MMYFC Mini World Cup 2023

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all our 1000 plus managers and players, their families and friends. Our annual Mini World Cup is now in its 31st year and each year the event continues to grow. Our Club has been committed to encouraging the growth of soccer within our community for over 50 years. The Club fields 72 schoolboy/girl soccer teams

Merrion Youths Football Club is a community based club which provides young people with the opportunity to participate in structured football in the local area. The Club encourages its players to play at the highest level possible recognising their skills and abilities. Our aim is to provide a facility where players from the age of five, can develop their skills and reach their full potential in a safe and professional environment The establishment of our partnership with UCD AFC has opened up huge opportunities for all of our members as we continue to move forward.

Once again we would like to thank our Mini World Cup sponsor, South Dublin Credit Union for their support.

If you would like to join MMYFC and be a part of our ongoing success please talk to any of our Mini World Cup co-ordinators during the week, or through our website www.mmyfc.ie.

We hope you enjoy this year’s Mini World Cup and you can see what our Club has to offer in terms of its football and it progressive ethos.

BARRY SAUL, Chairperson

Email: info@mmyfc.ie Tel: 087 911 5043

BOYS MINI WORLD CUP PITCH LAYOUTS

Monday to Friday pitch set-up

Saturday & Sunday pitch set-up

Important Notices

Litter: Please assist us in keeping Deerpark tidy by removing all litter. Bins will be placed at various locations around the park.

Parking: To minimise traffic disruption on adjoinging roads, we request that all visitors should use the car park in St. Teresa’s church.

On Sunday please use Deerpark Road & Mount Anville parking facilities.

David Bewley Senior Director

Louise Kenny Director

Ciaran Cassidy Divisional Director

Robert Lawson Divisional Director

Sotheby’s International Realty, Proud sponsor of Mount Merrion Youths Football Club

Under 5 Competition

4 11:00A1vB2

FINALS – Pitch 5

11:45amRunner up game 1v Runner up game 2

12.15amWinner game 1vWinner game 2

12:30pmRunner up game 3vRunner up game 4

1:00pmWinner game 3vWinner game 4

Neale RICHMOND T.D. locally WORKING

FOR YOU

Under 6 Competition

SEMI-FINALS

10:00A3vB4 Game 3 10:30A2vB1 Game 4 11:00A1vB2

FINALS – Pitch 10

11:45amRunner up game 1v Runner up game 2

12.15amWinner game 1vWinner game 2

12:30pmRunner up game 3vRunner up game 4

1:00pmWinner game 3vWinner game 4

Mount Merrion Youths FC

Code of Conduct for Spectators

Remember that although children play organised soccer they are not miniature professionals. Don’t place excessive pressure on children to perform to unrealistically high expectations. Children play soccer to develop their skills, to have fun and enjoy the game.

Be on your best behaviour and lead by example. The behaviour of a team’s supporters will often be remembered long after the result of the game. Be remembered for the right reasons.

Applaud good play, sportsmanship and best effort by the visiting team as well as your own.

Welcome and respect all your teams opponents. Without them there would be no match.

Condemn the use of violence in all forms at every opportunity.

Verbal abuse of players, match officials or opposing supporters cannot be accepted in any shape or form. Players or match officials should never be regarded as fair targets for ignorant or abusive behaviour.

BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE IN MOUNT MERRION YOUTHS FC

Under 7 Competition

Under 8 Competition

Under 9 Competition

Points – Group A

GermanyS. Africa

EnglandArgentinaSpain

Points – Group B

U.S.A.Ukraine

IrelandItalyHolland

Germany

S. Africa

England

Argentina

Spain

Wednesday 7 June Pitch 1 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 18:00SpainvS. Africa

Group B 18:25IrelandvUkraine

Group A 18:50GermanyvEngland

Group B 19:15HollandvU.S.A.

Group A 19:40ArgentinavSpain

Group B 20:05Italy vIreland

Group A 20:30EnglandvSpain

U.S.A.

Ukraine

Ireland

Italy

Holland

Friday 9 June Pitch 1 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 18:00GermanyvSpain

Group B 18:25Italyv U.S.A.

