May 9-10 Mogilev-Podolsky (Vinnytsia region) hosted an interesting sports event within the framework of FIFA's Talent Development Scheme program, which is being implemented in Vinnytsia. Over these two spring days, nearly 300 boys and girls from the city territorial community of Mogilev-Podolsky gathered.

The event took place on a small artificial turf field near Lyceum No. 4 in Mogilev-Podolsky. Among those present were the mayor Gennadiy Glukhmaniyuk, his deputy and member of the regional football association executive committee Mykhailo Slobodyanyuk, head of the city education department Mykola Chornyy, director of Lyceum No. 4 Andriy Horobets, vice-president of DYuFL Ukraine Valeriy Zolotukhin, and manager of the regional football association Viktoriya Smytanuyk. The local cheerleading team also performed.

Photo by press service of UAF

Gennadiy Glukhmaniyuk greeted everyone present on Europe Day and emphasized that Mogilev-Podolsky is joining European projects. At the same time, he reminded that such large-scale sports events for children who do not regularly play football had not been held in the city for a long time. Previously, young mogilevites participated in "Open Football Lessons" and all-Ukrainian battles for the prize of the club "Leather Ball."

According to organizers, this project provides an opportunity to find young talents in rural areas. Since the pandemic and large-scale war, not all schools have been able to conduct full physical education lessons (many students are exempt from them!). As a result, athletes could not be directed to competitions.

Within the framework of the project, children underwent four tests that will help determine their potential in football. The best participants were offered to perform tests with a football ball. All schoolchildren received commemorative medals and diplomas for completing the testing, which they were very pleased with.

Photo by press service of UAF

Each young athlete was photographed and their results entered into the database of UAF and FIFA. Now, children and their parents will have access to their data and can compare it with others as needed. These data can also be used by coaches and teachers for selection.

Background

Despite the most challenging period for our country, the Ukrainian Football Association became one of FIFA's member associations that joined its new Talent Development Scheme program.

The author and main coordinator of the program is renowned coach Arsène Wenger, head of FIFA’s global football development department. He insists that giving a chance to every talent, regardless of where and when they were born, should be a strategic activity and responsibility for each national association in the world (with centralized support and leadership at the global level from FIFA). The launch of the program was preceded by an extensive global process of studying the environment in each of the 211 member associations of FIFA.

Photo by press service of UAF

Within the pilot project for implementing the FIFA Talent Development program, the Ukrainian Football Association focused on identifying young talents through testing their natural physical abilities and further organizational support for developing identified potential talents. This process must certainly be nationwide. But currently, the focus is at the regional level, namely in OTGs (territorial communities), towns, and villages, where children have never been involved in similar testing – and, most importantly, organized football processes.

The main tool of the project is an analytical system specially developed for testing children aged 8-12 to assess their physical abilities and potential development if they are engaged in professionally organized training. Both boys and girls are included in the program.