The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) announces registration for the first-ever amputee football camp for children, which will take place as part of the new "League of the Mighty Kids" initiative within the broader "League of the Mighty" project.
The camp will be held on August 7–11 in Western Ukraine and will be free of charge for both children and their caregivers.
The project is designed for children with limb amputations or impairments affecting the function of one of their limbs. Amputee football does not require exceptional physical abilities—only a willingness to try. Whether using crutches or a prosthesis, playing on the field or as a goalkeeper, the camp is open to every child.
"League of the Mighty Kids" was created in response to a long-standing stereotype that often excluded children with various disabilities from active participation in society. The project's mission is to provide these children with opportunities for self-realization, friendship, support, and inclusion from an early age.
"This project was created to help children with limb loss become active participants in society, socialize more easily, discover their potential, and live full and meaningful lives. In the past, many children with disabilities remained on the margins of social life. Today, we are creating new opportunities for them," says Nazarii Spetsialnyi, Head Coach of the "League of the Mighty Kids" project.
According to the coach, children who have already joined amputee football teams have demonstrated remarkable personal growth. They become more open, discover new passions, and are accepted by their teammates as equals—without special treatment or lowered expectations.
Participants will take part in two training sessions per day, alongside a variety of educational and recreational activities, including quizzes, interactive workshops, media literacy training, cyber safety, and personal hygiene education.
In the future, organizers also plan to involve players from Ukraine's national teams as guest participants and mentors.
Throughout the camp, parents or guardians will stay alongside their children, while professional psychological support will be available for all participants.
The positive impact of amputee football is illustrated by the experience of Mykhailo, mascot of the Pokrova AMP team and one of the future camp participants.
His mother, Oksana Palii, shares:
"At first, I didn't take amputee football seriously because I had never heard of it before. But after his very first training session, Mykhailo absolutely loved it. It has had a tremendously positive impact on him—he dances, sings, and feels completely comfortable around the team. I'm truly happy that we found Pokrova AMP."
Mykhailo adds:
"I enjoy playing amputee football because it helps me find myself. I feel like an ordinary person. The guys on the team treat each other naturally, and sometimes they even joke about amputations. We simply communicate like regular people."
Dates: August 7–11, 2026
Location: Western Ukraine
Participation Fee: Free of charge for both the child and one caregiver
Registration is now open. To apply, please complete the registration form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDUDk43KIEp1UAFmXjudDiBBKJT9xHgIzxCasbMblZzC3GHQ/viewform
Contacts:
Bohdan Melnyk
Project Manager
+380 67 371 78 78
Nazarii Spetsialnyi
Head Coach
+380 68 853 84 10
The programme is implemented by the Ukrainian Association of Football as part of the social project "League of the Mighty Kids", with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Ukraine under the Development Cooperation and Democracy Support Programme.