Group A 18:50GermanyvSouth Africa

Group B 19:15IrelandvUSA

Group A 19:40EnglandvArgentina

Group B 20:05UkrainevHolland

Thursday 8 June Pitch 1 (20 minutes per game)

Group B 18:00ItalyvHolland

Group A 18:25S. AfricavArgentina

Group B 18:50U.S.A.vUkraine

Group A 19:15GermanyvArgentina

Group B 19:40HollandvIreland

Group A 20:05EnglandvS. Africa

Group B 20:30ItalyvUkraine

Saturday 10 June Pitch 4 (25 minutes per game)

Game 1 09:30A1vB2

Game 2 10:00A2vB1

Game 3 10:30A3vB3

Game 4 11:00A4vB5

Game 5 11:30A5vB4

Sunday 11 June Pitch 4 (25 minutes per game)

E FINAL 09:30R’UPGAME5VR’UPGAME4

D FINAL 10:00WINNERGAME5VR’UPGAME3

C FINAL 10:30WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

B FINAL 11:00R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

A FINAL 11:30WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

Would like to wish all the teams participating in the 2023 Mini World Cup

Under 10 Competition

Points – Group A

GermanyS. Africa

EnglandArgentinaSpain

Points – Group B

U.S.A.Ukraine

IrelandItalyHolland

Germany

S. Africa

England

Argentina

Spain

Monday 5 June Pitch 2 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 17:00SpainvS. Africa

Group B 17:30IrelandvUkraine

Group A

18:00GermanyvEngland

Group B 18:30HollandvU.S.A.

Group A 19:00ArgentinavSpain

U.S.A.

Ukraine

Ireland

Italy

Holland

Thursday 8 June Pitch 2 (20 minutes per game)

Group B 17:30Italyv U.S.A.

Group A 18:00GermanyvSouth Africa

Group B 18:30IrelandvUSA

Group A 19:00EnglandvArgentina

Group B 19:30UkrainevHolland

Tuesday 6 June Pitch 1 (20 minutes per game)

Group B 17:30Italy vIreland

Group A 18:00EnglandvSpain

Group B 18:30ItalyvHolland

Group A 19:00S. AfricavArgentina

Group B 19:30U.S.A.vUkraine

Saturday 10 June Pitch 3 (20 minutes per game)

Game 1 09:30A1vB2

Game 2 10:00A2vB1

Game 3 10:30A3vB3

Game 4 11:00A4vB5

Game 5 11:30A5vB4

Wednesday 7 June Pitch 2 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 17:30GermanyvArgentina

Group B 18:00HollandvIreland

Group A 18:30EnglandvS. Africa

Group B 19:90ItalyvUkraine

Group A 19:30GermanyvSpain

Sunday 11 June Pitch 3 (20 minutes per game)

E FINAL 09:30R’UPGAME5VR’UPGAME4

D FINAL 10:00WINNERGAME5VR’UPGAME3

C FINAL 10:30WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

B FINAL 11:00R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

A FINAL 11:30WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

GermanyS. Africa

Under 11 Competition

Germany

S. Africa

England

Argentina

Spain

Tuesday 6 June (25 minutes per game)

Group A Pitch 3

Game 1 17:30SpainvSouth Africa

Game 2 18:00GermanyvEngland

Game 3 18:30ArgentinavSpain

Game 4 19:00EnglandvSouth Africa

Group B Pitch 4

Game 1 17:30IrelandvUkraine

Game 2 18:00HollandvU.S.A.

Game 3 18:30Italy vIreland

Game 4 19:00UkrainevHolland

Wednesday 7 June (25 minutes per game)

Group A

Pitch 3

Game 1 16:30South AfricavArgentina

Game 2 17:00EnglandvSpain

Game 3 17:30GermanyvArgentina

Group B

Pitch 4

Game 1 16:30ItalyvHolland

Game 2 17:00U.S.A.vUkraine

Game 3 17:30Italyv U.S.A.

All games on Pitches 3 or 4 on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.

Thursday 8 June (25 minutes per game)

Group A Pitch 3

Game 1 17:30GermanyvSouth Africa

Game 2 18:00EnglandvArgentina

Game 3 18:30GermanyvSpain

Group B Pitch 4

Game 1 17:30IrelandvUSA

Game 2 18:00ItalyvUkraine

Game 3 18:30HollandvIreland

Saturday 10 June Pitch 3 (25 minutes per game)

Game 1 12:30A1vB2

Game 2 13:00A2vB1

Game 3 13:30A3vB3

Game 4 14:00A4vB5

Game 5 14:30A5vB4

Finals – Sunday 11 June Pitch 4 (25 minutes per game)

E FINAL 12:00R’UPGAME5VR’UPGAME4

D FINAL 12:30WINNERGAME5VR’UPGAME3

C FINAL 13:00WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

B FINAL 13:30R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

A FINAL 14:00WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

Points – Group A

Points – Group B

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

Another Successful Season –Willie Boland

Iwould like to welcome everyone involved to the 2023 Mount Merrion Mini World Cup.Let me take you through a review of what’s been happening this season at Mount Merrion:

boys/mens team that play on a Sunday.

