Vadym Kostyuchenko: "Ukrainian football is waiting for reforms in the children's and youth sector"

30.07.2021 17:01

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

On Friday, July 30, a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Children's and Youth Football League of Ukraine took place in the Football House.

"I greet you on behalf of the President of the UAF, a member of the UEFA Executive Committee Andriy Pavelko, as well as the coaching staffs of all national teams," said Vadym Kostyuchenko, First Vice President of the Ukrainian Football Association. - Thank you for the fact that the national team of Ukraine got into the top eight teams in Europe. It happened thanks to all of you: the heads of academies, clubs and people who care about children's and youth football. Pupils of all Ukrainian football played for the blue and yellow flag. I am sure that in the future we will pay even more attention to the development of children's and youth football. "

Also, the first vice-president of UAF announced the implementation of strategic reforms in children's and youth football, aimed at overcoming the long-standing and ingrained problem, namely - the game of kids for results.

Photo by Pavlo Kubanov

"Reforms in the children's and youth sector are waiting for Ukrainian football. Those reforms that have already been implemented in Germany, Denmark, and Norway have been highly praised by experts. And the level of football that we saw at the same Euro 2020 from the Danish national team, speaks of the feasibility of implementing similar solutions in our country. In particular, players under the age of 14 cannot move from region to region, change teams. It is important that several teams do not bring together all the best children's players from all over the country.

Another important step is to ban children under 10 from playing for the result. We will not go for the realization of someone's ambitions and cripple the fate of children. That is why the transition to a European format is important, where children play football to their satisfaction, there is no pressure on coaches, and there are clear tools of influence and disciplinary sanctions against violators of these principles. Also, in connection with the appearance of a sufficient number of football fields, UAF plans to introduce another all-Ukrainian tournament for players aged 12-13, which will be preparatory before the start of the youth in DUFL, "Vadym Kostyuchenko stressed.

During the meeting, the executive committee considered a number of important issues, including the election of the executive director and the management of DUFLU; consideration of the results of the championship of Ukraine among the teams of children's and youth institutions in the Elite League, the first league, the second league, as well as among the U-19 junior teams in the 2020/2021 season; determination of regulations, draft calendar plan and composition of participants in competitions in the season-2021/2022, etc.