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Friday, April 24, 2015

Dick Runesson leaves GVK

"I have set high demands on what the club should deliver"

Gislaved. Five years was enough.

Now Dick Runesson leaves Gislaved VK.

"I do not think anyone should be too long in one place," he says.


If you want to be exact, it was four and a half years that Dick Runesson trained GVK's elitserien team. During that time he took them to two SM-semifinal and two SM-quarterfinal appearances.

"I am happy with the athletic successes," he says.

We met at a café in Gislaved and had a long talk. Most of it will not be included in this text. But Dick is a thoughtful man who sometimes time let emotions control when he has trained GVK.

"I think many coaches put too much prestige in what they do and then they act overly-satisfied. By that I mean that they think they should act in a specific way because that's the way they are supposed to act."

"I'm a pretty emotional coach, for better or worse. But unless I show that I believe in what we do, who will do it? How can I expect my players to believe in what we're doing if I have a body language and mannerisms that shows that I do not believe in them?"

"No idea"

The question remains unanswered, but what is clear is that Runesson thinks it's quite nice to not think about volleyball, although he did travel Wednesday night to Halmstad to see the second match in the women's national finals.

"I have not the faintest idea what's happening now. And in all seriousness, it's a mixed emotions. But in the fall I might feel the urge again, it's very possible that I feel the urge when I see the SM-final matches. But right now it's best to land and let it go."

So you may train GVK in the fall anyway?
"You should never say never and I don't close any doors. But it would take a lot of compromises, and as it looks, now I'm done with it."

The reason for the breakup is that the club and Runesson have some different opinions about which way to walk in the future in Gislaved.

"I have had repeated conversations with our board of directors and put forward a number of suggestions as how to develop the association and it was received with enthusiasm initially, but I have felt gradually that 'No, there's something wrong.'"

"But now that I think about it, I see the explanation. I have set too high of demands on what the club should deliver. So, that I can buy."

"A fantastic team"

He has thus been the coach of the club for five years, add in over ten years as a youth coach and elite coaches. I asked simply question:

What season are you most pleased with?
"It depends entirely on which eyes you use to see it. If one should only count wins, points and overall standing, I would say the 2013/14 season. That year, the only thing that was wrong was that we went out to Lindesberg in the quarter-finals."

"It was a fantastic team, on paper the best we had. We finished second in NM (Nordic Championships), I'm pretty proud of that," he says, laughing.

But he does not end with just that season. There's more good memories.

"Developmentally, how fast it can go, was my first year. Then we went from an extremely mediocre teams from the previous season where we took only two wins in the season to becoming a team that narrowly missed the SM-finals. I'm quite pleased when it was a fantastic development year for the players."

"The following year, I am also pleased with the ... Damn I am pretty happy," he says, laughing.

Yes, he has every reason to be when he was a major contributing factor to the GVK being in the top several years.

But now, new challenges await for Runesson. And "challenge" is particularly a good word for him.

"I can honestly say that if the right challenge presents itself, I would very well be able to move forward."

One thing is for sure, if he moves on, the region would lose a great coach.


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Successful coach leaves Gislaveds VK

He has taken the club to two SM-semifinal appearances.
Now he leaves the club.

Volleyball | Dick Runesson has kept the pieces together in Gislaved VK's elitserien team for several years but now that era is over.

On Tuesday, he stated that he will leave the club.

"It's a little double-edged emotion, but you should trust your gut [because] it's probably right," he says.

He does not want to end his life in volleyball. However, [joining] just any club is not something he is ready for.

"I'm open to suggestions. I feel I have more to give in the volleyball world."

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Meghan prefers hairspray

The American took the highest number of hats in Gislaveds VK during the season.


She was awarded the Värnamo Nyheter hat league honor, but the best prize Meghan Sherman won this year was something else entirely.

First she did not know what her teammates were talking about. It took the full autumn season before Meghan Sherman realized that hat league was not actually about real hats.

"It was only when a reporter called and asked about the hats that I understood what it was for real."

Being awarded hats from VN's sports editorial staff has not been a focus for Sherman. Never before, and not now.

"It's not the most important thing, but it's still super cool to be recognized for the hard work I put into volleyball. I'm a player who does not think so much about an individual prize, but focuses more on the team's success. But it's always fun to get a flap in the back for the work I put in."

On the other hand, she has happily won the MVP-prizes after the games.

"Mikaela Larsson won 500kr gift card to H&M. That was the best prize all season!"

