International Coaching Development Seminar held at SportMalta Kirkop Sports Complex

More than 50 coaches from at least 11 sports took part in the International Coaching Development Seminar, held at the SportMalta Kirkop Sports Complex on Thursday 12 November 2026. Organised by the Malta Sport Coaches Association (MSCA) in collaboration with ICCE–Sport Coaching Europe and ICOACHKIDS, and hosted by SportMalta, the seminar connected international perspectives with the everyday realities of coaching in Malta.

The seminar formed part of a two-day visit to Malta by ICCE–Sport Coaching Europe on 11 and 12 November. The programme began at MCAST, which hosted the transnational meeting of BIRDS, an Erasmus+ Sport project coordinated by Badminton Netherlands, and welcomed the ICOACHGIRLS+ consortium led by Sport Ireland. Both meetings gave partners the opportunity to exchange knowledge and advance their shared work.

At the seminar, Prof. Sergio Lara-Bercial, Professor of Sport Coaching and Co-founder of ICOACHKIDS, led a workshop on the current state of youth sport. Coaches shared their experiences and explored how their practice can help children enjoy sport and stay involved.

Two parallel demonstrations involving children then translated the discussion into practice. Prof. Lara-Bercial and Dr Gary Hodgson explored the integration of fundamental movement skills into sport sessions, while Dr Megan Hill and Vicki Guy demonstrated the ICOACHGIRLS approach to co-constructing sessions with young participants.

The Minister for Education and Sport, Hon. Dr Byron Camilleri, visited the seminar and addressed the coaches. At its close, Dr Camilleri and Ms Rose Marie Mercieca, SportMalta’s Director of Corporate Services, received ICOACHKIDS Awards.

The seminar preceded the first Annual General Assembly and formal Board election of the MSCA, an important milestone for Malta’s organised coaching community.

SportMalta thanks the MSCA, ICCE–Sport Coaching Europe, ICOACHKIDS, MCAST and all the participating coaches for their contribution.