The 'ILAY' association was established with the aim of running sports, cultural and leisure activities for children with special needs.
Today, the main purpose of the association is to empower children, boys and youth through the game of soccer.
The founder of the association is Ido Kovacs, a physical education teacher, a qualified senior soccer coach, who has a bachelor's degree in education with a specialization in physical education for preschoolers and special education. Also, Ido Kovac has private clinics for cognitive behavioral therapy, he lectures about the CBT method at many Colleges and many of his tools are applied on the football field.
The satisfaction of the children and parents is very high, which motivates Ido's desire to continue establishing teams in every city throughout the country, while establishing a soccer league for children, boys and youth with special needs, and in the future also representative teams, which will compete in international competitions.
'ILAY' operates soccer teams that are adapted to the child's age and rate of development.
During training, the children learn the rules of the game, practice, play and strengthen themselves socially, emotionally and physically, through fun sports activities.
In soccer training, Ilay's children experience pleasure, success and belonging to the team. This is also an opportunity for them to get out of the routine a bit.
During the year the children compete in tournaments throughout the country and meet new friends
We believe that through experiential experience and enjoyment, the children work to maximize their inherent potential and self-fulfilment, to the best of their ability.
Our vision and values
promotion and integration
Promoting children with special needs, through the game of soccer and combining them with regular populations in these activities.
Strengthening
Strengthening the family unit dealing with children with special needs, and supporting families through sports activities and the game of soccer.
support
Cooperation with local authorities, cultural, youth and sports centers, sports associations and other organizations to promote activities for children with special needs and their integration into the general activity.
classes
Running classes, workshops and sports, cultural and leisure activities for children with special needs and classes that combine children with special needs.
Training of soccer coaches and instructors and defined social activity.
Ilay's super goals
Activity of soccer clubs in every city in Israel, including in the various sectors
In each city, 3 soccer teams are active, divided by age: Kindergarten through 2nd / 3rd-6th grade / middle school and high school
In the future - opening a group for graduates up to the age of 21 from the frameworks of special education
Establishing a national soccer league under the auspices of the soccer association, intended for players with special needs
Goals and objectives for 2023
Opening of new groups in the south and north of the country
Strengthening and developing existing groups
Marketing of the 'ILAY' association as a sports-educational-social association in sports in general, and in the field of football in particular, as an educational means for those with special needs
Connection to an academic body in Israel, to open certificate studies for training and guiding populations with disabilities.
The target audience is: teachers, coaches, guides, former athletes, volunteers and parents in the 'ILAY' association, youth players and adults
The people with special needs, who train and play in the 'ILAY' association
Opening graduate groups in all elite centers in Israel
Our advantages and differentiation
We are the only association in Israel that has "real" soccer teams nationwide, that practice on soccer fields
Standard, on grass only for ages 5 to 21.
Each player receives a complete sports kit that includes: a training set, a game set, sweatpants, a ball and a bag and participates in tournaments
nationwide throughout the year.
Regular weekly soccer classes for 12 months a year without a break
National deployment of the activity
Activity for children and boys under the age of 21
Integration of children and boys in the whole range of special needs:
Learning Disabilities
Attention deficit disorder, ADD, ADHD
Difficulty in sensory regulation
mental retardation
Children and boys with ASD autism
A variety of syndromes (Down, Williams, Tourette's and more...)
Behavioral disorders PDD
Combining children and boys from regular and special education with difficulties:
emotional (anxiety, lack of self-confidence, frustration, etc.)
Social (lack of social skills and reading social situations)
motor clumsiness
Underweight / overweight
Training systems adapted to abnormal populations:
A qualified trainer for every 5-6 trainees
Children with low functions are assigned a mentor
Insurance adapted to unusual populations
Sports and physical fitness equipment adapted to exercisers
"Not just football" - imparting motor, emotional, social and behavioral skills through sports activities
And all the ball games
Meetings with the parents and feedback for the continued progress of each and every child
Contact with the treatment team of each and every child during school hours and outside of school hours
Research - last year we started a collaboration with the Ono academic research in scientific research, which will investigate the contribution of gaming
Soccer for cognitive, motor and behavioral development for populations with disabilities