Junior Camps

About the project

The European Amputee Junior Camp is the EAFF’s flagship project aiming at creating opportunity to play football for children with one-side amputations or limb defects. This annual project was started in 2016 when the first Junior Camp was organized in Ireland. Next camps were orgnized consecutively in Ireland, Poland, Italy. EAFF covers costs of accomadation, meals and training facilities It also provides participants with training kits and organises a closing ceremony with medals for all.

EAFF Junior Camp annual project gave a direct impulse to develop national junior programmes in such countries like Poland, England, Scotland, Italy and most recently in Georgia. Within these local projects children after amputations and with limb effects gain opportunities to play amputee football on a regular basis. At present there are around 120 children under 16 playing amputee football in Europe. 

JUNIOR CAMP 2024

The EAFF Nobody Offside Junior Camp, hosted by the incredible Club Brugge Foundation was a huge success. Over the course of three unforgettable days, more than 112 participants from 14 different countries gathered in beautiful Blankenberge to practice amputee football.
The camp was filled with intense training sessions, teamwork, and the joy of playing the sport we all love. One of the highlights was undoubtedly entering the pitch of the Super Cup for Belgium, where our young athletes received a standing ovation.

Blankenberge to host Junior Camp

 The 7th Edition of the EAFF Junior Camp will take place in Belgium. Picturesque Blankenberge will be buzzing with the energy of young amputee football enthusiasts.

This year, we are thrilled to announce that it’s co-organized by the Clube Brugge Foundation!  As a part of the Nobody Offside Project.

Let’s make the 7th Edition of the EAFF Junior Camp in Belgium an event to remember!

Save the dates: July 18th – July 22nd, 2024  

Location: Blankenberge, Belgium

JUNIOR CAMP 2023

70 kids at Junior Camp in Warsaw

The Amputee Football Junior Camp 2023, was a remarkable collaboration between the EAFF and the Fundacja Legii and unfolded as a beacon of  inclusivity,  passion, and sportsmanship. Bringing together 70 young participants from 10 diverse countries, this flagship European Amputee Football Federation event sought to transcend physical limitations and showcase the power of determination through the lens of amputee football.

The Junior Camp fostered an environment where children with amputations could embrace their shared love for the beautiful game. Held over a series of days, the camp provided an immersive experience that not only honed football skills but also nurtured self-confidence and resilience. The carefully designed program blended intense training sessions with workshops for parents, ensuring a holistic approach to the development of these young athletes and their guardians. The participants were surprised few times with visit of Małgorzata Mesjasz – AC Milan player, Artur Boruc – former Celtic Football Club goalkeeper or Kosta Runjaić – Legia Warszawa  coach.

Under the guidance of experienced coaches, the participants delved into the nuances of amputee football, refining their techniques, tactical understanding, and teamwork. The event showcased the adaptability of the sport, proving that determination could overcome any physical challenges.

The cultural exchange among participants from 10 different nations added an enriching dimension to the camp. As these young athletes shared their unique stories and experiences, they not only developed lasting friendships but also gained a broader perspective on life. This cross-cultural interaction instilled a sense of unity that transcended borders and celebrated diversity.

The partnership between the EAFF and the Fundacja Legii was integral to the camp’s success together with the great support from Adidas – technical partner of the event, OSHEE and partner of the event Samorząd Województwa Mazowieckiego.

However the Junior Camp wouldn’t be possible without the UEFA Foundation for Children who supported Camp financially.

The Amputee Football Junior Camp concluded not just as a sports event, but as a transformative experience that left an indelible mark on each participant, parent and organizers.

Junior Camp 2023 – Preview

The European Amputee Football Federation is returning to Poland! The training camp for  juniors with amputation and limb defects will take place in August in Warsaw at the ‘Legia  football facility’ with the support of UEFA. The training camp has previously been a huge  success including current European amputee football stars such as; Krystian Kapolon, Jacob  Koch, Jamie Oakey, Thomas Atkinson (Add others players). 

Junior Camps have been a key point in the calendar for young amputee football players in  Europe for years. For the second time, the EAFF Junior Camp will be held in Poland, this time  on August 17-21, 2023. This is the return of the event to Warsaw after six years. The idea was  launched in 2016 in Dublin (Ireland). The second edition was held in Warsaw (Poland),  followed by Rome (Italy) and Walldorf (Germany), and after a two-year break caused by the  COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative was reactivated a year ago in Tbilisi (Georgia). 

Junior Camps have been supported by UEFA for years. This season the UEFA Foundation for  Children also got involved in the project. – “Football is for everyone and plays a much bigger  role in society than just a sport,” – says Urs Kluser, General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation  for Children.”Congratulations to all those children with disabilities involved in football and in  the Junior Camp, who give their best and lead an active life. Believing in their dreams can help  them overcome many obstacles.”  