Along with that we have 15 girls teams that play on a Sunday. Overall that is 70 teams in the club with over a thousand players with close to 200 volunteers helping out with the various teams.

We also have 2 LOI teams with our UCD partnership who we represent at u14 and u15s.

Growing girls participation

Academies

Once again we have had over 100 boys and girls attend our academies on Saturday mornings and afternoons.

Our academies are run in three different blocks with the Morning academy held in Colaiste Eoin and our Afternoon academy held in Benildus.

These academies prepare our boys and girls for 5 a

side football at u7 and u8s.

Merrion Kickers

Merrion kickers runs on a Saturday morning in Colaiste Eoin and is for 3-4 year olds to prepare them for the Academy and then onto the 5 a side underage teams.

Teams

We have 24 underage boys teams that play on Saturdays along with 31 underage and senior

There has been an increase in girls participation once again this year with more teams and players added since last year. We would expect another increase due to the successful campaign the Irish women’s national team have had.

Schools Programme

I am currently taking football sessions in 4 local schools which includes Oatlands, Mount Anville, SST Mount Merrion and Our Lady’s Grove.

Schools Cup

Both a boys and girls schools cup were held in Deer Park with teams from Willow Park, Oatlands, Nord Anglia, SST Mount

Merrion and Mount Anville participating.

Transition Year Programme

I ran a transition year programme which I hope to expand on again next year. This year we had 20 TY students who did some training sessions down in UCD, completed their PDP1 qualification as well

as doing a referees course.

Goalkeeper sessions Peter Quinlan once again took GK sessions this season as well as overseeing the Academy. Peter takes the sessions on a Thursday night and caters for all ages.

A final note to say thank you to all the players,

managers, coaches, committee members and of course parents for their continued commitment to keeping the club running.

We will continue to try and improve as a club and hopefully the Mini World Cup will be an enjoyable experience for all at the end of another season.

Willie Boland

U18 Major DDSL - Christopher Cup Winners 2023

U15 League Cup finalists

Under 12 Competition

Points – Group B

GermanyS. Africa

EnglandArgentinaSpain

U.S.A.Ukraine

IrelandItalyHolland

Germany

S. Africa

England

Argentina

Spain

Monday 5 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A

Pitch 3

Game 1 17:00SpainvSouth Africa

Game 2 17:30GermanyvEngland

Game 3 18:00ArgentinavSpain

Group B

Pitch 4

Game 1 17:00IrelandvUkraine

Game 2 17:30HollandvU.S.A.

Game 3 18:00Italy vIreland

Tuesday 6 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A

Pitch 2

Game 1 18:00EnglandvSouth Africa

Game 2 18:30Germany v Argentina

Group B

Pitch 2

Game 3 19:00UkrainevHolland

Game 4 19:30Italy v U.S.A.

Wednesday 7 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A Pitch 3

Game 1 19:00South AfricavArgentina

Game 2 19:30EnglandvSpain

Group B

Pitch 4

Game 1 19:00ItalyvHolland

Game 2 19:30U.S.A.vUkraine.

U.S.A.

Ukraine

Ireland

Italy

Holland

Thursday 8 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A

Pitch 3

Game 1 19:00GermanyvSouth Africa

Game 2 19:30EnglandvArgentina

Game 3 20:00GermanyvSpain P2

Group B

Pitch 4

Game 1 19:00IrelandvUSA

Game 2 19:30ItalyvUkraine

Game 3 20:30HollandvIreland P2

Friday 9 June Pitch 3 & 4 (30 minutes per game)

Game 1 17:30A1vB2 P3

Game 2 17:30A2vB1 P4

Game 3 18:00A3vB3 P3

Game 4 18:00A4vB5 P4

Game 5 18:30A5vB4 P3

Finals – Sunday 11 June Pitch 3 (30 minutes per game)

E FINAL 12:00R’UPGAME5VR’UPGAME4

D FINAL 12:30WINNERGAME5VR’UPGAME3

C FINAL 13:00WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

B FINAL 13:30R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

A FINAL 14:00WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

Points – Group A

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

July Camps

Week 1 July 3rd-7th

Week 2 July 10th-14th

Week 3 July 17th-21st

Venue: Deerpark, Mount Merrion Camps

August Camps

Week 1 Aug 7th-11th

Week 2 Aug 14th-18th

Week 3 Aug 21st-25th

Open to boys & girls aged 5-14

Open to boys & girls aged 5-14

€100 (per week)

€100 (per week)`

€75 for second child from same family.

