UEFA and Disney Encourage Children To Be ‘Incredibly’ Active At Home With Playmakers

Children across Europe can now play the roles of their favourite characters from Disney and Pixar’s box office hit Incredibles 2 while staying active at home - thanks to the new initiative launched by UEFA and Disney.

Play at Home with Playmakers is an extension of UEFA’s first-ever pan-European grassroots programme for 5-8 year old girls, Playmakers, which uses Disney’s storytelling to inspire regular exercise - and kickstart a love of football.

With six chapters available to download from the www.uefa.com/playmakers website, parents and guardians can access free Disney and Pixar Incredibles 2 themed activities that explore each of the film’s main characters through elements of reading, playing, creating and telling.

Using movement and imagination, children will be able to imitate the film’s supers to stretch like Elastigirl, or take on superhuman strength like Mr Incredible, in fun activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family at home.

“During these unprecedented times we want to ensure that we can help provide great ways to keep young children entertained and motivated with play and football. We are hoping that families across Europe will enjoy using their imaginations through Disney’s magical storytelling, allowing everyone to escape at little bit into another world, all while staying safe at home,” said Nadine Kessler, UEFA Chief of Women’s Football.  

“Brought to life through Disney’s magical storytelling, the activities are designed to keep children fit, and their minds active, by encouraging imaginative play and creativity.”

Playmakers was inspired by academic research showing the positive role of storytelling in helping young girls take up sport. It represents a first step toward achieving one of the main goals of “Time for Action” the UEFA Women’s Football Strategy – to double girls’ and women’s participation in football by 2024.

Targeting 5-8 year-old girls not currently playing football, seven UEFA national associations – Scotland, Norway, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Romania, and Serbia – will roll out Playmakers sessions through schools, clubs and local communities later this year. More associations are expected to introduce the programme in 2021.

The initiative is also the result of a knowledge-transfer partnership with the English Football Association (FA), who are currently running the Shooting Stars programme in partnership with Disney.