The Legia Foundation, which is the co-organiser of the event, also showed great enthusiasm  and support. – We are very pleased that the next edition of the EAFF Junior Camp will take  place in Warsaw on the grounds of Legia Warsaw. Our Foundation has been supporting the  senior and junior sections of Legia Warsaw amputee football for several years, so we had no  doubts when the proposal of cooperation with the European Amputee Football Federation  appeared in the organization of this event – emphasizes Anna Mioduska, president of the Legia  Foundation. She also emphasizes that this is a great opportunity to promote sport among  people with disabilities. – We are convinced that children and their guardians will spend a  wonderful time in Warsaw, improving their football skills, integrating and getting to know the  new city. We will make every effort to ensure that our club and the entire city are remembered  by everyone as accessible and friendly to people with disabilities – declares Anna Mioduska. 

Junior Camps have been supported by UEFA for years. This season the UEFA Foundation for  Children also got involved in the project. – “Football is for everyone and plays a much bigger  role in society than just a sport,” – says Urs Kluser, General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation  for Children.”Congratulations to all those children with disabilities involved in football and in  the Junior Camp, who give their best and lead an active life. Believing in their dreams can help  them overcome many obstacles.”  

The Legia Foundation, which is the co-organiser of the event, also showed great enthusiasm  and support. – We are very pleased that the next edition of the EAFF Junior Camp will take  place in Warsaw on the grounds of Legia Warsaw. Our Foundation has been supporting the  senior and junior sections of Legia Warsaw amputee football for several years, so we had no  doubts when the proposal of cooperation with the European Amputee Football Federation  appeared in the organization of this event – emphasizes Anna Mioduska, president of the Legia  Foundation. She also emphasizes that this is a great opportunity to promote sport among  people with disabilities. – We are convinced that children and their guardians will spend a  wonderful time in Warsaw, improving their football skills, integrating and getting to know the  new city. We will make every effort to ensure that our club and the entire city are remembered  by everyone as accessible and friendly to people with disabilities – declares Anna Mioduska. 

Partner of the Event is Samorząd Województwa Mazowiekiego.

The Camp is organized thanks to the support of UEFA Foundation and Legia Foundation

JUNIOR CAMP 2022

The European Junior Amputee Football Camp 2022, after a two-year break caused by covid, was held, thanks to the support of UEFA and Georgian Football Federation, in Tbilisi (Georgia) on 14-18 July. Participants included players aged 6-16 from Poland, England, Turkey, Belgium, Costa Rica, Germany and Georgia. The youngsters trained at the GFF football centre in Varketili and took in the sights of Tbilisi on the final day.

This is a very important project for GFF. The summer camp hosted children from seven countries, including Georgia. We have been working closely with European Amputee Football Federation for many years now. Georgia hosted the first edition of the EAFF Champions League a few years ago. Social responsibility is important for GFF. Football knows no borders, and it is vital for everyone to have the opportunity to play the game and be involved in this process. We are proud and honoured to host such events in Georgia. It is a reflection of the cooperation we have with EAFF and UEFA. We will be delighted to organise similar events in the future – Levan Kobiashvili, GFF President.

Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi hosted the closing ceremony of the event. The ceremony was attended by GFF President Levan Kobiashvili and European Amputee Football Federation President Mateusz Widlak and General Secretary Ian Clarke who addressed the participating players and coaches and issued them with certificates.

I am delighted to be in Georgia again. We organised the Amputee Football Champions League in Tbilisi in 2019 with a lot of success. Now we were back with our main project – the EAFF Junior Camp, which we are holding in different countries each year. Participants include players aged 6-16 from different countries, who train together and help us develop this programme. It is great that we have been able to implement this project together with the Georgian Football Federation – Mateusz Widlak, EAFF President.

Junior amputee football camps have been organised since 2016. The first two editions were held in Ireland, while the subsequent camps were hosted by Poland, Italy and Germany, respectively. After a two-year pause that was caused by the pandemic, the event was revived and brought to Georgia.

The camp was organised to a very high standard, for which we are grateful to GFF and EAFF. They made the children very happy. These youngsters are our future. We have a talented new generation, and three players from the previous camps are already representing the Georgian national team. We also have several young players who have a bright future ahead of them. They will showcase their talent both in Georgia and abroad, as we are taking part in European and World Championships – Giorgi Khvedelidze, coach.

EAFF Junior Camp 2022 was organized thanks to the support of UEFA and Georgian Football Federation.

JUNIOR CAMP 2019

The Europeam Amputee Football Junior Camp 2019 was organised in Germany in cooperation with Hoffenheim TSG 1899 Football Club. The record 74 children aged 7 to 16 came to Waldorf in July 2019. Partcipants came from ten European countries: England, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Georgia, Poland, Scotland, Turkey and Germany. For the first time in the camps history, EAFF invited also children from non-European countries: Salvador and Costa Rica.

Participants trained 3 days within four age groups, each led by at least four coaches. One group consists of goalkeepers meaning children with upper limb amputation or defects. Three others group formed juniors with lower limb amputation or defects divided by age. Participants had a chance to train with well-recognized amputee football players: Ray Westbrook, silver medalist of the last European Amputee Football Championship and Dato Chadunelli, goalkeeper of Georgian national amputee football team.