A new cycle of the UEFA Playmakers project was held at the center in Shpolia, Cherkasy Oblast, organized by the Ukrainian Football Association and the Cherkasy Oblast Football Association. In Shpola community, the project was implemented by coaches Oksana Khapatyko, Serhiy Trokhymets, and volunteer Vitaliy Goncharenko, who created a comfortable and engaging environment for young female football players.

"I really enjoyed playing football with my friends! We imagined ourselves as fairy tale heroes, ran around, passed the ball, and completed fun tasks. It was so much fun and not scary at all, even if I had never played football before. Now I'm looking forward to the next session!" — says Anya, a participant of the project.

Photo by COFA

One of the participants' mothers, Olga R., noted: "After the first UEFA Playmakers session, my daughter's eyes were shining with joy! She really enjoyed that the training was in a game format without competition pressure. This is a wonderful opportunity for girls to develop, socialize, and discover sports in a friendly atmosphere. Thank you to the organizers for such an amazing project!"

Comment from coach Oksana Khapatyko:

"The UEFA Playmakers project we implemented in Shpolia was truly an event for our community. This unique program allows girls to take their first steps into football through engaging game play. Using Disney storylines, we saw how the girls not only developed their physical skills but also learned teamwork, self-confidence, and overcoming fears of new things. It was incredibly rewarding for us as coaches to see participants getting excited about the game, growing in motivation and desire to engage in sports. We are confident that such initiatives help popularize women's football and change societal attitudes towards girls' roles in sports. We hope that Playmakers will be a catalyst for further development of girls’ football in our region!"

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Comment from Deputy Chairman of the Cherkasy Oblast Football Association, Oleksandr Kochergin:

"The implementation of the UEFA Playmakers project in Shpolia was a significant step forward for women's football in Cherkasy Oblast. Thanks to the enthusiasm and professionalism of coaches Oksana Khapatyko, Serhiy Trokhymets, and Vitaliy Goncharenko, girls were given an innovative and interesting opportunity to get involved in sports.

The program format that combines football elements with Disney fairy tales allowed those who had no previous experience in football to join the game. This not only popularizes sports among girls but also helps them develop physical and social skills.

The Cherkasy Oblast Football Association supports such initiatives and will continue to promote their development. We are confident that Playmakers will be a great foundation for further growth of women's football in our region!"

Photo by COFA

UEFA Playmakers — an opportunity to try football in a new format! We invite young dreamers to join the fun sessions and become part of the football community.

Photo by COFA

Goals of the UEFA Playmakers program, implemented by the Ukrainian Football Association:

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