The social project "Inclusive Football Sections" of the Ukrainian Association of Football is being implemented at the Lviv Educational and Rehabilitation Center.

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

Photo by UAF press service

The coach emphasizes: "For children with disabilities, this is a wonderful opportunity for psychological relaxation, meaningful and beneficial leisure, improving physical fitness, and adapting to society. Warm-ups, football relays, friendly games develop coordination of movements, thinking, speed, and the ability to work in a team among project participants."

Since March 2024, our students have been participating in the open city of Lviv mini-football championship. The inclusive team "Sport for All" is showing good results. Young football players enthusiastically, happily, and joyfully take part in competitions, while parents cheer for their children with excitement.

Photo by UAF press service

From the words of Illya Y.'s mother, we learned that she sent her son to a football section because he loves this sport very much. He eagerly awaits each training session and happily attends them. He has made more friends — teammates. On weekends, his son is constantly outside with friends, playing football on the sports field in the courtyard.

Sviatoslav Hadyinsky notes that Illya is active at every practice and tries to do all tasks well to show good results at the open Lviv mini-football championship. The young football player is confident that his skills will help his team win.

Photo by UAF press service

Main goals of the UAF project:

— to improve the psychoemotional and physical state of children with disabilities and special educational needs through their involvement in physical activities of the project and socialization;

— to change Ukrainian society's attitude towards people with disabilities and children with special educational needs;

— to provide access to inclusive sports training;

— to reveal the child potential;

— to unite children and adults, regardless of physical and mental development characteristics;

— to motivate all children in mass football, regardless of abilities, gender, or social problems;

— to activate local communities through intersectoral networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, patrons, etc.).

Thanks to the UAF, sections are provided with children's football uniforms, balls, and necessary sports equipment.