The youngest girls are joining football in three UEFA «Playmakers» program centers in Ternopil region. Engaging sessions with an innovative approach inspired by Disney movies are held, for example, at the Zolotoslobodskyi gymnasium of Kozivska community in Ternopil district.

Before training begins, the girls watched the Disney movie «Encanto» and memorized the main characters along with their roles. From the first training session, they immersed themselves in a magical world of adventures and fun journeys combined with interesting football exercises and tasks. Each girl had an opportunity to imagine herself as the main character of the cartoon and demonstrate such virtues as independence, respect, and team spirit during joyful trainings.

Photo by AFT

Local coaches of the program report that girls attend each session with great satisfaction and interest. They are very clever and capable. Despite some of them being new to such training, they have adapted well to the conditions, structure, order, and discipline, and are beginning to understand the principles of working in a team, controlling their emotions, and understanding the basics of football. The girls complete all tasks and exercises with maximum diligence and interest, and most importantly, attend every session.

Photo by AFT

Program coach Oksana Pankiv notes: «Since the program is aimed at maximum girls' involvement in football, it's important for them to understand what a team and a team sport are at this age stage. They need to learn how to work as part of a team, show support, and help other participants.»

In the region, the project is managed by Ternopil Football Association and regional coordinator Vasyl Zatorskyi: «Currently, football training for girls aged 5 to 8 years old according to the UEFA «Playmakers» program are being held at three locations in Ternopil region. The Ukrainian Football Association introduced this program for us. Its effectiveness and advantage lie in the fact that all exercises are based on Disney movie plots, making them easy, interesting, and developmental for girls.»

Photo by AFT

The goals of the UEFA «Playmakers» program, which is being implemented by the Ukrainian Football Association:

— to introduce girls to football by creating an environment where fun, friends, and football are in focus;

— to implement a new individual coaching approach that uses imagination (inspired by Disney stories and characters) as a tool for training and acquiring skills in the game;

— to refine girls' life skills, basic movement skills, and teach them football basics to foster lifelong interest in this sport.