The city of Busk in Lviv region has become the center of two social projects by the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) and Lviv Football Association - "Inclusive Football Sections" and UEFA PLAYMAKERS. The first is based at a Busk organization for people with disabilities, while the second operates through the Busk Children's Sports School.

Thanks to the efforts of coaches Ivan Tomkiv (for both projects) and Inna Boy (for UEFA PLAYMAKERS), successful cycles of classes have been implemented for children with special educational needs and for the youngest girls. The coordinator of the projects from LAF is Stepan Ponaida.

Photo by LAF

“At times, I even managed to combine both projects,” Ivan Tomkiv explains. “For example, on Children's Day, we organized a football tournament that was open for children from our inclusive section and girls from UEFA PLAYMAKERS. We wanted to organize a football festival for both groups. We thought it would be interesting and fun for the girls as well as the children from the inclusive section to play matches against each other in terms of preparation. So, there was one team from the inclusive section and two teams of girls from UEFA PLAYMAKERS. We did not count results but emphasized and rejoiced at goals scored. After the games, every child received an individual medal - a prize for participating in the tournament from the local football association, as well as treats from Busk Children's Sports School.”

Photo by LAF

Main goals of the project "Inclusive Football Sections":

— to improve the psycho-emotional and physical state of children with disabilities and special educational needs through their involvement in physical activities within the project and socialization;

— to change society's attitude towards people with disabilities and children with special educational needs;

— to provide access to inclusive sports training;

— to unlock the potential of children;

— to unite children and adults regardless of physical or mental development characteristics;

— to motivate all children, regardless of abilities, gender, social issues in mass football;

— to activate local communities through intersectoral networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, patrons, etc.).

Thanks to the UAF, sections are provided with children's football uniforms, balls and necessary sports equipment.

Photo by LAF

Goals of the UEFA PLAYMAKERS program implemented by the Ukrainian Football Association:

• to introduce girls to football, creating an environment for them 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 football;
• to refine girls' life skills, basic movement skills and teach them the basics of football to foster lifelong interest in football.