“Talantikos” Seminar Brings Together Parents, Coaches and Managers in Khmelnytskyi

Khmelnytskyi was the next stop on the “Talantikos” map — an initiative by the Ukrainian Association of Football, supported by the UAF Foundation, that brings together football, education and modern approaches to developing young players. The event brought together the adults who play the most important role in shaping the development of young footballers.

A child’s success in football is built on more than just training sessions. It is shaped by the entire environment around them: the atmosphere at home, the coach’s approach and the way the process is organized. When all these elements work together, children are given the space they need to grow. This was the key focus of the seminar.

Seminar Topics

The programme covered two main areas:

• “Parents — Partners in Development.” Participants explored how families influence a child’s sporting journey, from everyday support to reactions to defeats. A parent’s role is not simply to watch from the stands, but to become a full partner to the coach in developing a young footballer.
• “Managers — The Foundation of a Child Development Environment.” The session focused on how effective organization is an invisible yet essential part of youth football. Managers create the conditions in which coaches, parents and children can work together effectively.

Beyond the educational sessions, the seminar also provided an opportunity for networking. Participants shared experiences, made new connections and met like-minded people who are equally committed to developing quality youth football.

Seminar + Festival = “Talantikos”

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The educational session is the first half of the two-day event. On the second day, the children take centre stage, with a football festival full of games, excitement and emotions awaiting them.

The combination of these two days embodies the entire philosophy of the project. The knowledge adults gain during the seminar is immediately put into practice at the festival — through support from the stands, communication between coaches and players, and the overall atmosphere of the celebration. In this way, theory turns into practice literally within a day.

A child succeeds when the adults around them work together as one team. And the more cities join “Talantikos”, the more young footballers will grow up in an environment where they are heard, supported and understood.

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