Saturday 8 October 2016 19:44, UK
Holly Lam-Moores is one of the best players this country has produced. Here she tells us about her journey, what she gets from coaching, and what she would advise any aspiring young coach.
As part of Women's Sport Week 2016 handball coach Lam-Moores blogs on her experiences.
The Burnley-born ace was one of the stars of the Team GB women's handball team at London 2012. Holly has played professionally for Danish side Viborg HK.
She now plays for NEM Hawks in Super 7, the top league in England, and remains a key player for GB.
Holly is also proving to be one of the brightest coaching talents in the country. She is the head coach of the girl's National Academy, and the GB girl's Under-16 programme.
Holly also took the Warrington Wolves under-18 girls team all the way to the national finals at the Copper Box in 2015-16.
Here she tells us about her coaching journey, what she gets from coaching, and what she would advise any aspiring young coach:
When I returned home from Denmark I wanted to give back to the sport. Handball has been good to me and I wanted to give young people the opportunities that I have been lucky enough to have.
Coaching just seemed to be the best way of achieving this and sharing what I had learnt from my six years playing abroad.
I volunteered for Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation as they took an interest in handball. They were great, giving me lots of support in gaining coaching qualifications and to develop as a coach. They helped set me on the path that I'm now on and I will always be grateful to them.
I love being a coach and get a lot back from it. I find it really rewarding seeing the positive effect coaching has on young people, both at grass-roots and at the elite level. Some of the girls I coach have gone on to play for England and in tournaments all over Europe. I loved that as a player, and still do, and it is great to help other players have that experience.
I've had great support but you need to be dedicated and to be prepared to put the work in. If any aspiring coach asked me for advice I'd say go for it, get stuck in - whether it's for fun, socially or you want to become the next big star! Handball is something different and an exciting sport to be a part of. Find out where your local club is and join!
