Aleksi Lassila, Elmeri Anttila, Perttu Ruuska, Severi Lassila…
This list of top players who grew up in Vimple could go on and on. How is it even possible that young superstars emerge every year from a municipality with less than 3,000 inhabitants and its surrounding areas?
Those whose species strength is at a staggering level compared to others.
Behind everything is a coach who cares about the young people holistically. He helps not only in sports, but also in matters outside of it. He is the person who, when driving around the village, decides to stop by the hall, because he notices young people cycling in the yard.
She is Kari Kleemola. A man for whom baseball is a way of life. He has been doing this for 30 years with the same intensity.
– Kari is personified to a great extent, which is Vimpelin Veto. I would start from a background such as sports strategy and world of thought. A small village, many heroes, as their slogan says, Urheilu’s expert Sami-Petteri Kivimäki stated recently on ‘s broadcast.
Of course, there are many other junior coaches in Vimpel and its surroundings. However, according to the interviewees, it is Kleemola who is the key factor behind the success.
When Kivimäki coached in Vimple, he immediately noticed how the throwing, running and hitting power of the players who grew up under Kleemola was significantly different from other players of the same age. They were more ready than others.
– His value cannot be overemphasized, says Kivimäki.
Kari Kleemola says that every young person has been helped. Some of the players go up to Superpesis and some play, but not at the main league level. However, they learn an active lifestyle.
– This is related to many things. We don’t just stare at the top nests.
However, Kleemola admits that Vimple has understood and realized how physical training is as sport-specific as possible.
– I would think that we are ahead of several clubs in that.
Watch the video to see how Kleemola opens up the insights made in Vimpelli.
In recent years, he has personally invested in throwing and teaching it. There is a reason why a lot of good throwers develop in Vimple.
– A long time ago, it was sad when it was generally said that someone has a hard hand and someone has a bad hand. I was of the opinion that it is not so. Someone has just learned to throw correctly and the other hasn’t learned yet. That is, the other is taught to throw.
Kleemola also reminds that development is not age-linear and there are differences. Kleemola describes herself as impatient, but is still aware of how big changes can be made with long-term work.
– Persistence is a character trait that goes a long way. Someone may be talented, but the other is training to be better for the next year.
Perttu Ruuska and Severi Lassila both praise Kleemola. Not only in terms of physical training and game things, but also in terms of eating, sleeping and things outside of sports.
– He was a good guy. We had a lot to do outside of sports as well. Sen noticed that he wanted to develop us. He took everyone’s booth, says Lassila.
– He has done a huge job for Vimpeli Veto. Year after year, tough juniors emerge and most of them are thanks to Kleemola. He has kicked us in the ass and got us going. He gets tough players from the juniors.
According to Ruuska, Kleemola doesn’t have a single secret. However, he knows how to teach young people the right way and refine them into top players.
Ruuska says afterwards that he noticed how meaningful the years under “Karra” were in the end, precisely in terms of sports and physics.
– Of course, it also requires the player to do his part. When a young player is active, wants to develop and has passion, then results will come with a factory guarantee.
Tremendous passion is also transmitted from Kleemola. According to Ruuska and Lassila, Kleemola might suddenly rush to the hall for small group training.
– You can see that his passion for the sport is absolutely huge. I don’t know many nesters who have as much passion, says Ruuska.
– That’s certainly one important thing that makes him a good coach. He lives and breathes nests. It’s always on the breeding ground or in the hall. It feels like he has no days off. He is, after all, a breeder.
There are two sides to Kleemola as a person. He insists that the exercises are carried out fully and seriously, but not too seriously, with a twinkle in his eye. There is also a sense of humor.
– He is a very humorous man. We are still in touch every day and every day he tells a joke about it. He’s not real at all. A very funny guy, says Lassila.
Lassila and Ruuska laughingly recall stories of how, on the other hand, demandingness was reflected in their work.
– When we lost the first period in the home game and we were bad, he took a mirror and went in front of every player’s face to show. Finally, look yourself and ask if anyone saw the player in that mirror. The group just wondered what was really going on here. After that, we won the game. He can be serious, says Lassila.
– Once in the A-boys’ game many years ago, one player slackened his run a bit before the home base. There might have been a run and he came with a fan against the runner and slapped the back side. It was a reminder to run to the end. Whether it’s a game or training, he wants things to be done to the end, says Ruuska.
Most of Vimpel’s playing lineup has attended Kleemola’s school. Last year, the team reached the Finnish championship and it seems that the team will be difficult to beat this fall as well.
– If you have to name one person, who has the greatest importance, that young people emerge from Vimpel and that the club can manage and succeed, then I would say Kleemola. His history is so long that I don’t even know how long he has been involved, Ruuska concludes.
The future looks good, because the players are at a young age. And more of them are rising all the time.