The next cycle of the social project "Inclusive Football Sections" by the Ukrainian Football Association and the Volyn Football Association was implemented in Lviv at a local educational-rehabilitation center.

The trainings for children are organized by coach Mykola Yefymchuk and coordinator of the project from AFA Vasyl Kohnovskyy.

Photo by AFA

"Children with disabilities often face many obstacles on their way to fulfilling their basic needs for physical development, socializing with peers, communicating with the environment and mobility. Therefore, physical culture and sports are tools that contribute to strengthening their health, socialization, development, and improving their psycho-emotional state. To engage more children in physical activities at once, team sports are best suited, especially football, as it is the most popular."

During inclusive football training, children improve their physical fitness through running and warm-up exercises, participate in interesting football relays that develop coordination of movements, agility, teamwork, and endurance. They joyfully and enthusiastically learn to play football and compete with great enthusiasm. Playing football helps them think better, develop, and adapt to society," noted Mykola Yefymchuk.

Photo by AFA

In the inclusive football section under the leadership of Mykola Yefymchuk, 12-year-old Oleksandr Sh. attends. The boy was born with Down syndrome but is an active and sporty child who loves football very much and enjoys playing it.

Photo by AFA

From the words of his mother Natalia, we learned that she sent her son to a football section because he loves physical activities, participates in various competitions with classmates, and also enjoys playing football. He always looks forward to training sessions and tries not to miss them. Sasha has made new friends and acquaintances who share their impressions from the classes with him. At home, he emotionally talks about his football lessons.

Photo by AFA

"Our coach selects an individual approach to participants and works on new techniques with them. This season, we have more children because they share information among themselves and come to classes to learn and develop. We divide the children into two groups (10+10) and change them every session. Due to the great desire of children and parents to participate in inclusive football training, we run this project throughout the year with breaks only during holidays.

Participation in the project and sports activities can help children with special educational needs not only improve their health but also communicate, socialize with peers, and psychologically unwind and have meaningful fun. If we talk about football as a team sport, it is communication, interaction with peers, psychological relaxation, and meaningful entertainment.

We thank the initiators and organizers of this social project for the opportunity to develop and educate children from the Lviv city community," said Vasyl Kohnovskyy.

Photo by AFA

Main goals of the project:

• Improve the psycho-emotional and physical state of children with disabilities and special educational needs through their involvement in physical activities of the project and socialization;
• Change society's attitude towards people with disabilities and children with special educational needs;
• Provide access to inclusive sports training;
• Unleash children's potential;
• Unite children and adults regardless of physical and mental development characteristics;
• Motivate all children, regardless of abilities, gender, or social issues, in mass football;
• Activate local communities through intersectoral networks (teachers, coaches, psychologists, parents, youth leaders, local authorities, benefactors, etc.).

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