Team Registration Now Open for the 2026–2027 Season
Registration is currently underway for the 2026–2027 season of the All-Ukrainian School Leagues “Side by Side” in athletics. This year, students can compete across three age brackets: grades 3–4, 5–9, and for the first time, grades 10–12, marking a significant expansion of opportunities for older students. Last season, athletics ranked among the top three most popular sports in the program, highlighting its strong appeal among schoolchildren.
Nearly 5,000 teams, representing almost 60,000 students, have already signed up for the Children’s Athletics and School Pentathlon competitions. The 2026–2027 season will feature five stages of competition:
- school-level
- territorial
- district
- regional
- national
Events are tailored to each age group: grades 3–4 participate in Children’s Athletics, grades 5–9 compete in the School Athletics Pentathlon, and grades 10–12 will take part in the School Athletics Multievent.
Inviting Schools to Join
Schools from every territorial community across Ukraine are encouraged to register their teams by November 15. Competition rules and registration details are available on the official website. This program offers an excellent chance for students to showcase their athletic talents and connect with peers from diverse regions.
This initiative highlights the crucial role of sports within education by enabling young athletes nationwide to compete and enhance their skills. The introduction of the older age category is expected to motivate more students to lead active lifestyles, which is vital for their health and social development.
As the excitement builds for the upcoming athletics season, it’s worth noting that young athletes born between 2016 and 2020 will also have their moment to shine. On October 10, Zhytomyr will host exhibition races for these children, showcasing their talents in a fun and competitive environment. This event not only highlights the importance of early sports engagement but also complements the growing opportunities for older students in the national leagues.