Special Champions League

The Special Champions League is a project that aims to enhance the social inclusion of people with an intellectual disability in society through a European Football project. Together with EFDN, SOEE, and eight distinguished football clubs, the plan is to set up a grassroots model for creating and managing a football team for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Young individuals over the age of 15 with intellectual disabilities will be provided with frequent opportunities to play football at a level they are comfortable with. Each football club will deliver regular training sessions, matches, social activities, and educational workshops for three four-month periods within their local community. By creating a method to develop local football teams to train and compete at a low level, they can participate in Special Champions League international match days all over Europe.

2.1 European Football for Development Network Best Practices Reach Report This handbook was collectively developed as part of the Erasmus+ Collaborative Partnerships project, Special Champions League partners: Special Olympics Belgium, NAC Breda Maatschappelijk, N.E.C. Nijmegen Maatschappelijk, Fundação Benfica, Sport Verein Werder Bremen 1899, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Fundación Levante UD, KAS Eupen, SO Europe Eurasia, Fundación Alcoraz and the European Football for Development Network.
4.1 – Special Champions League Impact Report This document outlines the key impact the project had on the participants and outlines some key recommendations for any sports organisation looking to develop inclusive football projects or any inclusive sports programming.
2.5 – Special Champions League Training Manual This training manual has various objectives that are designed to support coaches and staff delivering programmes for players with intellectual disabilities.
3.1 – Implementation Phases (3 Seasons) This deliverable summarises the key statistics from each of the professional football clubs in the consortium regarding the number of participants and events during the project.
3.6 – Special Champions League Practitioners Guide The Project’s vision is to establish an inclusive football movement that provides frequent and accessible sporting opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

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