Unsung Hero: Emma Smethurst
Badminton is more than just a sport for Emma Smethurst.
The mum-of-two, from Halifax, has held a passion for England’s favourite racket sport for over two decades and she’s passing on her love for the game far and wide by creating an environment where anyone can play.
Having first picked up badminton at 11, the 33-year-old now runs sessions across all ages and abilities in and around Yorkshire, all with the purpose of giving back to a sport that has given her so much.
“Badminton has always been a big part of my life,” said Smethurst, who has been recognised as Babolat’s Community Spotlight for January. “It’s more than just a sport.
“I’ve made many close friendships from playing badminton and since running a club I can see more friendships building and that’s the best part of it, creating a friendly environment for people to get to know each other and make new friends and enjoy spending time and socialising together.
“It makes everything worthwhile because obviously a lot of time and effort goes into putting sessions on and advertising them but also I’m gaining friendships as well so it works both ways.
“I’m meeting lots of different people just by creating this friendly atmosphere and it’s really nice to help make that happen.”
Badminton coaching has been Smethurst’s primary job since the birth of her second child, with over 100 different people each week under her tutelage.
And while balancing a career with parenthood can pose its own challenges, for Smethurst it has always been a labour of love.
She added: “I decided to give badminton a go because I’ve always been a coach and it allows me to have that flexible working time where I can work around the children.
“I can now choose my own hours when to work and when I’m not working, I’m being a mum.
“I have two days a week in the day where I can work because my children are in nursery so I make sure to put on sessions and then it’s capitalising on the time that I have and do as much as I can in that short space of time and just try to make it work.
“I hope I can continue this until I finish working. I hope this is going to be my job for the next 30-odd years. I love it, it doesn’t feel like a job and I hope that continues.
“I’m getting more people playing badminton and in the end that’s what it’s all about. I really enjoy coaching, running sessions, helping people improve and sharing knowledge.
“I do think I can put badminton sessions on every day of the week and fill them but I can’t do that at the moment.
“That’s not where I am in my life but I’m sure in the future I’ll be putting on more and more sessions as time goes on and the children get bigger for sure.
“I always thought I’d be a coach and help people play badminton but not to this level or this extent. I’m grateful that I can do it and “I’m happy to say that I’m a badminton coach and that’s my job.”
