Uefa, the governing body for soccer in Europe, and global entertainment giant Disney have announced a partnership based around a new grassroots women’s youth soccer project.
The Playmakers Scheme will use coaching sessions inspired by Disney films and featuring its characters to provide a pathway into the sport for girls aged between five and eight.
It represents one of the first major initiatives launched by Uefa since it revealed its 'Time for Action' women’s soccer strategy in 2019, aiming to double women’s soccer participation by 2024.
The pan-European scheme comes partly as a result of a knowledge-transfer agreement between Uefa and the Football Association (FA), England’s national body, which currently runs a similar Shooting Stars project in partnership with Disney.
Uefa’s head of women’s soccer, Nadine Kessler, said: “Playmakers can attract girls who might not have had any contact with football at all, or might be generally not very active.
“Our ultimate goal is first of all to get them active and to learn different kinds of movement before the football comes in. But we would be very, very happy if the girls are that inspired and that in love with the game that they wish to continue their route.”
Nicole Morse, Disney’s vice president of integrated marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), added: “By using our much-loved characters and stories as a force for good, we can really make a difference and inspire families and children to be more active.”
Uefa and Disney launch Playmakers women’s soccer project.
Uefa, the governing body for soccer in Europe, and global entertainment giant Disney have announced a partnership based around a new grassroots women’s youth soccer project.
The Playmakers Scheme will use coaching sessions inspired by Disney films and featuring its characters to provide a pathway into the sport for girls aged between five and eight.
It represents one of the first major initiatives launched by Uefa since it revealed its Time for Action dedicated women’s soccer strategy in 2019, aiming to double women’s soccer participation by 2024.
The pan-European scheme comes partly as a result of a knowledge-transfer agreement between Uefa and the Football Association (FA), England’s national body, which currently runs a similar Shooting Stars project in partnership with Disney.
Uefa’s head of women’s soccer, Nadine Kessler, said: “Playmakers can attract girls who might not have had any contact with football at all, or might be generally not very active.
“Our ultimate goal is first of all to get them active and to learn different kinds of movement before the football comes in. But we would be very, very happy if the girls are that inspired and that in love with the game that they wish to continue their route.”
Nicole Morse, Disney’s vice-president of integrated marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), added: “By using our much-loved characters and stories as a force for good, we can really make a difference and inspire families and children to be more active.”
