Towards the end of April, the Ukrainian Football Association conducted its first training course under a new specific program aimed at enhancing the qualifications of teachers and coaches for working with children with special educational needs and people with disabilities in football.

The program was approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and provides 1 credit (30 hours) within the state system of teacher and coach qualification enhancement. Additionally, participants of the course who are members of the "Inclusive Football Sections" project were certified with a D-diploma from the UFA. This was a unique experience for all participants as such training had not been conducted before.

Photo: Dan Balashov

The program was implemented in a mixed format for representatives of 18 regions of Ukraine: distance learning on April 22 and an in-person training session in Kyiv from April 26 to 29.

On the first day, basic theoretical foundations of inclusive teaching were discussed, including:

— the importance of an inclusive approach in educational activities for children with special needs and people with disabilities;

— understanding the role of teachers and coaches in creating a positive and open atmosphere for all participants;

— specifics of psychomotor development in children with special educational needs and people with disabilities.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Participants prepared extensively for the in-person training, which allowed each of them to demonstrate their experience during practical sessions on the UFA field and share presentations about their approaches.

The leading instructors at the training presented:

— inclusive methods of teaching football techniques and tactics for different groups of children;

— adapting the game for children with varying levels of physical preparedness and individual abilities;

— introducing innovative technologies in teaching football to children with special educational needs and people with disabilities;

— organizational and methodological aspects of differentiated teaching football for children with special educational needs and people with disabilities.

Various methods of conducting specific classes were also demonstrated in practice on the football field.

In addition, participants visited sessions with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and football players with cerebral palsy consequences.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Alongside the project coordinator from UFA, Yevheniy Stolitenko and Head of the Development Department Oleksandra Vladimirova, leading experts in this field in Ukraine were also involved in implementing the course — Inna Horbenko, Yulia Solohub, Vladyslav Furman, Lianna Kopilova, Dmitro Saburov, Alexey Kachan, UFA instructor Igor Khymych and others.

Photo: Dan Balashov

Through this project, the UFA aims to help children realize their potential and improve their psycho-emotional and physical state through sports activities and change societal attitudes towards these issues. It is also important that it provides psychological support for children during wartime.

Photo: Dan Balashov

The project utilizes the possibilities of mass football as a powerful tool for introducing inclusive education in Ukraine through game-based activities, integrates children with disabilities and special educational needs into children's groups, trains volunteers to conduct regular classes with these children, creates and supports inclusive football sections in communities.

Photo: Dan Balashov

The main results of the project for the 2024/2025 season were:

— organizing regular inclusive football sections involving children with disabilities and special educational needs in 17 regions;

— engaging nearly 300 children, most of whose parents acknowledged that their physical and psychological state improved due to the classes;

— developing a new specific program for enhancing teachers'/coaches' qualifications for working with children with special educational needs and people with disabilities in football.

Photo: Dan Balashov

In 2024/2025, the project was implemented in these communities: Vinnytsia, Lviv, Sinelnikovo Dnipropetrovsk region, Zhytomyr, Uzhhorod, Kalush Ivano-Frankivsk region, Bila Tserkva Kyiv region, Kryvyi Rih, Busk Lviv region, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv.

Photo: Dan Balashov

In 2025/2026, the project will be implemented in these new communities as well: Agromnoe Vinnytsia region, Novovolynsk Volyn region, Magdalynivka Dnipropetrovsk region, Hryshkivtsy Zhytomyr region, Rakhiv Ivano-Frankivsk region, Tatarske Kyiv region, Usatove Odesa region, Zboriv Ternopil region, Kyiv.