A large number of nursery administrators and coaches attended the Annual Seminar organised by the Youth Football Association which was held on Saturday at The Palace Hotel, Sliema.
Youth FA President Fr. Hilary Tagliaferro said the topics tackled during the seminar focussed on the thoughts and objectives of the association. He appealed for a change in mentality so that players who do not have the opportunity to play could move to another nursery without the payment of compensation money as this was stopping several youngsters from playing football.
Special Olympics Malta Sports Director Elaine Bonnici spoke about Unified Sports where a number of nurseries are integrating children with disability. She spoke about the need to increase the awareness about how these children are treated.
Players’ Passport Programme Manager Marcel Mizzi said that following the introduction of the passport in January, the process enters the second phase where nurseries could enter and control the enrolment of new players.
Sports Psychologist Adele Muscat spoke about ‘Helping players through transitions’ – a topic which will be dealt with in more detail in another seminar later this season.
The last presentation was by Stephen Spiteri from the Cottonera Nursery who spoke about the various difficulties in the Cottonera area which led to the amalgamation of the Senglea, St. George’s and Vittoriosa nurseries despite the impression that such amalgamation would be difficult to achieve. The amalgamation of nurseries will be on the agenda of the Youth FA as more nurseries from small villages would be finding it difficult to have enough players to form a team.
MFA Technical Director Robert Gatt spoke about the programme prepared by the Technical Centre for the coming season.
Finally MFA President Norman Darmanin Demajo urged nurseries to get out of their comfort zones and prepare for the challenges especially with regards to the changes in regulations which would lead the free movement of players without much restrictions.