The implementation of an international project by the organization Spirit of Soccer, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Amateur Football Association and the Ukrainian Football Association, together with the U.S. Department of State, aimed at reducing the potential consequences of dangerous and illegal use of military weapons in civilian environments, is ongoing in Ukraine.

The results of two years of work on the Spirit of Soccer Ukraine program were summarized during a coaching qualification course with elements of EORE and safe football, which took place from September 18 to 20 in Kyiv.

Photo by the press service of the UAF

For three days, Spirit of Soccer coaches from six regions of Ukraine (Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Chernivtsi oblasts) shared their experience in organizing football events with mine safety on-site, the culture and values of safe football, and identified ways to implement safe football rules within their teams and clubs.

Photo by the press service of the UAF

A special guest invited to the project was Nick Ghest, who shared with seminar participants his multi-year experience in demining some of the most dangerous territories around the world.

The knowledge gained during the course instructors transferred to the field by organizing a safe football festival for 40 young male and female players at the NTK named after V. Bannikov. Through exercises developed by coaches (ball handling and dribbling, kicks and finishes, rondo, play with EORE elements and safe football), and the SOS card system, key messages were delivered to young athletes: stay away from deadly dangerous zones and people, be careful in potentially dangerous areas and around potentially dangerous individuals, communicate and report potential risks to adults.

Photo by the press service of the UAF

Also within the project, a working meeting was held between the founder and head of the international organization Spirit of Soccer Scott Lee, the project director for Spirit of Soccer Ukraine, Vice President of the Ukrainian Football Association Oleksandr Shevchenko, Committee on Professional Football UAF Chairman Oleg Luzhny, and experts from SOS with the Deputy President of the UAF Oleksandr Kadenka. The meeting discussed progress made over two years of implementing the project and further plans for introducing the SOS program in Ukraine.

Photo by the press service of the UAF

A football field is what we can make the safest place for children. Therefore, the Spirit of Soccer project continues its work on the Ukrainian sports front towards a common victory.