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Here is an encouraging update from one of our partners in Ukraine:

This is an update on work with our senior group of boys 14-15 years old.

Current season in the youth league the team started well. 4 victories in 4 games created some confidence that helps and needed to players. But 5th game against weak opponent appeared some problems in the team.

During the whole game boys had a number of opportunities to score the goal but didn’t succeed, so they become more and more frustrated. Also the referee said a few bad words before the game towards to our players and during the game he was trash talking towards our team.

So when in the end of the game referee called penalty to our goalpost, some of our players didn’t allow him to do it and even spit on him. It was a shame.

I just came back from the training I did for a professional club on focus on things you can control (motivation, effort etc) and how to not to lose concentration focusing on things that are out of your control (referee, crowd, etc). And the same things appeared with our young players.

So a few days after game we gathered the guys and had nice talk with them analyzing the situation, teaching them to focus on things that they can control and what and how to deal with things that you can’t control. We also spoke not only about football, but also about situation in their school life, in their normal life and how to apply these principles there.

I love football and sport in general because constantly it provides situations and teachable moments where you can teach boys about something bigger and something more important than just how to play football, but teach them something that will influence and change their lives, their achievement not only in football but in other areas of their lives as well.

Ball Project is thankful for our partners around the world working to impact their communities & help children play.