Announcing Coaching and Support Team for the Women's National Team

New Zealand Handball Federation is proud to announce the coaching and support team for the Women’s National Team.

Leanne Dawson : Manager

Emilio Munoz : Strength and conditioning coach

Olivia Hodgson : Massage therapist

Aaron Bell : Media manager / Photographer

Justin Cope : Goalkeeper Coach

Ezer Handelsman : Assistant coach

Cyprien Pesques : Head coach

The team released the following statement.

The New Zealand women's handball staff team comprises a diverse group of volunteers dedicated to the future development of women's handball in NZ.

Leading the team is Coach Cyprien, who brings extensive experience from his 12-year career playing in France and more recently playing in New Zealand. With over six years of coaching experience in France and two years in New Zealand, Cyprien also holds a master’s degree in physical activity and coaching. Assisting him is Ezer Handelsman, from Israel with international playing experience. Ezer is enthusiastic about sharing his playing expertise and contributing to the team's coaching efforts and the vision for the team. Supporting the coaching staff is Manager, Leanne Dawson, Goalie Coach, Justin Cope, strength and conditioning coach, Emilio Munoz, a physiotherapist, massage therapist, Olivia Hodgson, and media manager, Aaron Bell. Together, they form a support network dedicated to the success and well-being of the women's handball team.

The primary objective of the 4-5 year campaign is to reintroduce New Zealand women onto the global stage of handball, with the aim to secure the team’s first win in an international competition. The ultimate goal is to participate in the World Cup in 2029.

The coaching staff are also dedicated to raising the profile of handball and contributing to the development of local players who are passionate about the sport and capable of competing at an international level. Our primary goal for this year is to create a squad of players committed to improving their indoor high-performance technical and tactical skills. The intent is to foster a supportive and enjoyable learning culture among the team, with 5-6 training camps scheduled over the 2024 year.

Across New Zealand, we have a small pool of talented individuals who are eager to develop into international-level players. Despite NZ handball having a relatively small pool of active players, the existing players demonstrate great commitment, a strong work ethic and a supportive team culture. The current squad are excited for the up-and-coming campaign,

With the NZ Handball Federation’s commitment to growing handball across NZ, and the introduction of the Handball League Aotearoa to support player development, we will likely see an increase in participation of women playing handball competitively.

Presently handball operates on a self-funded basis, common for minority sports. However, to compete on the international stage effectively, the team needs to establish mechanisms and pathways that provide financial support to playing, ensuring fairness and accessibility across the sport.