The village of Smiga has joined the UEFA PLAYMAKERS project. The project is based at the local FC "Euroshpon-Smiga". Coaches Sviatoslav Levkov and Olena Vasylicheko are leading the initiative.

"We successfully completed a cycle of sessions for the UEFA PLAYMAKERS project, which aimed to introduce girls to the basics of football through engaging story-based activities in an interesting game format," said Sviatoslav Levkov.

Photo by ROAF

During the training, participants not only learned basic movements and techniques but also discovered how teamwork works and how important it is to support each other on the field. The training included:

— basics of technique: ball control, passing, receiving;

— a variety of exercises for physical preparation and coordination development;

— the role of the team and interaction among participants.

Photo by ROAF

"This project helped girls not only fall in love with football but also showed them that sports are not just about winning, but also about development, friendship, and team spirit. We are proud to have conveyed these values to the children and given them confidence in their abilities," said Sviatoslav Levkov.

Parents also noted significant progress in their children. Here's what one of them says: "My daughter has changed a lot after these sessions. She became more confident, showing a desire to continue training. This was truly an opportunity for her!"

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The girls themselves shared their impressions: "I really enjoyed learning new movements! It was fun to play with other girls and make the team strong," said one of the participants.

Sviatoslav Levkov: "This project has been a significant step in developing women's football in Rivne Oblast and Ukraine as a whole, providing an opportunity for girls to showcase their talents and skills on the football field. We are grateful to the Ukrainian Football Association and UEFA for supporting this initiative!"

Photo by ROAF

The goals of the UEFA PLAYMAKERS program, implemented by the Ukrainian Football Association:

• to introduce girls to football by creating an environment focused on fun, friends, and football;
• to implement a new individual coaching approach that uses imagination (inspired by Disney stories) 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.