Emma Macbeth
Cricket
St. Johnston’s Cricket Club
Emma Macbeth loves cricket. When speaking to Emma, it was clear how large a role cricket played in her life. Every member of the Macbeth family is involved somehow. Her dad and brothers play, she coaches and scores and her mom is on multiple committees. So, it must be no surprise when you find out that she started playing at the age of three. She talked about how her family could field a whole team if they wanted to. They all enjoy doing it together. In addition to her involvement in cricket, Emma also coaches badminton, making her schedule incredibly busy. With both sports’ seasons occurring at different times of the year, she stays quite active throughout the year.
Emma achieved her National Scorer Recognition in November 2022 and acquired international scoring panel accreditation, allowing her to score at all levels of cricket. Impressively, she completed the required course in just 11 months, a process that usually takes years. Before obtaining this qualification, she had already been scoring games for her local club for eight years.
Despite her age sometimes resulting in being overlooked, Emma remains determined and eager to take on the challenge of scoring higher-profile games. When she talks about the game you can see her passion shining through! Her ultimate goal is to score a prestigious international match, such as one featuring England or Australia.
Emma’s role model was her mum. Her mum had encouraged and supported her repeatedly. Her mum’s support means the world as we all know sometimes it is just the kind words your mom has that keep you going and stops you from doubting yourself. Emma and her mum were both a part of Cricket Ireland’s ‘On the Front Foot’ course which encourages female leadership. Recently, Emma is a part of the recently launched Her Moves Program that looks at keeping 13-18-year-old girls involved in sports. It’s exciting to see her involved in this project!
When asked for advice on entering the world of cricket, Emma suggests diving in and not letting the first experience be an obstacle. Having experience working with individuals of all ages, she encourages anyone interested in the sport to get involved. Emma believes there is a role for everyone in cricket. She talked about how everyone brings something different and is unique in their point of view and what they can provide for the team.
Her most crucial advice for staying active is to “do your warm-ups and listen to your coach”. Emma understands the importance of proper warm-ups, as past injuries have occasionally sidelined her. She emphasizes the importance of preventing injuries by adequately preparing before playing. It is the first thing all her coaching sessions start with!
Ultimately, Emma just wants more people involved in cricket, especially women. The Female Sports Forum is thrilled to have Emma as a role model, given her positive approach to sports and her commitment to fostering involvement beyond the field. For those interested in participating, resources can be found on the websites of Cricket Ireland, Northwest Cricket Union, and Northern Cricket Union, depending on your location. Let’s get active!
