The UEFA PLAYMAKERS project is successfully being implemented in Lviv by the Ukrainian Football Association and the Volyn Football Association. The classes take place at the FC "Amazonka" base under the guidance of coaches Mykola Yarokhovich and Tetiana Pavlik.

"The girls learn to play football with joy and enthusiasm, competing with great zeal among themselves. Playing football helps them develop their thinking better, adapt to society. They improve their physical fitness, coordination of movements, agility, teamwork, and endurance. The UEFA PLAYMAKERS center in Lviv has been operating since the end of 2022. Thanks to the initiative of the UFA and VFA, two locations were created at the football club 'Amazonka', allowing the club to attract young girls to football training," — Vasyl Kukhanovskyi, Deputy Head of the VFA, said.

Photo by VFA

"Thanks to the UEFA PLAYMAKERS program, we have been able to attract younger girls to play football. They are very interested in Disney characters and come to training with great pleasure. The program has a bright material with colorful equipment, balls, and gear. The girls not only enjoy playing with the ball but also draw their favorite Disney movie characters, answer questions, have fun, learn new skills, and make new friends," — noted coach Mykola Yarokhovich.

Photo by VFA

Volunteer and mother Daria Ya.: "Thanks to the UEFA PLAYMAKERS program, my daughter has taken up football with great pleasure, and for us, it is very important that she gets sick less due to regular training."

Participant Evelina Ya.: "Yes, I like the football training, I have made many friends, I come to classes happily, also love drawing Disney movie characters. My favorite characters are Moana, chicken, piglet, Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven."

Photo by VFA

Coach Tetiana Pavlik: "Thanks to the UEFA PLAYMAKERS program, the number of girls in the club has increased and the training level has improved. Also, thanks to new equipment, the girls have been able to train with top-notch gear, which helps improve their football skills and fosters a lifelong love for football."

Goals of the UEFA PLAYMAKERS program implemented by the Ukrainian Football Association:

• to introduce girls to football, creating an environment where fun, friends, and football are in focus;
• to introduce a new individual coaching approach that uses imagination (inspired by Disney stories and characters) as a tool for training and acquiring football skills;
• to refine girls' life skills, basic movement skills, and teach them the basics of football to foster lifelong interest in football.