With over 200 girls, aged between 5-8, developing life skills and football basics, it is no wonder that the UEFA Disney Playmakers Programme has been hugely popular across football clubs in the Fingal region.

Emphasising the importance of providing a safe, secure, and fun environment in which children can enjoy exercise, Disney Playmakers has been gaining momentum after the initial easing of lockdown restrictions and has played a key role in engaging young girls between the ages of five and eight in regular exercise through football-related activity.

Seven different clubs around the Fingal area took part in the FAI’s UEFA Disney Playmakers Programme.

FAI Fingal Development Officer Sean Moore had this to say on the second year of the programme: “The UEFA Disney Playmakers is an exciting and innovative programme aimed to inspire 5-8 year old girls to engage with football and physical activity in a fun and creative way. Playmakers uses the power of Disney stories to bring sessions to life to enhance participants decision making, physical literacy and confidence.”

The sessions are based around some of Disney’s most famous films. The programme was broken down into two blocks with 10 sessions, where the girls play out their favourite films and take on the roles of some of the best-loved characters.

The first 10 sessions has just come to an end and John Byrne, Coaching Coordinator from Hartstown Huntstown, gave us his thoughts on the programme: “HHFC were delighted to be chosen as a host club for Disney Playmakers this year. The girls have had a wonderful time interacting with the Moana story line and our four brilliant coaches. This programme is an incredibly innovative way to get more girls involved in physical activity. Through play and storytelling, we saw the girls get wrapped up within the story line as the weeks went on. Thank you for allowing us to share the experience and everyone at HHFC are looking forward to block two, coming very soon.”

Focusing on developing fundamental movements, life, and football skills. This club led programme, is ran by coaches who prioritize girl’s needs. Resulting in girls that are healthy and multitalented – and choose football as an activity for life.

St Mochta's Director of Coaching, Colin Hawkins, said: “We were struggling with the girls section in our club and the Disney Playmakers programme came just at the right time. We ran this 10 week programme over the summer and now we have our very first girls team, all who graduated from our Incredibles Disney Playmakers. It did not cost the club anything, we were fully supported by the FAI. Feedback from parents is excellent and more importantly the feedback from the participants is 5 star. I have to give a shout out to our coaches who are really make the sessions comes to life for the girls, it is a programme we really enjoy at St Mochtas FC and will continue to be part of in the future.”

The Fingal clubs who took part in Block 1 of the 2022 UEFA Disney Playmakers include:
Hartstown Huntstown
St. Mochta's
Baldoyle United
Portmarnock
Kinsealy United
Glebe North
Skerries Town

To learn more about the programme and the benefits of getting your club involved in UEFA Disney Playmakers, visit www.uefa.com/playmakers