€75 for second child from same family.

Under 13 Competition

GermanyS. Africa

EnglandArgentinaSpain

U.S.A.Ukraine

IrelandItalyHolland

Germany

S. Africa

England

Argentina

Spain

Monday 5 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A Pitch 3

Game 1 18:30SpainvSouth Africa

Game 2 19:00GermanyvEngland

Game 3 19:30ArgentinavSpain

Game 4 20:00EnglandvSouth Africa

Group B Pitch 4

Game 1 18:30IrelandvUkraine

Game 2 19:00HollandvU.S.A.

Game 3 19:30Italy vIreland

Game 4 20:00UkrainevHolland

Tuesday 6 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A

Pitch 3

Game 1 19:30EnglandvSpain

Game 2 20:00GermanyvArgentina

Group B Pitch 4

Game 1 19:30U.S.A.vUkraine

Game 2 20:00Italyv U.S.A.

Wednesday 7 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A

U.S.A.

Ukraine

Ireland

Italy

Holland

Thursday 8 June (30 minutes per game)

Group A Pitch 3

Game 1 20:00GermanyvSouth Africa

Game 2 20:30EnglandvArgentina

Group B Pitch 4

Game 1 20:00ItalyvUkraine

Game 2 20:30HollandvIreland

Friday 9 June Pitches 3 & 4 (30 minutes per game)

Pitch 3

Game 1 20:00GermanyvSpain

Game 2 20:30S. AfricavArgentina

Group B

Pitch 4

Game 1 20:00IrelandvU.S.A.

Game 2 20:30Italyv Holland

Finals – Saturday 10 June Pitch 4 (30 minutes per game)

E FINAL 12:00R’UPGAME5VR’UPGAME4

D FINAL 12:30WINNERGAME5VR’UPGAME3

C FINAL 13:00WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

B FINAL 13:30R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

A FINAL 14:00WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

Points – Group A

Points – Group B

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

Current and former MMYFC making waves

1. Shane Flynn, currently playing for Leicester City AFC.

2. Sean Tully, U15 MMYFC/UCD LOI international debut.

3. Gavin Bazunu, currently playing for Southampton FC.

4. Jake Doyle, 1st Team former UCD/MMYFC academy player.

5. Daniel Babb former MMYFC and UCD/MMYFC academy player, UCD 1st team and U17 international player.

3.

4.

5.

UCD/MMYFC U14 Academy Team UCD/MMYFC U14 Academy Team

This year's UCD/MMYFC U14s have had a great start to their first season in national league. The side went through Phase 1 unbeaten (7 wins, 1 draw)

The academy team has 7 players and 2 coaches who have come through the MMYFC pathway. It's great to see so many MMYFC players get the opportunity to play LOI through our partnership with UCD and to see them all doing so well

While the team have started very impressively there's still plenty of football left. With a cup and Phase 2

league games to go there's lots of time for the this team to keep developing and enjoying their experience. The lads will also be travelling to the SETU cup for 4 days in June

The team will also play Rangers FC in a friendly in Antrim in June.

Our UCD/MMYFC Academy pathway has delivered a strong U14 UCD/MMYFC LOI side and our Mount Merrion U14 DDSL had a good season finishing 5th in the DDSL Premier division.

UCD/MMYFC U14s

UCD/MMYFC U14s

Teams in Action Teams in Action

Players in action Willow Park Leinster Cup winners with 8 MMYFC players involved

U16 Division C Winners 2023

U4s & U5s Merrion Kickers

MMYFC U14 Premier who got through to the last 16 of the SFAI Cup

U13 Donnelly Cup Finalists

U8 Purple Team

Under 7 & 8 Girls Competition

S. Africa

Friday 16 June Pitch 2 (25 minutes per game)

Game 1 17:30 ItalyvIreland

Game 2 17:30 UkrainevArgentina

Game 3 18:00 S. AfricavHolland

Game 4 18:00EnglandvGermany

Game 5 18:30ArgentinavItaly

Game 6 18:30UkrainevIreland

Game 7 19:00 GermanyvS. Africa

Game 8 19:00 EnglandvHolland

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

Saturday 17 June Pitch 2 (25 minutes per game)

SEMI-FINALS

Game 1 12:00A3vB4

Game 2 12:30A4vB3

Game 3 1:00A1vB2 P6

Game 4 1:30A2vB1

Saturday 17 June Pitch 2 (25 minutes per game)

