A new cycle of the UEFA Playmakers project was held at the center in Shpolia, Cherkasy Oblast, organized by the Ukrainian Football Association and the Cherkasy Oblast Football Association. In Shpola community, the project was implemented by coaches Oksana Khapatyko, Serhiy Trokhymets, and volunteer Vitaliy Honcharenko, who created a comfortable and engaging environment for young female football players.

"I really enjoyed playing football with my friends! We imagined ourselves as fairy tale heroes, ran around, passed the ball, and completed interesting tasks. It was fun and not scary at all, even if I had never played football before. Now I'm looking forward to the next session!" — says Anya, a participant of the project.

Photo by Cherkasy Oblast Football Association

One of the participants' mothers, Olga R., noted: "After the first UEFA Playmakers session, my daughter's eyes were shining with joy! She really enjoyed that the training was in a playful format without competition pressure. This is a great opportunity for girls to develop, socialize, and discover sports in a friendly atmosphere. Thank you to the organizers for such an amazing project!"

Comment by coach Oksana Khapatyko:

"The UEFA Playmakers project we implemented in Shpolia became a real event for our community. This unique program allows girls to take their first steps into football in an engaging and playful format. Using Disney storylines, we saw how the girls not only developed their physical skills but also learned to work as a team, build confidence, and overcome fears of new experiences. It was incredibly rewarding for us as coaches to see participants getting excited about the game, growing in motivation and desire to engage in sports. We believe that such initiatives help popularize women's football and change society’s perception of girls' roles in sports. We hope that Playmakers will be a catalyst for further development of girls’ football in our region!"

Photo by Cherkasy Oblast Football Association

Comment by Deputy Chairman of the Cherkasy Oblast Football Association, Oleksandr Kochergin:

"The implementation of the UEFA Playmakers project in Shpolia was a significant step towards developing women's football in Cherkasy Oblast. Thanks to the enthusiasm and professionalism of coaches Oksana Khapatyko, Serhiy Trokhymets, and Vitaliy Honcharenko, girls had the opportunity to get involved in sports through an innovative and interesting approach.

The program format that combines football elements with Disney fairy tales allowed those who previously had no experience in football to join in. This not only popularizes sports among girls but also helps them develop physical and social skills.

The Cherkasy Oblast Football Association supports such initiatives and will continue to promote their development. We are confident that Playmakers will become a great foundation for further growth of women's football in our region!"

Photo by Cherkasy Oblast Football Association

UEFA Playmakers — an opportunity to try football in a new format! We invite little dreamers to join fun sessions and become part of the football community.

Photo by Cherkasy Oblast Football Association

Objectives of the UEFA Playmakers program, implemented by the Ukrainian Football Association:

• to introduce girls to football in 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 acquiring football skills;
• to refine life skills, basic movement skills, and teach the basics of football to foster lifelong interest in the sport.