No lessons, no pay: Sports coaches hit by haze cancellations, facility closures

Coaches say the fluctuating air quality has made it difficult to plan their schedules and find alternative venues for lessons.

A notice announcing the temporary closure of outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at Clementi Sport Centre due to unhealthy haze levels on Oct 16, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Mak Jia Kee)

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SINGAPORE: For senior swim coach Grayson Ong, the worsening haze has meant cancelled lessons and lost income.

“If we don’t have lessons, it means we don’t get paid,” said the 36-year-old, whose swim school conducts classes at public, condominium and private pools across Singapore.

He estimated that more than 80 per cent of its lessons have been cancelled over the past one to two weeks as air quality deteriorated.

Coaches like Mr Ong, already grappling with falling attendance and cancellations over parents’ haze concerns, now face another setback – the temporary closure of ActiveSG facilities, leaving them with fewer venues to conduct lessons and further threatening their income.

As of 12pm on Friday (Oct 16), outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at all ActiveSG sports centres are temporarily closed, according to its website.

Indoor and air-conditioned facilities at all ActiveSG sports centres remain open.

Freelance athletics coach Priscilla Boon, who runs children’s athletics classes at ActiveSG outdoor spaces in the west, said that while the closures are necessary to protect public health, the uncertainty over how long they will last remains a concern for her and her fellow coaches.

"We don’t have any clue when this will end. Definitely, in the long term my income will be greatly affected," the 30-year-old told CNA on Friday following ActiveSG’s announcement of the closures of all its outdoor spaces.

She added that two of her Friday’s classes have already been cancelled.

ActiveSG, an initiative under the government agency Sport Singapore, operates public sports facilities across the island, including swimming complexes, gyms, stadiums, fields and courts.

CNA has reached out to ActiveSG for comment on the facility closures and its duration.

Separately, in response to CNA’s queries, the National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA) said coaches and instructors who conduct outdoor classes are among those most affected by the haze, particularly freelancers whose cancelled lessons “can mean a direct loss of income”.

"To ensure fair treatment, service buyers should provide full payment for last-minute cancellations, as coaches and instructors would have already committed their time and may have turned down other work," said the association on Thursday.

"The extent of the impact would depend on their contractual arrangements with service buyers, including provisions for compensation when classes are cancelled or rescheduled.”

Even rescheduled classes could disrupt coaches' schedules and other work commitments in the weeks and months ahead, it added.

"NICA also urges service buyers to work with coaches and instructors to explore practical arrangements that minimise disruption and ensure fair compensation," said a spokesperson.

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UNCERTAIN TIMES AND INCOME LOSS

For part-time swim coach Timothy Ting, who teaches in a mix of public and private pools, nearly all his classes have been cancelled over the last two weeks, with parents citing safety concerns over the unhealthy air quality.

Finding alternative venues for swimming lessons is particularly difficult, the 21-year-old said, given the limited number of indoor pools available.

"Those indoor pools are already overwhelmed with existing classes there," he said.

For Mr Ong, the uncertainty has made the current situation particularly difficult to navigate.

Drawing comparisons with the COVID-19 pandemic, when outdoor activities were restricted, he said the haze is more unpredictable because decisions on whether classes could proceed could vary from venue to venue.

"COVID-19 was, in a way, certain. A lockdown is a lockdown. Now, some condominium pools may decide to close, so it’s up to us to monitor the PSI and follow the guidelines," he said.

Beyond swimming, football and athletics coaches have also seen attendance fall and classes cancelled as parents grow concerned about the haze.

Flair Football Academy managing director Ibrahim Chemad said his classes – usually full with 20 children – have seen attendance drop to about 13 or 14 students.

With outdoor facilities becoming unavailable, finding alternative venues has become another challenge.

“Facilities are very hard to get for football especially,” the 38-year-old said. “Where else can we play?”

For track-and-field coach Jing Jie Wong, who frequently uses ActiveSG stadiums for classes, the fluctuating air quality has made it difficult to plan his schedule.

Classes can be called off at short notice as air quality fluctuates, while parents may choose to keep their children home even when sessions are allowed to proceed.

