Amy Elizabeth Hardwick
Sport and Exercise Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: A.E.Hardwick@ljmu.ac.uk
Amy Hardwick is an Implementation, Translation and Impact fellow within the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, and is currently studying for her PhD titled, "Exploring Coaching in the Context of Special Olympics", supervised by Dr. Tabo Huntley (LJMU), Dr. Amy Whitehead (LJMU) and Professor Anthony Maher (Leeds Beckett). Previous to her current role, Amy was a Lecturer in Sport Coaching teaching across a variety of programmes and modules.
Amy has previously collaborated with the International Hockey Federation, as part of her Masters degree, to aid the development of a ParaHockey coach education module. Further to this, Amy was Project Officer on the Erasmus funded ParaCoach Project, led by LJMU, which aided development of an e-learning course for coaching in the disability sport context, as well as an e-learning course for developmental sport coaches within Special Olympics.
In addition, Amy is the post-graduate lead for the Coaching and Pedagogy Research Group and a post-graduate representative for the School of Sport and Exercise Science. Amy is also a member of the Disability Sport and Physical Activity Network (DisSPA), Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity Network (PESSPA) and the schools RIDE panel.
Amy is a passionate handball player and L2 qualified coach. She has experience coaching in schools, specifically, PE and GCSE lessons as well as extra-curricular activity. Amy also has experience on the performance pathway, having held coaching roles within the England Handball Performance Academy and with the British Handball W19s squad.
Degrees
2019, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, MSc
2018, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, BA
Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, PhD
Certifications
2023, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice
2023, Advance HE, United Kingdom, Fellow
2022, Advance HE, United Kingdom, Associate Fellow
England Handball Association, 1st 4 Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Handball
Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, LJMU Engage Programme
Academic appointments
Implementation, Translation and Impact Fellow, School of Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moore University, 2023 - present
Lecturer in Sport Coaching, School of Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - 2023
Research Assistant, England Rugby Football League, 'Watch Aloud' Project, Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - 2022
Research Assistant, UK Coaching, Caring Cultures in Sport Coaching Project, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - 2022
Research Assistant, Engagement Networks, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - 2022
ParaCoach Project Officer, Liverpool John Moores University, 2020 - 2021
Journal article
Hardwick AE, Huntley T, Maher A, Whitehead AE. 2024. “It’s just been learning on the job”: becoming and developing as a ParaHockey coach Sports Coaching Review, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Report
Cronin C, Champ F, Gherardi M, Hardwick A, Huntley DT, Lewis C, Rongen F, Ryrie A, Tod D, Whitehead A. 2022. Care for Coaches: Mixed experiences, varied needs, and care ‘infrastructure’ to support the coaching ‘workforce’ Care for Coaches: Mixed experiences, varied needs, and care ‘infrastructure’ to support the coaching ‘workforce’ :1-40
Research Grants Awarded:
SJM Consulting/IOC, Assignment 2 Integrating physical activity, sport for all and active recreation into the UN Habitat systems in 5 early adopter cities, Professor Lynne Boddy, Professor Zoe Knowles, Grant value (£): 20,000, Duration of research project: 12 months. 2025
England Rugby Football League, 'Watch Aloud' - Measuring parental sideline behaviour, Amy Whitehead (P1), Danny Cullinane, Colum Cronin, Gus Ryrie, Katie Fitton-Davies, Vicci Boyd, Colin Lewis, Amy Hardwick, Grant value (£): £21,000, Duration of research project: 9 months. 2022
Conference presentation:
The Journey to Becoming a Special Olympics Coach, Cluster for Research into Coaching, Newcastle, Oral. 2024
Exploring Coach Development in Special Olympics, International Council for Coaching Excellence Global Coaches Conference, Singapore, Oral presentation. 2023
An Insight into the Complexity of Coaching in Special Olympics, Cluster for Research into Coaching Symposium, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2023
Exploring the Learning Experiences and Practice of Community ParaHockey Coaches, ICCE Global Coach Conference, Lisbon, Oral presentation. 2021
Creating and Presenting the ParaCoach e-learning Course, LJMU Celebrating Disability Sport and Physical Activity Conference, Liverpool, Oral presentation. 2021
ParaCoach Special Olympics Workforce Survey and Follow-Up Interview Findings, Special Olympics US Developmental Sports Webinar, Online, Oral presentation. 2020
Conference organisation:
Cluster for Research into Coaching (CRiC) Symposium, https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties/faculty-of-science/school-of-sport-and-exercise-sciences/external-engagement/events/cluster-for-research-into-coaching-symposium. 2023
Celebrating Disability Sport and Physical Activity, https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/news/articles/2021/11/25/ljmu-launch-new-disability-sport-and-physical-activity-network-disspa-network. 2021
Other Professional Activity:
Post Graduate Lead of the Coaching and Pedagogy Research Group, https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/research/centres-and-institutes/research-institute-for-sport-and-exercise-sciences/expertise/coaching-and-pedagogy-research-group. 2021
Enrolled on the NCCPE Engage Academy (January 2025 - July 2025), https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/engage-academy.