So then did you try to play better right?
"Haha. I always try to do my best"

Did you win any MVP Award this season?
"I won hairspray"

Okay, that doesn't sound so good ...
"Yeah, it was perfect. Then I didn't have to buy it. You do not want to have a hair-catastrophe in the middle of the match, so hairspray is a must."

American teammate and friends Lauren Rafdal and Anna Dyakiewicz have left the club. How do you feel about that?
"They are the closest thing I have from back home in the US so it's hard for me to see them go home. But our friendship is not over just because I don't see them every day. Lauren is looking forward to starting her career as a nurse, which she had just gotten her licensure before coming to play in December. This was her last season with volleyball and I'm really happy for her to start doing what she loves. Anna moved to Turkey where her boyfriend is playing volleyball professionally and she is hoping to start back playing more beach volleyball. I think it will be really good for her. "

When your friends are going home, does it make you long for home?
"I have a totally different situation than they had. I have lived in Sweden for over a year and have a fiancé here, so a lot of my things and clothes from home are here. There has been a small kind of changes for me. Back home in Florida, I always had bright colors, now I just wear black, white, and gray. And I have seen on the television program "Welcome to Sweden" and realized that I have become more Swedish. When I talked to mom so I say "a" and "mm" as people say in Sweden to mean "yes" and my mom has no idea of ​​what I'm saying. But of course when it's raining and cold here and I see that it's 75 degrees and sunny in Florida, I wish I was there."

But you will play next season for GVK?
"It's hard to say anything about next season. I have not had my meeting with the club yet. I would gladly stay, but the board must first decide which direction they want to go for next season. But I would love to stay here. I am starting to find a life outside of volleyball well. It's a really small town but now I feel more and more at home here. "

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Now GVK Starts to Build for Next Season

The season ended about two weeks ago. Now, efforts to shape next year's squad are starting.

The very evening Gislaved VK went out of the playoffs, head coach Dick Runesson canceled his contract with the club. Runesson hopes to continue, but wants to be sure that he and the club share the same ambitions. This week, the two parties had their first meeting.

"We have sat down and gone through the season, what was bad and what was good. We even had a discussion about what is needed for the future. Because we have high aspirations," says sports director Lars Englund.

How high ambition?
"To the top tier of the elitserien."

So you agree that with Dick Runesson to make the effort?
"He seems happy that we have the ambition to belong to the top, so where are we in agreement."

The club has not given Runesson a contract proposal, but should sit down and discuss again next week.

"He has said what he wants. Now the board will sit down and discuss what we ask in return from him. In addition, we must ensure that we have the support for things that we enter into," says Lars Englund.

Answers to questions
Exactly what Dick Runesson said and what he wants is nothing he would like to comment.

"I will not comment specifically what it is I want, but I want to hear what direction the club will take in the future. We didn't discuss so much about my personal details in a possible contract, it's not that important to me," says Dick Runesson.

Did you know that you came along?
"We agreed on most things, but it is a bit small details that still need adjusting. I got some answers to questions I asked."

Good answer?
"Both clarifying and positive answers," says Runesson.

Besides Dick Runesson, many players currently stands without a contract.

Englund comments on the 2014/15 team: 
Lauren Rafdal: Not continuing with GVK next season.
Anna Dyakiewicz: Not continuing with GVK next season.
Meghan Sherman: Has a 1 + 1 contract; GVK hopes she will continue next season, but there are some areas that need to be resolved.
Mikaela Larsson: Has terminated her 1 + 1 contract; GVK talking to her and she can be considered for next season.
Lina Johansson: Has a 1 + 1 contract; hopes she comes back quickly from her injury (February) and plays next season.
Joyce Åkerlund: Has said that it was her last season, but you never know, she might get hungry again.
Amanda Lankinen: Has terminated her 1 + 1 contract; we'll see what happens there.
Lisa Tannerfalk: Contract expires in the summer. Should begin negotiations with her soon for next season.
Mathilda Carlsson: Have 1 + 1 contract.
Sanna Schultz: Had problems with injuries, and said it is her last season.
Elin Andersson: Graduates from high school this year; we want to keep her and talk with her.
Emma Pettersson: She has had a knee injury (December) and we'll see how it heals; want to keep her in the club/team.
Jessica Lakatos: Was injured with disc prolapse last season; doubtful that she can continue another year.
Johanna Larsson: Will be a mother this summer; happy to keep her involved with the team.