The Ukrainian Football Association, in cooperation with the Romanian Football Federation and with the support of the Chernivtsi Oblast Football Association, organized a practical seminar for specialists working with blind people.

At the invitation of the Ukrainian Football Association, this weekend in Chernivtsi, to share their experience in developing football among totally blind individuals (B1), colleagues from the Romanian Football Federation arrived—head coach of Romania's national team for blind football and vice-president of the Romanian Paralympic Committee Sorin Lapadatu, as well as second coach of Romania's national team for blind football and teacher at a special high school for blind children in Buzau Florin Jidanu.

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Participants, which included teachers of physical culture from special schools (Zhytomyr Special School No. 1, Kamianets-Podilskyi Special School, Lviv Special School No. 100, Odesa Special School No. 93, Kharkiv Special Educational and Rehabilitation Complex named after V. G. Korolenko and Chernihiv Educational and Rehabilitation Center) and football coaches from the city of Chernivtsi, not only received theoretical material but also worked on a football field with blind adults using special equipment.

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“From the practical seminar, I gained knowledge about the technique of conducting football lessons for children with visual impairments. I listened to lectures by colleagues-coaches from Romania who presented schematic features of player positioning on the field in various game moments. Additionally, I was able to directly on the football field try out various football techniques and methods of teaching involving blind athletes. The project curators conducted lectures on psychological safety for children in football teams and methods of countering bullying from both adults and peers,” — said physical education teacher and gymnastics teacher at Lviv Special School No. 100 Svitlana Kutnenko.

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“Football for the blind B1 has demonstrated impressive growth over the past eight years. The football committee of IBSA persistently fought to introduce this team sport in as many countries around the world, especially in Europe. Today, football for the blind B1 is present in more than 70 countries worldwide. The seminar organized by the Ukrainian Football Association in Chernivtsi was the first step towards introducing football into schools where blind students are educated.

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The presence of a large number of physical education teachers at this seminar gives me hope that everything was taken seriously and that Ukrainian blind athletes will have a new goal by engaging in this sport.

I saw joy on the faces of eight blind athletes present at the seminar, the joy we were waiting for, the joy that came out in interest with which they carried out all technical-tactical instructions, as well as the joy from scoring a goal.

We congratulate the Ukrainian Football Association and wish them success in their future football activities!” — noted Sorin Lapadatu.

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The organization of the practical seminar is the first step towards developing football for totally blind individuals. In the future, the Ukrainian Football Association will implement the VOY! League project within the EU Erasmus+ program in sports, aimed at providing young people with visual impairments (total blindness) aged 6-16 years to improve their physical health, increase self-confidence and meet other people who have visual impairments.

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We remind that in line with the social responsibility direction, the Ukrainian Football Association provides audio commentary for matches of the national team and some UPL games. Such an initiative gives blind fans the opportunity to be involved in matches and enjoy football.

Note. B1 is a medical Paralympic classification for visually impaired athletes. Athletes in this classification are either totally or almost completely blind. The B1 classification was first introduced by IBSA (International Blind Sports Association) in the 1970s and has largely remained unchanged since then.