Mr Wong said coaches sometimes find out whether their classes can proceed only two hours beforehand, depending on the latest air quality readings.

"For example, today my class at 4pm is dependent on the PM 2.5 reading at 2pm, so the organisation I work for will make a decision two hours before to cancel the class," he said on Thursday.

Ms Boon said she had lost about two to three hours of classes a day over the past few days because of cancellations.

As she is paid per class, each cancellation means a direct hit to her earnings.

"That's the downside of being a freelance self-employed coach," she said. "It's quite stressful, on the financial side.”

For track-and-field coach Jing Jie Wong (right), who frequently uses ActiveSG stadiums for classes, the fluctuating air quality has made it difficult to plan his schedule. (Photo: Jing Jie Wong)

DISRUPTED ROUTINES AND DISAPPOINTED TRIPS

While coaches grapple with lost income, some regular users of ActiveSG facilities are left frustrated by the closures.

ActiveSG first closed outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at sports centres in all regions except the north on Wednesday, following a sharp increase in 1-hour PM2.5 readings.

It issued at least two updates on its website and social media on Thursday, with different closures as the haze situation evolved.

At ActiveSG Clementi Sports Centre, a software engineer who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan told CNA on Thursday evening that he had checked the website a few times before leaving home, only to find the swimming pool closed when he arrived.

“I’m a little irritated, but it’s okay because I live nearby,” said the 49-year-old, who swims there four times a week.

At ActiveSG Sport Park at Teck Ghee, several people who approached the swimming pool entrance reluctantly turned away after reading the sign announcing its closure.

Among them was Ms Wong, a healthcare worker who wanted to be identified only by her surname. She was disappointed to have made the trip on Thursday, only to find the pool closed.

Ms Wong said she had not seen any information about the closure beforehand, and suggested that users be notified through the ActiveSG app instead.

“The app didn’t prompt me when I bought an admission ticket just now, and I’m not sure if I can request a refund,” said the 27-year-old, who works in the healthcare industry.

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教练们表示，空气质量的波动使得他们难以安排课程计划，也难以找到替代的授课场地。

2026年10月16日，金文泰体育中心发布公告，因雾霾严重，所有室外及无空调设施将暂时关闭。（图片：CNA/麦嘉琪）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：对于资深游泳教练格雷森·翁来说，日益严重的雾霾意味着课程取消和收入损失。

“如果没有课程，我们就拿不到工资，”这位36岁的游泳学校老板说道。他的游泳学校在新加坡各地的公共游泳池、公寓游泳池和私人游泳池开设课程。

他估计，由于空气质量恶化，过去一到两周内，该校超过 80% 的课程已被取消。

像翁先生这样的教练，原本就因为家长担心雾霾而面临上课人数下降和课程取消的困境，现在又面临另一个挫折——ActiveSG 设施的暂时关闭，导致他们可用于授课的场地减少，进一步威胁到他们的收入。

根据ActiveSG官网消息，截至周五（10月16日）中午12点，所有ActiveSG体育中心的室外及无空调设施暂时关闭。

ActiveSG所有体育中心的室内和空调设施均保持开放。

自由职业田径教练 Priscilla Boon 在西部 ActiveSG 户外空间开设儿童田径课程，她表示，虽然关闭场地对于保护公众健康是必要的，但关闭时间的不确定性仍然令她和她的同行教练感到担忧。

“我们完全不知道这种情况何时结束。可以肯定的是，从长远来看，我的收入将会受到很大影响，”这位30岁的男子在ActiveSG宣布关闭所有户外空间后，于周五告诉CNA。

她还补充说，她周五的两节课已经取消了。

ActiveSG 是新加坡体育理事会 (Sport Singapore) 旗下的一项计划，负责运营全岛的公共体育设施，包括游泳馆、健身房、体育场、运动场和球场。

CNA已联系ActiveSG，就设施关闭及其持续时间征求意见。

另外，针对 CNA 的询问，全国教练员协会 (NICA) 表示，户外授课的教练员是受雾霾影响最大的人群之一，尤其是自由职业者，他们的课程取消“可能意味着直接的收入损失”。

该协会周四表示：“为了确保公平对待，服务购买方应为最后一刻取消的情况支付全额费用，因为教练和指导员已经投入了时间，并且可能已经拒绝了其他工作。”

