Sport Malta denies claims of mismanagement, lack of equipment and fears of being sacked

Sport Malta has vehemently denied the contents of an article which appeared in The Malta Independent on Sunday on 20 January 2019 that quoted sources within the agency’s coaching staff as saying that there were occasions of mismanagement, a lack of proper equipment and that coaches were working under the fear of being sacked.

The national sports agency, in a Right of Reply published hereunder, strongly refutes the source’s claims, saying that they are false and based on wrong information.

The following is Sport Malta’s full Right of Reply:

The article ‘Sport Malta coaches faced with mismanagement, under-staffing and the continual fear of being sacked’ (TMIS 20 January 2019) presented a series of false claims based on wrong information. The journalist at no point attempted to check any of the false claims and allegations impinging the reputation of SportMalta’s management. No questions were addressed to SportMalta’s management to seek information or clarification.

The article opens with a dooming impression that employees are subject to fear of losing their job by using three negative phrases with the clear intention of indicating and reinforcing some sort of threat to employees. This allegation is false since coaches are supported in their work as much as possible and no coach has ever lost his job.

The impression that internal competition between staff exists is also incorrect. Using the phrase ‘survival of the fittest in a dictatorship type of employment’ gives the wrong impression that one’s employment could be ended based on criteria other than that directly related to the delivery of service to clients.

As for the claim of opportunities for communication between coaches and SportMalta’s head office being few and far between, this is yet another false statement. SportMalta’s Programmes Department staff are available for meetings or over the phone or other means of communication all day. No coach has ever been refused a meeting. All attempts of contact by any staff with Head Office were immediately entertained. When Head Office staff visit, they always do so to support. The tasks include: a) to monitor quality; b) to monitor attendance; c) to assist coaches and head coaches with their needs; d) to communicate with parents, including collecting feedback from parents and adult participants, i.e. our clients; e) to check facilities and equipment needs.

The journalist claimed that such decisions are based on budget cuts. This is completely unfounded as funds for parttime coaches’ wages increased by more than €100,000 in 2018 over 2017. The ‘intentional under-staffing’ claim is also false. We take safety very seriously and our safety track record is proof of that, with no major injuries reported in recent years. It should also be noted that, apart from coaches, the setup includes head coaches, helpers, deck hands, sport attendants and lifeguards double-checking proceedings to ensure maximum safety at all times. The claim that there is a pattern to replace coaches by MCAST students is also false. This was never discussed nor considered in any way or form. The claim that student-to-coachratios are ignored even more so in winter is also false. On the contrary, in winter, since attendance is low, ratios are even better.

Head Coaches, Coaches and Helpers are paid for all work done including preparation, meetings at head office, update of class lists, time taken to communicate with parents and other tasks that are in line with their role. The journalist also mentioned serious concerns when claiming that a coach was employed with a police record and pending court case. Any claims that reached SportMalta were investigated and police conduct is checked every year, when the contract is being renewed. Also, SportMalta makes all the necessary checks with the relevant authorities before engaging individuals in presence of minors to ensure their names are not listed in the Register of Sex Offenders as per Article 4 of Chapter 158 of the Laws of Malta.

All SportMalta coaches are qualified and competent to teach the area they are assigned to. Coaches are encouraged to pursue further studies related to the subject, helped by an incremental pay structure based on the level of qualification achieved so, in his interpretation, a coach can easily be ‘half-way through a course’ but this does not imply that the coach does not have basic pedagogical and technical competences. The journalist also failed to check on the truthfulness of the existence of ‘a policy that if coaches are between five and 15 minutes late, they face a loss of pay of 30 minutes’. There is no such policy and no deductions were ever made for any reasonable delay.

In his article the journalist indicated that coaches are expected to wait for parents and they are not paid for the time they spend. This is false. In such cases it is usually the Head Coach that stays with the children but if necessary the coach stays as well, for which he/she is paid accordingly. Salaries are paid at the end of each month, unlike as claimed. Swimming lessons are based on the syllabus which is structured on the Swimming Awards. The scheme of work is checked by the head coaches and discussed, based on the specific needs of the participants.

Booking of lanes at the pool is usually confirmed months before the start of the programme. In the case of the winter programme, that started in October, lanes were confirmed in May.

Coaches are allowed to go to the bathroom when they feel like it. In fact, a system exists to cover for such need to ensure that children are supervised at all times. No instructions were ever given from Head Office that preclude coaches from going to the bathroom.

The claim that this even applies if a coach has completed a four-hour-long lesson in the searing summer heat is entirely false. Uniform t-shirts are given on request. The amount of shirts given depends on the number of shifts per week assigned. No record exists of any coach requesting extra t-shirts that was not entertained. The claim that coaches are ‘pressured to stay in uniform for all their lessons, whether it is pouring with rain or blisteringly hot’ is completely false. No such policy exists. Also the claim that coaches are not provided with staff lockers for their belongings is false. Coaches like other National Pool Users can use lockers.

SportMalta invests in equipment and, from time to time, Head Coaches are asked to make requests for new equipment, which is provided as necessary. Currently, there are no pending requests from the pool. The snooker hall is a large place. With the snooker tables on one side, there is ample space for even the largest class held. No such complaint from the public nor any coach was ever received.

SportMalta takes customer care seriously and any problems are investigated immediately. Any questions can be directed to info@sportmalta.org.mt, by phone on 2203 6000 or through the BeActive – SportMalta Facebook page.