The emergence of the “pregnancy clause” in the Hämeenlinna volleyball club’s player contract has shaken Finnish sports and caused confusion.
Ronja Heikkiniemi told in a story published on Wednesday that he was offered a contract in Hämeenlinna, according to which the club’s financial obligations to the player expire if the player becomes pregnant in the middle of the contract period.
After this, one of Finland’s top athletes in athletics told Urheilu that just a couple of years ago, the Sports Confederation’s coaching support agreement read: “during maternity leave or in the event of a serious injury, the support will be renewed”.
CEO of the Sports Association Harry Aalto stressed to Urheilu that it is a coaching support contract, not an employment contract, and the contract reflects the expenses related to coaching. For example, in the event of a serious injury, the situation is re-examined and we see if the athlete has the opportunity to train for the goal in the way that was agreed upon when signing the training contract.
Aalto does not know why maternity leave was included in the contract in the past, nor why it was taken away.
– These contracts are always filed on an annual basis, Aalto said.
– We have a clause that these coaching support services can be temporarily suspended for some special reason. If, for example, the athlete’s training has not been regular, goal-oriented, or the athlete does not comply with the terms of the contract.
Aalto admits that in previous years there have been clauses of all kinds in coaching support contracts. He considers it a good thing that the agreement has been changed to be more suitable for today and that the “pregnancy clause” is no longer on paper.
– I think it is a very good thing that there is no such section and that it is not individualized any more. There is this “special reason”, and whatever happens during the trip, we think about it, think about it and build it together, Aalto said.
The Floorball Association immediately clarified its own contract situation
President of the floorball league and played in the floorball league for 11 years Kaarina Vuori was shocked to hear about the Volleyball Club’s pregnancy condition. The Floorball Association decided to find out immediately after the case that came to light, that there are no similar cases in the sport.
– We checked both with the clubs and through the league captains, so that we could definitely get the right information, so there is nothing like this at least at the league level, and I don’t think it is in the lower leagues either, Vuori said.
According to Vuori, the point of view is different in floorball, because there is not much money in the sport, especially on the women’s side. According to him, the contracts have been more fair to the players.
– Even one player commented that the situation has been the opposite. It has been in the contract that the player’s obligations to the club end if she becomes pregnant.
According to Vuori, the indoor basketball players now felt that the “pregnancy clause” violated their privacy. However, according to him, it is important that such grievances come to awareness. This allows players to understand what is acceptable and what they can say no to.
The floorball association currently does not have a contract basis or guidelines for concluding contracts, but the issue has been discussed. Instead, it can be found in the responsibility program of the Floorball Association athlete support section (you will switch to another service).
– It includes the measure “an investigation will be carried out on how to support motherhood and parenting during a top sports career”. It describes our state of will and our principle, Vuori said.
“It wouldn’t have occurred to me”
In the Finnish Football Association and the Basketball Association, there have been no cases where athletes have been offered contracts similar to the one offered to Ronja Heikkiniemi.
The ball association has a standard basis in the player contracts, which are used up to the second level on the men’s side and up to the first level on the women’s side. The Swedish Football Association goes through each player’s contract at the stage when the player is registered.
– If for some reason such a contract were to come to the union, then it is against the rules and cannot be followed. Even because the Finnish labor legislation does not allow it, Pallliito’s director of competition operations and the association’s lawyer Pekka Soini said.
Last year, the International Football Association (FIFA) made a set of rules regarding the protection of female players during pregnancy. In Finland, FIFA’s regulations on protection during pregnancy are followed in those places where Finnish legislation does not provide better protection.
– To a large extent, our domestic legislation provides better protection than FIFA’s regulations.
The Norwegian Basketball Association has used a convention in accordance with the law, but it was last updated in 2017. The Norwegian Basketball Association’s competition director by Tom Westerholm according to which it is intended to be updated.
– It is a so-called professional contract and many have felt that it is too strict in many aspects. We are therefore making an amateur contract base.
In Westerholm’s opinion, the “pregnancy clause” of the Hämeenlinna volleyball club seems unbelievable, because Finnish law is unambiguous in this regard. In the basketball association, contracts are required to include an appendix that includes certain ethical issues.
– However, it has not taken a position on this type of thing, because frankly, it has not even occurred to me that someone could include such things in the contract, Westerholm said.