For the 2004/2005 season the MAAA had embarked on a new project in coaching.
Event Coaches involves the appointment of local coaches to direct and monitor specific areas of specialised training. The MAAA invited foreigners as mentors, able to conduct seminars and lead and advise local participants.
This project received the approval of the EAA who are also partly funding the venture which will be extended and enlarged. The MAAA hopes to employ more coaches during 2006.
In 2005, the MAAA participated in two IAAF Academy Courses. Aras Zeljko (sprints) and Ralph Mifsud (middle distance) achieved a 'third level' in Elite and Chief Coaching skills.
Towards the end of the year Lara Gerada, on her own initiative, attended the IAAF Chief Coaches Course in Singapore, again demonstrating that in this particular area the MAAA is probably better equipped than other nations much larger than ours, technically and demographically.
A new TV programme Y Athletics? was launched on December 13. This programme, on Smash TV every Tuesday with a repetition on Saturdays, is expected to run up till the end of June.
In order to generate more interest in events for veteran athletes, the MAAA organised two specific road races, out of which the association selected two athletes - Carol Walsh and Alfred Debono - to take part in the European Road Running Championships which were held in San Antonio, Portugal.
Walsh emerged the overall winner in the 10K in 36.46 minutes and Debono placed a creditable seventh in his category.
Following the National Masters Aggregates and Championships, Cecilia Fenech and Debono participated in the World Masters Championships in Spain.
The athletes were accompanied by MAAA Council member Charles Pullicino who attended the World Masters Athletic Association annual general meeting.
The calendar of events was concluded by the holding of the Annual Awards Night where Diane Borg and Darren Francis Gilford took top honours and crowned Athletes of the Year 2005.
The long pending track contract has been a seemingly unattainable goal for some years now.
Although each year some progress is reported this inevitably turns to be just more hot air.
However, at least it can be confirmed that some progress was indeed attained in that the MAAA now knows that the Lands Department are out of the equation and the onus is full square on the shoulders of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment.
One positive point that has came from our contacts with the IAAF is written confirmation that the association can expect assistance if and when the MAAA is entrusted the management of the track.