The current season of the social project "Inclusive Football Sections" by the Ukrainian Football Association in Lviv, which is implemented at the Lviv Educational and Rehabilitation Center, is coming to an end.

Classes for children were organized by the project coordinator from the Volyn Football Association Vasyl Kohnovskyy and coach Sviatoslav Hadyinsky, who previously completed special training with the UAF.

Photo by AFAV

Vasyl Kohnovskyy noted, "In our reality, children with disabilities face many obstacles on the way to fulfilling important life needs in socializing with peers and healthy communication. In this situation, sports can help these children strengthen their health, socialize, add brighter colors and positive emotions to their lives. For this purpose, team sports are best suited, and football, which is loved by many and popular, is particularly suitable.

During the classes, children improve their physical fitness through running and warm-up exercises, interesting football relay races develop coordination of movements, agility, teamwork, and endurance. The children joyfully and enthusiastically learn to play football and compete with great enthusiasm. Playing football helps them think better, develop, and adapt in society.

Inclusive football classes are attended by children with special educational needs. Young football players are provided with children's football uniforms, balls, and necessary sports equipment for interesting developmental lessons organized by the Ukrainian Football Association and the Volyn Football Association."

Under the guidance of Sviatoslav Hadyinsky, 13-year-old Timofey S. attends the inclusive football section. The boy was born with Down syndrome but is active and athletic, loves football very much, and enjoys playing it.

Photo by AFAV

From the words of his mother Kateryna, we learned that she enrolled her son in a football section because he loves to play sports and football is his favorite game. He eagerly awaits each training session, worries whether he has prepared his sportswear and shoes properly, and visits all classes with great satisfaction. New friends - teammates - have appeared for him. The systematicity and quality of the conducted lessons are very important as children with special educational needs require stability and an individual approach, which is well organized at the lessons led by coach Sviatoslav Hadyinsky. Timofey's mother is grateful for the opportunity to develop her child, and she notices a positive mood in him after each class.

The coach notes that Timofey shows great interest at every lesson, tries to perform all tasks well, helps set up equipment, and sometimes stays a little longer after class to score goals. The young athlete very much wants to become a known footballer and score many goals for his team against the opposing team so that he can be recognized as the best player of the team.

"I am confident that Timofey, thanks to his persistence and determination, will achieve significant success in football," says the coach. "Participation in the project and sports training not only help children with special educational needs improve their health but also, if we talk about football as a team sport, it is communication, socializing with peers, psychological relaxation, and meaningful leisure."

Through this project within the UEFA Grassroots Football Charter, the Ukrainian Football Association aims to:

- improve the psychoemotional and physical state of children through their involvement in physical activities and socialization;

- change society's attitude towards people with disabilities;

- provide access to inclusive sports classes;

- reveal the potential of children;

- unite children and adults regardless of physical or mental development.

Inclusive football sections, which are often attended by children with special educational needs, have been opened in 21 communities across Ukraine. Thanks to the UAF, these sections are equipped with football uniforms for children, balls, and necessary sports equipment.