National seminar for regional grassroots football development managers and child safeguarding officers

23.12.2024 15:00

The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) held a national seminar for regional managers focused on the development of grassroots football and child protection. The event took place on December 8–11 at the House of Football in Kyiv, highlighting the key role of grassroots football in Ukraine.

UAF General Secretary Igor Gryshchenko, along with the Co-Head of the UAF Football Development Committee and UEFA Grassroots Football Commission member Oleksandr Kadenko, opened the seminar. Special attention was given to initiatives within the UAF’s “Nine Steps for the Development of Ukrainian Football” program. The seminar was a crucial part of UAF’s efforts to create a sustainable foundation for football development in Ukraine. Grassroots football serves as a platform to engage people of all ages, genders, and abilities, promoting physical health and social integration.

The seminar served as a platform for sharing experiences, fostering new partnerships, and building connections to facilitate the effective implementation of local projects in the future.

The first day began with a presentation titled “UEFA's Vision for Grassroots Football Development.” Particular emphasis was placed on the “Football in Schools” initiative as a key program reaching youth across the country. At the end of the day, participants discussed initiatives, including the “Inclusive Football Sections,” “Open Fun Football Schools,” UEFA Playmakers, and the revival of the Leather Ball competition.

Each regional association presented its football development structure, enabling the exchange of best practices. Topics included the main directions for coach education (presented by Vyacheslav Darahan, Director of the UAF Sports and Technical Department), the development of youth football (by Bohdan Horodnyuk, member of the UAF Youth Football Committee), the “Liga Duzhykh” project (by project managers Vitaliy Manko and Bohdan Melnyk), the growth of women’s football (by Anastasiya Klipachenko, Head of the UAF Women's and Girls' Football Committee), and player registration in the UAF database (by Valeriy Bakhur, Head of the UAF Information and Analytics Department).

On the third day, the participants were introduced to the UAF Sustainable Development Strategy, approved by the UAF Executive Committee in July this year. This strategy outlines clear goals and a roadmap through 2030. Its implementation provides a systematic approach within the association and beyond, aiming for social and environmental sustainability at all levels and aspects of football.

Photo by UAF press service

One of the policies within the strategy, focusing on human rights, is the Child Safeguarding Policy, which was the main focus of the day. The UAF Social Responsibility Manager conducted a practical workshop presenting UEFA's vision on child safeguarding, the UEFA toolkit, UAF's efforts, and its Child Safeguarding Policy. Invited expert Mariya Ismagulova from the NGO Terre des Hommes Ukraine delivered a module on child participation. Throughout the seminar, grassroots football managers and child safeguarding officers exchanged experiences, worked on tasks, and enhanced their skills.

Photo by UAF press service

“My responsibilities include providing methodological support for physical education in educational institutions, organizing physical activity and sports events, and conducting football (futsal) competitions for students across various educational levels. During competitions, I often encounter teachers who, in emotional moments, verbally abuse or demean children. Such actions impact children differently. The seminar provided valuable insights into the serious consequences of such behavior by teachers or coaches, such as penalties or dismissal. The topic of child safety in sports, including sexual safety, is particularly pressing. This must be openly discussed with children to ensure they feel safe to report such issues. I plan to address this topic in regional meetings and seminars with educators. Bullying in sports is another critical issue,” shared Olena Moshkiv, a specialist from the Mykolaiv regional office of the Committee on Physical Education and Sports under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

“We work closely with the regional football association, organizing joint events. After attending the UAF seminar, I learned about exciting projects to introduce in regional schools, including those addressing safety. We are already planning a joint practical seminar with the regional association, likely in spring. I am thrilled to have met the speakers. They are professional, knowledgeable, and approachable. Thank you for organizing and delivering a high-quality event,” added Moshkiv.

Participants were also introduced to the UEFA OUTRAGED educational project, aimed at raising awareness and fostering dialogue on discrimination within the football community.

The seminar concluded with presentations on UAF projects within the EU-supported Erasmus+ program. Among these was the “TARGET – Young Footballers as Ambassadors of Gender Equality” project, implemented in partnership with the Latvian Football Federation, the Estonian Football Association, the Malta Football Association, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, the For Modena vocational school, and EURACTIV MEDIA NETWORK B.V. The project, aimed at promoting gender equality in youth football, launched earlier this year and will continue for two more years.

Photo by UAF press service

“I'm grateful to the organizers for an excellent seminar. The topics and speakers were very well chosen. It was also a fantastic opportunity to interact with representatives from other regions, share experiences, and gain new insights. The discussions on child safety in football and beyond were especially important, particularly during wartime,” noted Ruslan Mayevskyi, Executive Director of the Zhytomyr Oblast Association of Football.