For Nataliia Klimenova, a speaker at the 2025 CEV Coaches Convention, volleyball has always been more than just a game. It represents a path to achieving dreams, a means of healing, and a profound purpose. Her evolution from athlete to transformative coach is marked by resilience, valuable lessons she’s eager to impart, and a strong commitment to innovative coaching methods.
From Margins to Meaning
Growing up, Nataliia faced skepticism from the volleyball community, which prioritized height over individual potential. She was often told the sport wasn`t for her. “They told me Volleyball was a dead end. But it became my way out,” she recalls.
Her journey was challenging, marked by low-paying jobs, years spent abroad, loneliness, and the difficulties of starting anew in a foreign land. She also endured emotionally stifling environments. Yet, through these struggles, she held onto volleyball, gradually transforming her pain into a clear sense of purpose.
A New Model of Coaching
Today, Nataliia coaches with a clear mission: to protect, empower, and truly understand the young athletes she guides. “I won’t let my kids go through what I did,” she asserts.
Her coaching philosophy is built on trust, emotional safety, and shared responsibility. She views discipline not as a demonstration of power, but as a partnership with her players.
Growth Isn’t Always Graceful
Klimenova understands that development is a process that takes time, and progress is rarely linear or perfect. She often reminds her players and fellow coaches: “You have to understand, in order to get better, it`s going to look ugly before it looks beautiful.”
Instead of striving for flawless execution, she encourages athletes to embrace risks, learn from mistakes, and discover their rhythm through challenges.
More Than Winning
Central to her coaching approach is a deep conviction that sport serves as a profound life teacher, extending far beyond mere competition.
A Legacy of Empathy
Nataliia Klimenova`s coaching represents both a departure from outdated, harmful traditions and an embrace of a better way: creating an environment where young people are valued, protected, and encouraged to grow with dignity.
Inspired by legends like Karch Kiraly, whose achievements speak volumes, Nataliia carefully observes how one of the most successful volleyball figures conducts training sessions. She is committed to integrating these valuable lessons into her own coaching, adapting them to meet the specific needs of her young athletes.
Volleyball vs. Other Sports
When discussing the unique complexity and beauty of coaching volleyball, Nataliia highlights that success hinges on precision, teamwork, and communication. Unlike individual sports where outcomes are primarily tied to personal performance, volleyball fosters deep connections among teammates, providing invaluable lessons in collaboration and adaptability.
Why Attend the 2025 CEV Coaches Convention?
Asked why she would attend the CEV Coaches Convention as a participant, Klimenova stresses the crucial importance of maintaining an open mind as a coach.
“Growth often comes not from groundbreaking insights, but from everyday conversations and shared experiences,” she states.
She reflects on her own evolution: “I used to be a very `black-and-white` kind of coach – this is the way it should be done, because that’s how it’s always been done. But now, after many conversations with other coaches and players, I’ve started shifting my approach. I now say: `Maybe this is the way, but there’s room for another possibility.`”
About Nataliia Klimenova
Nataliia Klimenova is a Ukrainian professional volleyball player and coach with over two decades of experience. She has competed at elite levels across Europe and Canada, achieving multiple National Championships, MVP awards, and the prestigious Master of Sports title as a member of the Ukrainian National Team.
She played both indoor and beach volleyball internationally, most recently serving as the starting libero for Mount Royal University in Canada, contributing to their national silver medal in 2022.
