PROfiles Mike Slean
Mike Slean has experienced success at all levels of his volleyball career. After winning an OFSAA Championship in High School Mike attended the University of Toronto. While at U of T Mike’s career took off winning an OUA Championship and being an OUA First Team All Star in all 5 years of his Varsity Blues career. While Mike was enjoying all of this success on the Indoor side, he was also building momentum for his Beach career.
OVA: Why did you start playing Beach Volleyball?
Slean: I started playing beach volleyball with other club players in my high school for fun, but had not played in any tournaments. I remember our club coach Wally Hayes suggesting that Dan Lewis and I would make a good beach team and that we should start playing tournaments. So we did. Our first tournament was the Jose Cuervo in Toronto. We were both 17 at the time and got an opportunity to play against James Olenic and Conrad Leinemann to get to the semis. A large crowd assembled, as the possibility of an upset developed. We blew a few match points and dropped the game 16-14. This was one of my earliest and favourite moments in Beach.
Dan Lewis would attend University out of Province so Mike teamed up with York University’s Djordje Ljubicic. Mike would play in 38 International events with Djordje. The team enjoyed main draw successes in several World tour events. Arguably the team’s most successful tournament was a 5th place finish at the 2003 Pan AM Games.
OVA: What was it like playing on the FIVB World Tour
Slean: Playing on the World Tour was an amazing experience. When we competed we did not commit to everything needed to succeed internationally. I believe the National Team program is making progress. To compete with the athletes internationally, there has to be a full commitment from the player. For many years, most of the players were not full-time beach athletes. Technical, tactical, mental and physical skills all need to be addressed and these athletes need to eat properly to perform at their best. Many of the countries that we competed against were already miles ahead in this regard.
OVA: What message would you give to any young beach athlete wanting to play for the National Team?
Slean: The younger players need to get out there and play against the best competition they can. If that means playing in the Open Divisions, then so be it. They need to play as many tournaments as they can and it needs to be a year round commitment. Beach volleyball is very much a game of experience. I believe that this is why this sport is so difficult to identify a National Team. The older players have the experience and can come out with a win when put in head to head competition with the younger players. The younger players have the potential and a bigger up side in the future, but lack the experience to win consistently. Volleyball Canada has had to make some difficult decisions. I hope the younger players take the opportunity and commit to becoming international calibre beach players.
Mike still enjoys playing beach on the OVA tour and indoor for the Blues Brothers in the Ontario Volleyball League (OVL). Off the court Mike owns a gym in Brooklin called Team 12 Training. Through Team 12 Mike works with 6 teams from the Durham Attack VC as their Strength and Conditioning Coach. Mike also owns and operates a Beach Club in Pickering Ontario with Mark Reilly called Solstice Sport. Through Durham Attack and Solstice, Mike has coached many Provincial and National Champions.
OVA: What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a Beach Club?
Slean: We started Solstice Sport 4 years ago. Mark Reilly and I had 5 beach volleyball courts built in Pickering. The Solstice Sport Beach Club for kids came out of the large number of kids who were competing in indoor volleyball in the Durham area. When we trained, we drove to Ashbridges Bay for every session. This venue gives the athletes in our area an opportunity to train consistently throughout the summer. My advice to anyone starting a beach club would be to get quality coaches. They are hard to find, but they are the key to getting the athletes to come out and train all summer.
We would like to thank Mike for his help with this article, good luck with Durham Attack and Solstice Sport. If you would like to recommend an athlete for PROfiles please contact Josh Nichol jnichol@ontariovolleyball.org | 416-426-7233.
