Next up in the roster of incredible coaches that will be joining us out in Gran Canaria in the new year, is Tom Sawko, the COO of Deep Dish Beach!
Have a look at our interview with Tom to get to know him before meeting him out in Gran Canaria (if you haven't met him)!
1. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BEACH VOLLEYBALL CAREER
I picked up beach while I was at university, and have loved playing at every level of the UK Beach Tour. I haven’t played for a while, but I’m looking forward to dusting off the cobwebs in January!
2. WHAT'S YOUR HISTORY WITH DEEP DISH VACATIONS?
I came into Deep Dish Beach around 3 years ago, as the Business Development manager. Since then, we’ve grown hugely, with some awesome successes across our venues, events and vacations, and a new staff dream team!
I’ve been a coach for around 8 years now. I’ve coached across all the Deep Dish International camps and UK venues!
3. DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-CAMP WORDS OF WISDOM FOR PLAYERS COMING OUT TO GRAN CANARIA?
Write notes after every session, so that you can keep benefitting from the camp for years after!
5. WHAT IS A LIFE-CHANGING BOOK/MOVIE/QUOTE THAT YOU HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO OTHER PEOPLE?
Now, Trent’s already taken this one too, which speaks to the power of this book! Atomic Habits centres around tiny changes that add up to create big differences in your life. It’s practical and genuinely very interesting. I’m still using a lot of its teachings a year on from reading this book!
6. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DRILL OR SKILL TO COACH?
I love a good burner drill! Nothing better than giving it your all for a few minutes at the end of your session! The best way to earn that post-session swim!
7. WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AT THE GRAN CANARIA CAMP?
The People!
8. WHY SHOULD PLAYERS OR COACHES JOIN THE DEEP DISH GRAN CANARIA CAMP NEXT YEAR?
It’s an intimate camp in the winter sun with great opportunities to develop, play and meet the amazing beach volleyball community.
9. DO YOU HAVE AN EMBARRASSING MOMENT FROM CAMP OR THAT HAPPENED WHILE PLAYING BEACH VOLLEYBALL?
My first ever serve in a Portugal Camp exhibition game. I took it easy and went with a standing float. It still sailed out the side and hit a member of the crowd…
If you missed out on Gran Canaria, don’t miss out on Portugal or else 2024 is going to be the year of missed opportunities!
