“Believe in yourself, keep trying, and you’ll succeed”: the story of a Marta Kostyuk Foundation Coach Ambassador
In this series, we share the stories of people who are part of the Marta Kostyuk Foundation community and help create more opportunities for children through sport.
Maryan Oliynyk has been involved in tennis since 1997. Over the years, his love for the game has only grown stronger.
“Tennis is an integral part of my life and my thoughts. I enjoy playing by myself, coaching both children and adults, watching matches on television and in person, and attending seminars and events where I can learn something new and continue improving.”
Today, Maryan is one of the coach ambassadors of the School Match Point programme.
What is School Match Point?
School Match Point is a Marta Kostyuk Foundation programme that helps integrate tennis into physical education lessons in Ukrainian schools, making the sport more accessible to children.
As part of the programme, coach ambassadors work alongside PE teachers, help deliver lessons, and introduce children to the world of tennis.
For Maryan, the opportunity to introduce more children and PE teachers to tennis was the main reason for joining the programme.
Introducing children to tennis
The moments Maryan remembers most happen after the lessons. “The children always ask when the coach is coming back to their class. That’s incredibly rewarding.”
He is also impressed by how quickly children develop new skills. “At the beginning of the lesson, a child may not even know how to hold a racket properly. By the end, they’re already able to complete several basic exercises successfully.”
When tennis opens new opportunities
Maryan believes tennis helps children far beyond the court. “Tennis builds children’s confidence, helps them make new friends, and develops their physical, technical and psychological skills. Most importantly, it encourages them to be more active, and they genuinely enjoy it.”
He also wants children to realise that tennis can be within their reach. “Every child should understand that they can learn the basics of tennis free of charge during regular PE lessons, even if they once thought this sport wasn’t accessible to them.”
The value of working towards a shared goal
When speaking about the programme, Maryan first highlights its role in making tennis more widely known. “As a coach, I’m pleased that the programme helps popularise tennis. So many children who previously knew very little about the sport are now discovering it, and that creates a real sense of working towards a shared goal.”
Taking part in the coach ambassador programme has also become an important professional experience for him. “It’s given me valuable experience working with large groups of children in a limited space, while also reminding me that nothing is impossible if you truly want to achieve it. I’m especially motivated by the opportunity to introduce tennis to new communities.”
Words every child deserves to hear
There is one message Maryan hopes every child will remember. “Believe in yourself, keep trying, and you’ll succeed.”
