Became historic in Sweden. Now she is asking Norway to step up
Holøs became historic when she took over as head coach for the women’s team at Färjestad last year. Never before had a woman been the head coach of the women’s hockey team.
The 28-year-old played for many years in the Swedish top division and for the Norwegian national team. She knows what it takes to reach the top.
That she ended up in Sweden and stayed, is largely due to the fact that there is a very different focus on women’s hockey in the two countries.
– I feel that they in Norway have not quite gotten there that they take the girls seriously, she says.
Do not pay yourself
Although she believes there is a lot that should be improved, she sees that a generation is emerging in Norway with promising players.
– We had a number of young Norwegian players here now who got to try. They kept a very good level, says Holøs.
The head coach believes that the biggest difference is the width. At a younger age, she believes the level difference is smaller, but that the top level in the countries is very different.
– There is a big difference in the top leagues. The highest league in Norway is like the second or third level in Sweden, says the 28-year-old.
– What is the biggest difference?
– I think it must be the professionalism. Here in Färjestad you do not pay to play yourself. You get equipment, good training times and access to most things. In Norway, they have to build the width. The clubs must dare to invest in girls’ teams and build up from scratch.
When she grew up in Sarpsborg, she had a female hockey role model. It helped open doors for her commitment.
– Mie Berg Iversen was one I looked up to. I think having role models is more important than I have thought. Being able to see someone who played with the boys and moved to Sweden probably did more than what I thought of when I was so young. It showed that it is possible, sort of, says Holøs.
Success
The first year as head coach has included many challenges. Also in Swedish hockey, the coronavirus has put an end to too much and changed on many levels.
The team is at the next top level, and has a stated goal of climbing up to the top division. Now the table tops.
– It has been very exciting. I have learned a lot of new things. It has been a lot more work than I thought it would be, she says.
Holøs is not only the head coach. She also acts as a kind of sports manager. There she is responsible for recruiting players. It takes a lot of time.
Leading a large group of players has been more challenging than she had thought.
– You can think that it is easier than it is, the coach says.
– What will it mean for the club to move up?
– Very much. It is not very important that it happens this year, because we have a five-year plan, but the earlier the better. It will mean a lot to Karlstad to get a team in the top division, she says.
Another job
Why there are so few female head coaches in hockey, she finds it difficult to give a good answer, but she points to “other priorities” as a reason.
In addition to being the head coach, she is also a naprapath.
– It is very easy to combine. I have not wanted to give it my all, but I can get the opportunity to work with hockey full time, she says.
Holøs thinks it is healthy not to just think about hockey.
– I can get the opportunity to work with it full time next season, but I will not do it. I would rather use the funds so that we can be more, so that I do not have to sit with everything all by myself, says the 28-year-old.