One of the two UEFA Playmakers centers in Ivano-Frankivsk is Kalush. The local Lyceum No. 3 actively participates in most sports projects to help children feel satisfied with regular physical activity, especially football. The program is implemented by coaches Yuriy Bogdan and Oksana Afanasieva from the Ukrainian Football Association and the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Football Association.

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Yuriy Bogdan: "Another cycle of the UEFA Playmakers program has come to an end, thanks to which girls from the lyceum had the opportunity to improve their physical fitness and become football fans. Since the full-scale Russian invasion, this program in Ukraine has become a wonderful tool for stabilizing children's emotional state. Football and fun help girls feel connected, supported, and have a friendly shoulder.

This is a program that provides girls with an innovative, fun, and safe introduction to football through play and storytelling (storytelling).

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Thank you UEFA and UFA for the creativity in implementing a new approach to training. I am sure that these trainings have become an impetus for serious interest in women's football. And positive emotions are very important now, both for physical development and mental health of children.

Grateful for the invitation to join the UEFA Playmakers program and hope for further cooperation."

Oksana Afanasieva: "Previously, many thought that girls and football were incompatible. But we are all captivated by this unique program aimed at inspiring five-to-eight-year-old girls to play football.

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Together with the children, we immersed ourselves in the world of Disney movies 'Encanto', 'Raya and the Last Dragon-2', and 'Turning Red'. We got to know interesting stories and characters from these films. Favorite heroes motivate children to choose football. Physical activity and football have become great teachers for them.

The girls learned to work well in a team, speak and listen, respect others, maintain a positive attitude towards learning, overcome failures. Through training and games, the children had the opportunity to absorb basic football skills and principles.

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Thanks to participation in the project, we received unique methodological materials and sports equipment that helped make training even more interesting, creative, and professional. Sincerely thank you for the opportunity to join a project that not only captivates with its play but also teaches and strengthens children's health."

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 skill acquisition;
• to refine girls' life skills, basic movement skills, and teach them the basics of football to foster lifelong interest in football.