Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1248303
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2020 OPINION THE situation we are currently experiencing following the out- break of COVID-19 worldwide is one which is probably par- ticular and unique and which we will continue to carry in our memories for the rest of our lives. A new normal that has come so suddenly, a reality most of us have struggled to ac- cept, let alone adapt. Athletes of all levels all over the world have suddenly found themselves facing serious issues with the maintenance of their training routine and prepara- tions. No less are student-ath- letes who continuously struggle to find a balance between their studies and their sports com- mitments. With the current sit- uation they have been required to adapt to the delivery of the academic course content in an unfamiliar mode via remote learning in addition to urgently having to find a solution to how and where they can continue with the maintenance of their training schedule. Promoting and supporting the dual career of student-athletes is one of our objectives in the National Sport Strategy. Al- though athletes are usually in possession of high levels of re- silience, discipline, motivation and commitment, institutions should strive to support them to make sure they do not have to choose between sport and education. In the past few years, sup- port for student-athletes has increased at all levels of the local educational system. The National Sport School, with its mission to enable athletes to reach their full potential in ed- ucation while developing their sporting talents, has offered a setup where students can train during school hours while they simultaneously focus on their academic work. At post-sec- ondary level, various institu- tions are providing a specific programme which allows ath- letes to train before and after the school day. The University Jun- ior College study programme for student-athletes and the Higher Secondary School Youth Sports programme are fine ex- amples of the doctrine. The University of Malta, through its Student Athlete Support Programme (SASP) is committed to help and sup- port these student-athletes by offering support where and when required in order to max- imise the possibility of success in both sport and education. Many times such students find that their course commitments clash with those of their train- ing or competition and conse- quently find it very difficult to cope with both. Student-athletes registered on the programme are assigned a sport mentor. The mentor is the first point of contact and acts as an intermediary between the student-athlete and the administrative and academic fronts. The programme aims at assisting students with vari- ous issues they may encounter, including timetable constraints mainly involving clashes be- tween their lectures and train- ing/competition commitments both locally and international- ly. Student-athletes selected to compete at international level during the official examination periods are also offered sup- port in terms of eliminating or minimising clashes with their examinations. When this is not possible, they are given the op- portunity to sit for any missed examinations during special sessions reserved solely for stu- dent-athletes. This programme started as an Erasmus+ project with five oth- er European Universities under the leadership of UCAM, the Catholic University of Murcia that hosts about 200 profes- sional athletes, and 11 out of the 17 Spanish Olympic medal winners in Rio 2016. During this academic year, there are 118 student-athletes registered on the SASP, who are being supported by 13 sport mentors in addition to other administrative and academic members of staff. The Univer- sity is committed to see this programme grow further and has planned a number of ad- ditional services to offer to its student-athletes. These include the availability of a sport nutri- tionist, physiotherapists as well as the free use of its sport facil- ities and which the University is planning to upgrade substan- tially to international standards via a renovation project planned to commence soon. All student-athletes registered on the SASP programme are now also able to benefit from the services of a professional sport psychologist. This service, despite already being in the pipeline before the COVID-19 crisis, was given priority and has been launched in the last few days in collaboration with the Secretariat for Youth, Sport and Voluntary Organisations. In addition to physical health, we recognise the importance of mental health and wellbeing. I hope that the current scenar- io will instill in us a different mentality vis-a-vis our daily perception of the importance of mental health. Psychological support can also help improve the mental skills required for an improved sport performance and may help athletes overcome challenges which may get in the way of sport, including set- backs, being dropped out of the first team, burnout and injuries. Sessions are free, strictly con- fidential and are being carried out online on a one-one basis. There are multiple factors that influence the success of an athlete. Combining sport and study is by no means easy, but with the right structure and support success is achiev- able. While supporting ath- letes to perform to the best of their abilities throughout their sporting career, the University is also supporting the prepara- tion for transition to an equally successful career when the time has come. We are committed to ensure that such support will be extended to other ed- ucational institutions. We are also looking forward to the day when athletes can start training and competing once again and when they can continue to aim higher! Clifton Grima Supporting our student-athletes Clifton Grima is Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport C h a r i t y Fo u n d a t i o n FIDEM CONNECT unite . connect . change by FIDEM Charity Foundation