players for giving their best performance ever. I think players sometimes react very aggressively on the court, mainly because of self-frustration that they missed a ball, for example. It's up to the coaches and sometimes the referees too to help and calm down these players. But we are humans and I love EMOTION in our sport. People come to watch our sport because there is always a winner and a loser. But sometimes the losers win a lot in experience, in never giving up, in team effort. Winning is about that, always fighting back, never giving up, doing more than your opponent.
4 - How do countries like Italy manage to
stay at the top for so many years, how did countries like Poland,
Germany or France reach the top and how can countries with tradition
in volleyball like Portugal and Spain, among others, get there?
Jan De Brandt: Italy remains at the top because they have a very strong competition in the country. Volleyball, for men and women, is very professionally organized and a lot of good players from all around the world go to play volleyball in Italy. The coaches there acquired a very high knowledge of volleyball and most teams have a big staff with scouters, assistant-coaches, physical coaches, doctor and physiotherapist which are all specialists in their compartment!!! This helps a lot to study the game better and to prepare the athletes in the best possible way to perform. Italy took a lot from the United States and had great coaches who showed them the way, like, for example, Julio Velasco in men volleyball. So a strong competition in your country contributes a lot to the growth of volleyball. And if your country is organizing a lot of important events like World Championships, World League or Grand Prix, the popularity of volleyball is growing more and more. And then you have countries like Poland where all people love so much this sport. It is a joy to go and play volleyball there!!!
5 – When you travel with your team, to traineeships or competitions, do you defend that the team should be isolated in a bubble, with no contact with the “outside world”, or, on the contrary, you think that the team should promote the contact with local reality, including or not the adversaries, like we see, for example, before great matches in the ATP world tour? What are the advantages or disadvantages of each option (?)
Jan De Brandt: I personally think that we can not forget that we play volleyball for an audience!!! Of course we try to improve personally, and as a team as much as possible, but after a game we are in a certain way ambassadors for our sport. We have to make contact with our public, to give autographs and sign shirts after a game, to make interviews with the press and television. The words of a coach or a player after a game can be so important for all the people who like to see volleyball!!!! And the fans have to respect also the preparation of the athletes before the game, players are in a trance, doing the same rituals before the game to achieve their ideal performance state. Please do not disturb them then!!!
Jan De Brandt: I think our sport is one of the fairest sports in the world. Let us keep it like this. Referees try to guide the game in the best possible way, players play the best they can and coaches should prepare the players for giving their best performance ever. I think players sometimes react very aggressively on the court, mainly because of self-frustration that they missed a ball, for example. It's up to the coaches and sometimes the referees too to help and calm down these players. But we are humans and I love EMOTION in our sport. People come to watch our sport because there is always a winner and a loser. But sometimes the losers win a lot in experience, in never giving up, in team effort. Winning is about that, always fighting back, never giving up, doing more than your opponent.
4 - How do countries like Italy manage to
stay at the top for so many years, how did countries like Poland,
Germany or France reach the top and how can countries with tradition
in volleyball like Portugal and Spain, among others, get there?Jan De Brandt: Italy remains at the top because they have a very strong competition in the country. Volleyball, for men and women, is very professionally organized and a lot of good players from all around the world go to play volleyball in Italy. The coaches there acquired a very high knowledge of volleyball and most teams have a big staff with scouters, assistant-coaches, physical coaches, doctor and physiotherapist which are all specialists in their compartment!!! This helps a lot to study the game better and to prepare the athletes in the best possible way to perform. Italy took a lot from the United States and had great coaches who showed them the way, like, for example, Julio Velasco in men volleyball. So a strong competition in your country contributes a lot to the growth of volleyball. And if your country is organizing a lot of important events like World Championships, World League or Grand Prix, the popularity of volleyball is growing more and more. And then you have countries like Poland where all people love so much this sport. It is a joy to go and play volleyball there!!!
5 – When you travel with your team, to traineeships or competitions, do you defend that the team should be isolated in a bubble, with no contact with the “outside world”, or, on the contrary, you think that the team should promote the contact with local reality, including or not the adversaries, like we see, for example, before great matches in the ATP world tour? What are the advantages or disadvantages of each option (?)
Jan De Brandt: I personally think that we can not forget that we play volleyball for an audience!!! Of course we try to improve personally, and as a team as much as possible, but after a game we are in a certain way ambassadors for our sport. We have to make contact with our public, to give autographs and sign shirts after a game, to make interviews with the press and television. The words of a coach or a player after a game can be so important for all the people who like to see volleyball!!!! And the fans have to respect also the preparation of the athletes before the game, players are in a trance, doing the same rituals before the game to achieve their ideal performance state. Please do not disturb them then!!!
6 - Do you think that the sport
taught in schools would benefit from specialized school subjects that
could be an option in the pre-university and university years, like
we see in some countries, like the subject “indoor volleyball” or
“beach volleyball”, even if the graduation is different, in
theory, like, v.g, Law or Architecture, and is it essential, like in
the USA, that the sport in the university should be considered as a
foreground to the main leagues, as athletes are much more mature than
in the younger leagues?Jan De Brandt: I can just talk about the volleyball school that they created in Belgium 20 years ago. It is a combination of study and every day volleyball training during 4 years from 14-18 years old. This was a big success after 10 years. We produced new generations of volleyball players and the last 10 years we, as a real small country, are not only present in all big youth competitions but we get even to obtain medals in big Championships. Our senior National Teams got stronger and stronger and belong now in the top 10 of the world. Amazing!!!
