Valentin Vasilievich Zhukov is the president of the All-Russia Federation of Volleyball (1991-2004), the “Deserved Trainer of the ” and . Now he is the Honorable President of VFV, the adviser of President of VFV N. P. Patrushev.
In 2007 Valentin Vasilevich has celebrated a 70th anniversary. The volleyball for Valentin Vasilevich began when he was 14. It started in
Karaganda
where the officer life has defined his father. By the nature of service Zhukov-senior “sat up” more than two-three years at one place seldom so in the childhood Valentine Zhukov has much traveled on a native land.
In Karaganda Valentin spent his school-free time in a children’s string band, played a balalaika-contrabass. Somehow, absolutely accidentally, he has come to a volleyball section game. Boys under the direction of the teacher learnt how to fall correctly after a ball.
During his youth years Zhukov gave almost identical time to volleyball and basketball. However, it was not necessary to speak about any great sports talent. But an opportunity of career of the physicist or the mathematician appeared. First, he knew these subjects well; secondly, it was pleasant to him; and, thirdly, the idea to become the teacher was supported by his uncle, the principal.
He entered in the
Ryazan
Teacher
Training
College
on physical and mathematical faculty. But, having studied about three or four months he has understood that it was not his calling.
Other children dreamt to reach glories and status of the sports idols, and Valja Zhukov dreamt to train not commands of masters, but at first — children. It’s a kind of a teaching too, but with professional sports bias.
At the same time Zhukov’s family lived near
Ryazan
. And once Valentin knew that there is a school of trainers in Malakhovka. He has passed exams at that school to the branch of sports on specialization of volleyball. Simultaneously there studied famous sportsmen with him: bicyclist Cherepovich, skier Kolchin, figure skater Kudryavtsev, fighter Shmakov.
Though he entered on volleyball two specializations have been resolved for student Zhukov. A case is actually unique. As a result he has got trainer’s education both on volleyball and basketball.
However, Zhukov has chosen a career of trainer in volleyball.
He has begun the trainer’s way in “Saturn” from Ramenky. In half a year there were engaged 360 boys and girls in his group. And the organizing talent of the future president of federation has started to be shown the same time; in 1972 Valentin Vasilievich was responsible for preparation of youth national teams of .
In 1991 the next report-back election conference of the Russian volleyball was held in Krasnogorsk. Zhukov spent it in the rank of the state trainer. 15 candidates have been nominated on the main positions. But, as it was found out, this list has not appeared full. The representative from the
Far East
has offered Zhukov’s nominee — the professional whom everybody perfectly knew. Zhukov has flatly refused to supplement the list with his name. But the principle of collective leadership has induced him to do it: the decision on entering of a nominee of Zhukov in the list for voting was supported practically by all presents. And on August 20, 1991 he was elected as the President of the Russian Federation of Volleyball.
The next year when the Federation of Volleyball of the has ceased to exist, there has been held an extraordinary congress with elections in Obninsk. Zhukov was reelected, with only three voices contra.
There were seven territorial volleyball associations (Ural, the Center, the Far East, Siberia, the South of Russia, the Volga region, the Northwest of Russia) and Moscow and St.-Petersburg which are engaged, first of all, in development of children’s, student’s and amateur volleyball has supplemented this list; volleyball in labor collectives, volleyball for people with the limited physical possibilities etc. In Federation the special attention has been given to volleyball popularization, as sports of the higher achievements.
Zhukov in 2004 has understood that the new possibilities are necessary for the further development of the Russian volleyball — first of all administrative possibilities.
In two years Zhukov has resigned of the first vice-president position and, as Nikolay Platonovich Patrushev’s insisted, Valentin Vasilievich Zhukov has been elected as the Honorable President of Federation, first in the history of the Russian volleyball and, practically simultaneously, he was appointed the adviser of president of VFV.
