On June 8 in Ivano-Frankivsk, at the stadium of the NFK Academy «Hurricane» sports complex, the festival «Open Football Lessons» took place.

The local community leadership joined the Ukrainian Football Association and the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Football Association in organizing and hosting this football event.

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Welcoming remarks were given by the Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Martynych, project coordinator from UAF Yevgeniy Stolitenko, and First Deputy Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Football Association Taras Klim.

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Also participating were the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk District Football Association Vitaliy Fedorov, Deputy Head and Executive Director of the Oblast Football Association Vasyl Sychora, and Deputy Head of the Oblast Football Association Mykola Vasylyev.

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Welcoming the participants, Yevgeniy Stolitenko noted: «The project not only attracts future players but also future coaches, volunteers, fans, and anyone who will want to become part of the football process thanks to such festivals. In addition, the participants and schools receive a large amount of sports equipment. This includes footballs, jerseys, shin guards, cones, discs, pumps, nets, jump ropes, ropes, coaching gear, and other important items for healthy fun.»

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The event gathered nearly 150 children aged from five to fourteen on the stadium. They were worked with by physical education teachers in sports attire, including Yu. Pilypiuk (Chornovol Lyceum), O. Zholkewych (Lyceum No. 1), V. Ivanov (Lyceum No. 2), R. Timchishin (Lyceum No. 7), V. Samilo (Lyceum No. 12), I. Zhugayevich (Lyceum No. 13), Ya. Pavlenko (Lyceum No. 17), A. Kohnman (Lyceum No. 21), A. Novytskyi (Lyceum No. 22), I. Soroka (PS No. 9), Ya. Malanyuk (Uhoryczky Lyceum) and psychologist I. Lyschynska (Lyceum No. 3).

The festival began with a dynamic warm-up session. Then instructors conducted various fun football games, competitions, contests, and other sports activities for the children based on the principle of «Sport for All». The football field was divided into twelve sectors, each worked by a volunteer coach who shared secrets of football, introduced exercises to improve accuracy, speed, and endurance. Children, organized in teams, moved from sector to sector where they were offered various tasks or games.

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In addition to local children, the «Open Football Lessons» were attended by children of forced migrants from Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions.

The festive atmosphere was enhanced with musical accompaniment. Children happily participated in contests, games, and various exercises organized by their mentors.

At the end of the event, each child received a participation diploma and an exclusive jersey from UAF, teams - footballs for training, and children of forced migrants also received medical kits, food packages, and first aid items. Most importantly, children felt safe, had fun, and spent time in good health.

The goal of the «Open Football Lessons» is to support the protection of children who are temporarily located in western regions of Ukraine, unaccompanied children, orphans, and other vulnerable children affected by war.

It remains hoped that the time spent on the sports field will not be wasted, and many children will decide to choose an active and healthy lifestyle and join the friendly football family.