7 - Something you learned in volleyball that you take to your attitude before everything:
Jan De Brandt: oh yes...volleyball teaches you about life!!! First of all it is a TEAM-sport. Alone you can not arrive to anything, together everyone achieves more. So, you have to work together, to understand each other, to talk with each other, to perform together. This requires an attitude of discipline, motivation, respect and fun. Those are also the keys of success!!!
8 - Something you learned outside volleyball
that you bring into it:Jan De Brandt: so much...volleyball gave me the chance to SEE the world. Discover other countries, smell and feel other cultures, learn other languages, making friends all over the world....it made me rich in MIND and HEART. I like to transmit this message to all my players...OPEN your eyes and see the world!!!
9 – Literature, Arts, Cinema, and Volleyball: is there any fictional work that you know that puts us inside this sport? And what non fictional book is your “bible” in volleyball?
Jan De Brandt: I love music, books, film, ballet, other sports. I love everything that is beautiful around me. it makes me a HAPPY person and I try to show this happiness to my players every day. We can learn so much from other sports, science, music, and there is always something you can use in your sport. And you know why ? Because it is made by people. People that have PASSION and want to show their creation to the world...they give us big or small emotions...but they change something in us...I have no bible in volleyball. All the contacts with my players and friend-coaches make my bible!!!
10 - What changes in the game would make it better?
Jan De Brandt: more substitutions...better defense players in the back, stronger attackers on the net...
11 -
Tell us a secret about your work that you think makes it
singular:
Jan De Brandt: the biggest secret is to make your players believe that they are unique and that they can gain a big self-confidence! To make them better as a player and as a person!
12 - Can an athlete reach excellency without wining? Why?
Jan De Brandt: yes, you can reach excellence without winning anything! In sports it is all about the will to perform the best you can . To train as hard as you can and to try to improve every day! Maybe that is not enough for winning but it gives you so much joy and satisfaction. Not everybody can stand on the podium! It should be no fun to compete only with 3 teams.
13-Which is the most important part of the game (give us a detailed view of each technical gesture and each part of the game) for you?
Jan De Brandt: All parts of the game are of the same importance!!! Which pleases me a lot is the evolution in men volleyball. All top players became setters. The liberos are artists with the ball and start becoming the second setters in the team, the outside hitters even have unpredictable sets in their hands and also the middle players can set a perfect high ball. This is the difference between an average team and a TOPteam!!!
Jan De Brandt: the biggest secret is to make your players believe that they are unique and that they can gain a big self-confidence! To make them better as a player and as a person!
12 - Can an athlete reach excellency without wining? Why?
Jan De Brandt: yes, you can reach excellence without winning anything! In sports it is all about the will to perform the best you can . To train as hard as you can and to try to improve every day! Maybe that is not enough for winning but it gives you so much joy and satisfaction. Not everybody can stand on the podium! It should be no fun to compete only with 3 teams.
13-Which is the most important part of the game (give us a detailed view of each technical gesture and each part of the game) for you?
Jan De Brandt: All parts of the game are of the same importance!!! Which pleases me a lot is the evolution in men volleyball. All top players became setters. The liberos are artists with the ball and start becoming the second setters in the team, the outside hitters even have unpredictable sets in their hands and also the middle players can set a perfect high ball. This is the difference between an average team and a TOPteam!!!
14 – What do you think about,
and how do you manage, internal competition in the team?
Jan De Brandt: players need competition...otherwise they stop growing! We as coaches have to bring them out of their comfort zone. I create new and uncomfortable situations for the players. Then they will learn more and grow!!!
15 - Leave a message to athletes with the essence of what you think they should put in volleyball and can make them and the sport great:
Jan De Brandt: PASSION...show emotion and passion in all that you do...
16 - The same to coaches:
Jan De Brandt: PASSION
Jan De Brandt: players need competition...otherwise they stop growing! We as coaches have to bring them out of their comfort zone. I create new and uncomfortable situations for the players. Then they will learn more and grow!!!
15 - Leave a message to athletes with the essence of what you think they should put in volleyball and can make them and the sport great:
Jan De Brandt: PASSION...show emotion and passion in all that you do...
16 - The same to coaches:
Jan De Brandt: PASSION
Vladimir Kondra
17 - Finally, the
same to directive staff:
Jan De Brandt: PASSION
18 - Your Idol in Volleyball, and why:
Jan De Brandt: Kondra...a Russian player whom I loved to see playing and Kim Ho Chul, a Korean setter!!!
Jan De Brandt: PASSION
18 - Your Idol in Volleyball, and why:
Jan De Brandt: Kondra...a Russian player whom I loved to see playing and Kim Ho Chul, a Korean setter!!!
Kim Ho Chul
19 - Your idol in sports, and why:
Jan De Brandt: Eddy Merckx...simply because he was the BEST!!!!
Jan De Brandt: Eddy Merckx...simply because he was the BEST!!!!
Eddy Merckx
20
- You idol in life, and why:
Jan De Brandt: My brother Herman..he showed me the way!!!!
Jan De Brandt: My brother Herman..he showed me the way!!!!
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