South Western Districts recently appointed Stephnie McKay as the new Youth Cricket Coordinator at the company.
McKay boasts provincial colours in biathlon, athletics, netball, lifesaving and swimming, as well as extensive experience in coaching various sporting codes not to mention her involvement in the administration of various codes at provincial level.
Growing up with ADHD, sport became the perfect “go to” to keep her young body busy and now she’s using her experience as an athlete, administrator, coach and coordinator to play her part in the development of youth in SWD Cricket.
This appointment is a massive start as she “aims to be a voice for women and girls in sport, especially in a male dominant world, making a difference for youth in sport living not just in rural areas but the whole of South Africa. I have a saying “Bloom where you are planted”. I’m planted here now so if I bloom and others around that I get to work with – administrators, coordinators, athletes, coaches, and the community will be a garden full of flowers and that will truly be remarkable and will make a big impact,” she says.
Lonwabo Nkohla caught up with McKay following the announcement of her appointment.
Congratulations on your appointment. How did you feel when you heard the news?
Shocked, happy, overwhelmed and scared to name a few. Thinking back now to that moment I experienced getting the phone call I kind of felt all types of emotions, but mostly I was grateful to and knew this is the start of an amazing journey.
You matriculated at Langenhoven Gymnasium in Oudtshoorn before obtaining a National Diploma in Sports Management at the Cape Town University of Technology, what was it about sport that got you committing to it so early and so consistently?
For a child with ADHD I could never sit still for too long or when my work was done in preschool I would always go outside so as to not disturb the others around me or as some would say get rid of all my energy. One day a teacher at the school where my 2 older sisters were learners, Mrs Hanlie Crouse, who was the Sport Coordinator, asked if I wanted to come and participate with the Grade 1s, after that one opportunity I started practicing with them not just netball but athletics as well. Not long after that I got introduced to Biathlon as a development athlete but I didn’t want to stay a development athlete for long you – see I have a very competitive streak being the middle child of 4 girls, I think that played a role in me going for swimming lessons, athletics practise, from there on I started participating in any sporting code I got interested in. I believe what kept me going are the lessons that sport taught me from a young age.
Let’s talk about your experience. You have provincial colours in biathlon, athletics, netball, lifesaving and swimming, as well as extensive experience in coaching various sporting codes, not to mention being in administration in various codes at provincial level. How do you think your experience will help you in your new role?
Each code comes with its own challenges and it’s important to simplify things for myself. I’ll combine my experience I gained and lessons I have learned to make the task at hand as easy as possible. In terms of my new role, each code has a youth structure, so I must adapt to the current sport code in terms of how I’ll go about the things I need to do and want to achieve. I have the experience of Administration, coach and coordinator and Athlete so all that needs to happen is to align it with SWD Cricket’s scope of practice for Youth Cricket
Looking at Cricket at development age, do you think we are doing enough to groom future Proteas players?
No, we are not doing enough especially if you look at our female cricketers. How they get treated in comparison to male cricketers, how many opportunities there are for the men’s side in comparison to the ladies. We do, however have amazing development programs and that’s a step in the right direction in comparison to other major sporting codes. I think that no sport code will ever be able to say we are doing enough when it comes to development because at the end of the day there will always be something new to implement and to try.
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role?
To be a voice for women and girls in sport, especially in this male dominated world, making a difference for the youth in sport, not just in rural areas but the whole of South Africa. I have a saying “bloom where you are planted”. I’m planted here now so if I bloom and others around that I get to work with – administrators, coordinators, athletes, coaches, and the community will be a garden full of flowers and that will truly be remarkable and will make a big impact.
What kind of impact are you hoping to have?
To be positive and be proactive. Also come up with new concepts, to go the extra mile and support my co-workers in everything we take on.
Photo 1 Caption: South Western Districts recently appointed Stephnie McKay as the new Youth Cricket Coordinator at the company. Photo: Supplied
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