Case 3: Radom
Name of project / programme:
Year of start / opening:
Country:
Target group:
Age:
City size:
Type of sport:
Futbol Plus (Radomiak Radom)
2021
Poland
Children and young people with intellectual and physical disabilities
Children and adolescents
more than 100.000 inhabitants
Ball games (football)
Content of project / programme
Short description:
Futbol Plus is an inclusive football programme based in Radom, Poland. Run by the Radomiak Radom Foundation, it provides structured training for children with disabilities as part of the nationwide PZU Futbol Plus initiative. The project promotes equal access to sport, fostering integration and personal development among young people.
Long description:
Futbol Plus, launched in 2021 by the Radomiak Radom Foundation, is a grassroots football initiative tailored for children and adolescents with a range of disabilities, including physical and intellectual challenges. The project was initiated by Paweł Pietrzyk, a physiotherapist and community organiser, to address the absence of inclusive sports programmes in the city of Radom. From its humble beginnings with two training groups, the project has expanded to accommodate approximately 180 children across ten teams, making it the largest programme of its kind in Poland.
Futbol Plus is integrated into the structure of a professional football club, Radomiak Radom, which provides visibility, facilities, and organisational support. Training sessions are conducted by a team of qualified coaches, physiotherapists, and volunteers. Athletes are grouped based on their functional capabilities rather than medical diagnoses, ensuring balanced and meaningful participation. The sessions focus not only on physical fitness and football skills but also on fostering social bonds, independence, and emotional wellbeing.
The initiative participates in national competitions like ‘Futbol bez barier’ (football without barriers) and regularly organises large tournaments and community events. Its holistic approach combines sport, therapy, and education, offering children opportunities for personal development in a supportive environment. It also influences broader public awareness and local policy, contributing to greater inclusion of people with disabilities in sports.
The programme receives funding from various sources, including the Ministry of Sport, local authorities, PZU, and private donors. Despite these successes, long-term sustainability remains a challenge, with the project heavily reliant on the personal dedication of its founder. Nevertheless, Futbol Plus stands out as a replicable and scalable model for inclusive sport initiatives linked to professional football structures.
Aspects of good practice:
Futbol Plus is considered a good practice because:
– it reaches a typically excluded population with few other sport opportunities;
– it adapts to a wide range of disabilities, grouping participants by ability rather than diagnosis;
– it integrates medical, social, and educational components into a football-based programme;
– it leverages the brand and infrastructure of a professional club to build legitimacy and visibility;
– it mobilises a local network of stakeholders and volunteers;
– it has demonstrated high levels of participation and community engagement.
