We remind you that the UAF focuses on identifying young talents by testing their natural physical abilities and providing further organizational support for their development.

It is worth noting that this project reaches even rural areas. On May 28, an event within its framework took place in the village of Verbka (Chechelnytska territorial community, Haisyn district).

Photo by VOAF

The sports event was held with the support of the head of the local council, Vitaliy Savchuk, his deputy Oksana Matviienko, the village mayor of Chechelnytska community Svitlana Palysyka, and the director of Agrofirm "Verbka" Roman Honcharenko, who contributes to the health and sports development of the community. For example, even during the war, his agricultural enterprise built a sports playground with artificial turf in the village. Both children and adults can use it.

At the solemn opening of the sports event, there were also present the head of the FST "Kolos" office in Chechelnytska territorial community Oleksandr Kovtun (former football player, now a sports instructor-methodist at Agrofirm "Verbka") and the manager of Vinnytsia Oblast Football Association Viktoriya Smytanuk.

Photo by VOAF

In total, four general education schools from Chechelnytska community participated in the event. Experts tested nearly 150 children. Young athletes tried their strength in various tests on a stadium with artificial turf at STOV "Agrofirm 'Verbka'."

All schools that took part in the project received a gift package of balls from UAF and sports equipment. The children were presented with certificates for completing the testing and commemorative medals.

Photo by VOAF

Background Information

Despite the most challenging period for our country, the Ukrainian Football Association became one of FIFA's member associations participating in the implementation of its new talent development program (FIFA Talent Development Scheme).

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

Photo by VOAF

Within the pilot project for implementing the talent development program, UFA focused on identifying young talents through testing their natural physical abilities and providing further organizational support for the development of identified potential talents. This process must certainly be nationwide. However, at present, the focus is regional level, namely OTGs (Territorial Communities), towns, and villages, children from which have never been covered by similar testing – and, above all, organized football processes.

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