George Micallef was the very first employee of the new Mediterranean College of Sport, and from the get-go knew the task required a two-people effort. “If there is anything I learnt from my experience as head of the National Sport School between 2012 and 2018, is that when it comes to administering a college of this stature, there should be at least two people taking the lead: one focusing on the sports aspect and the other on academia,” he says.
“This backs our belief in a sustainable dual career system where a student’s progress in sports is not detrimental to their academic achievement. We warn guardians and parents that at such a young age, they cannot gamble everything on sports, especially because of how challenging it is in Malta to ensure a sustainable professional career in just sports.”
The work and excitement are both ramping up as the college is set to welcome its first cohort of secondary school students and sixth formers in September 2024. In the meantime, George is working on recruiting coaches who are not linked to local clubs to ensure no conflict of interest, sports science professionals and a medical team. All staff members will take decisions on each student together, to optimise athletes’ full potential.
He is also working on recruiting students, which is no mean feat for a fee-paying school, ensuring parents or guardians understand they will be getting their money’s worth. Here, George is focusing on attracting the best potential, rather than the best talent, as he knows all too well that junior success is no guarantee for senior success. Although he was officially appointed Director of Sports Development and Recruitment in March 2022, George started investing his efforts in the college three years prior as a consultant to MCS CEO Charlo Bonnici. Together, they worked on a plan to foster a culture that encourages collaboration between stakeholders, including guardians, parents, other schools, clubs and associations linked to football, aquatic sports and athletics.
What will set the college apart?
The coaching philosophy of MCS will be based on long-term athlete development through age-appropriate training, individualised development plans and inquiry-based learning. The college will also introduce the concept of bio-banding and prioritise sports science.