“影响程度将取决于他们与服务购买方的合同安排，包括课程取消或改期时的补偿条款。”

报告还指出，即使课程重新安排，也可能在未来几周和几个月内扰乱教练的日程安排和其他工作安排。

一位发言人表示：“NICA 还敦促服务购买方与教练和指导员合作，探讨切实可行的安排，以最大限度地减少干扰并确保公平补偿。”

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不确定时期和收入损失

对于兼职游泳教练 Timothy Ting 来说，过去两周他几乎所有的课程都被取消了，因为他在公共和私人游泳池都有授课，家长们表示担心空气质量不好，存在安全隐患。

这位 21 岁的年轻人表示，由于室内游泳池数量有限，寻找其他游泳课程场地尤其困难。

他说：“那些室内游泳池已经人满为患，挤满了现有的课程学员。”

对翁先生来说，这种不确定性使得当前形势尤其难以应对。

他将当前的情况与 COVID-19 疫情期间限制户外活动的情况进行了比较，并表示雾霾更加难以预测，因为不同场所对课程是否可以继续进行的决定可能会有所不同。

“从某种意义上说，新冠肺炎疫情是必然的。封锁就是封锁。现在，一些公寓的游泳池可能会决定关闭，所以我们需要密切关注公共卫生指数（PSI），并遵守相关规定。”他说道。

除了游泳之外，足球和田径教练也发现，由于家长们越来越担心雾霾，学生的出勤率下降，课程也被取消。

Flair足球学院总经理易卜拉欣·切马德表示，他的课程通常有20名学生参加，但现在出勤率下降到大约13或14名学生。

由于户外设施无法使用，寻找替代场地成为另一项挑战。

“足球场地尤其难找，”这位38岁的男子说道，“我们还能去哪儿踢球呢？”

对于经常使用 ActiveSG 体育场进行授课的田径教练黄景杰来说，空气质量的波动使他难以安排课程表。

由于空气质量波动，课程可能会在短时间内取消；即使课程可以继续进行，家长也可能选择让孩子待在家中。

黄先生表示，教练有时只能提前两小时才能知道课程是否可以进行，这取决于最新的空气质量读数。

“例如，我今天下午 4 点的课取决于下午 2 点的 PM 2.5 读数，所以我所在的机构会在课前两小时决定是否取消这节课，”他周四说。

Boon女士表示，由于课程取消，过去几天她每天大约损失两到三个小时的课程。

由于她是按课时收费的，每次取消课程都会直接影响她的收入。

“这就是自由职业教练的弊端，”她说。“经济方面压力很大。”

对于经常在ActiveSG体育场馆授课的田径教练黄静杰（右）来说，空气质量的波动让他难以安排课程。（图片：黄静杰）

作息被打乱，旅行令人失望

教练们正努力应对收入损失，而ActiveSG设施的一些常客也因设施关闭而感到沮丧。

周三，ActiveSG 首先关闭了除北部地区以外所有地区体育中心的室外和非空调设施，此前 1 小时 PM2.5 读数急剧上升。

周四，该机构在其网站和社交媒体上至少发布了两条更新信息，随着雾霾情况的变化，发布了不同的关闭通知。

周四晚上，一位名叫陈先生（Tan）的软件工程师在ActiveSG金文泰体育中心告诉亚洲新闻台（CNA），他在出门前多次查看了网站，结果到达时发现游泳池关闭了。

“我有点生气，不过没关系，因为我就住在附近，”这位49岁的男子说道，他每周都会去那里游泳四次。

在德义ActiveSG体育公园，一些走到游泳池入口的人在看到宣布游泳池关闭的告示后，不情愿地转身离开。

其中一位是黄女士，她是一名医护人员，希望只透露自己的姓氏。她周四特地前来，却发现游泳池关闭了，感到非常失望。

黄女士表示，她事先没有看到任何关于关闭的信息，并建议通过 ActiveSG 应用程序通知用户。

“我刚才买门票的时候，应用程序没有提示我，我不确定我是否可以申请退款，”这位27岁的医疗保健行业从业者说道。

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