Game 1 10:00 ItalyvUkraine

Game 2 10:30ArgentinavIreland

Game 3 11:00S. AfricavEngland

Game 4 11:30GermanyvHolland

Finals – Sunday 18 June Pitch 2 (25 minutes per game)

Game 1 10:00R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

Game 2 10:30WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

Game 3 11:00R’UPGAME3VR’UPGAME4

Game 4 11:30WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

Under 9 & 10 Girls Competition

Points – Group A

GermanyS. Africa

EnglandArgentinaSpain

Points – Group B

U.S.A.Ukraine

IrelandItalyHolland

Germany

S. Africa

England

Argentina

Spain

Wednesday 14 June Pitch 1 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 18:00SpainvS. Africa

Group B 18:25IrelandvUkraine

Group A 18:50GermanyvEngland

Group B 19:15HollandvU.S.A.

Group A 19:40ArgentinavSpain

Group B 20:05Italy vIreland

Group A 20:30EnglandvSpain

U.S.A.

Ukraine

Ireland

Italy

Holland

Friday 16 June Pitch 1 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 18:00GermanyvSpain

Group B 18:25Italyv U.S.A.

Group A 18:50GermanyvSouth Africa

Group B 19:15IrelandvUSA

Group A 19:40EnglandvArgentina

Group B 20:05UkrainevHolland

Thursday 15 June Pitch 1 (20 minutes per game)

Group B 18:00ItalyvHolland

Group A 18:25S. AfricavArgentina

Group B 18:50U.S.A.vUkraine

Group A 19:15GermanyvArgentina

Group B 19:40HollandvIreland

Group A 20:05EnglandvS. Africa

Group B 20:30ItalyvUkraine

Saturday 17 June Pitch 1 (25 minutes per game)

Game 1 09:30A1vB2

Game 2 10:00A2vB1

Game 3 10:30A3vB3

Game 4 11:00A4vB5

Game 5 11:30A5vB4

Sunday 18 June Pitch 1 (25 minutes per game)

E FINAL 09:30R’UPGAME5VR’UPGAME4

D FINAL 10:00WINNERGAME5VR’UPGAME3

C FINAL 10:30WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

B FINAL 11:00R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

A FINAL 11:30WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

Schools in Action Schools in Action

Scoil San Treasa Oatlands

This year’s Primary Schools Cup took place in Deerpark on 24th May 2023.

Teams from Willow Park, Nord Anglia, Oatlands and Scoil San Treasa took part.

Following a number of competitive games, Willow Park become our 2023 champions.

Our Director of Coaching takes part in school visits to a number of schools in the area including Oatlands Primary, Our Lady’s Grove, Scoil San Treasa, Mount Anville Primary and St Mary’s Boys in Booterstown.

Our Director of Coaching Willie Boland also runs a transition year programme for 4 th years. The programme is run in UCD and over 20 students took part. The programme involved practical football sessions, earning their PDP 1 coaching badges and an introduction to refereeing course.

Would you like your school to be involved in our football coaching programmes?

If so please contact Willie Boland MMYFC Dircetor of coaching wjboland75@gmail.com

Germany

S. Africa

England

Argentina

Spain

Under 11 & 12 Girls Competition

EnglandArgentinaSpain

U.S.A.Ukraine

IrelandItalyHolland

U.S.A.

Ukraine

Ireland

Italy

Holland

Wednesday 14 June Pitch 2 Pitch 2 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 18:00SpainvS. Africa

Group B 18:25IrelandvUkraine

Group A 18:50GermanyvEngland

Group B 19:15HollandvU.S.A.

Group A 19:40ArgentinavSpain

Group B 20:05Italy vIreland

Group A 20:30EnglandvSpain

Friday 16 June Pitch 3 Pitch 3 (20 minutes per game)

Group A 18:00GermanyvSpain

Group B 18:25Italyv U.S.A.

Group A 18:50GermanyvSouth Africa

Group B 19:15IrelandvUSA

Group A 19:40EnglandvArgentina

Group B 20:05UkrainevHolland

Thursday 15 June Pitch 2 Pitch 2 (20 minutes per game)

Group B 18:00ItalyvHolland

Group A 18:25S. AfricavArgentina

Group B 18:50U.S.A.vUkraine

Group A 19:15GermanyvArgentina

Group B 19:40HollandvIreland

Group A 20:05EnglandvS. Africa

Group B 20:30ItalyvUkraine

Saturday 17 June Pitch 3 Pitch 3 (25 minutes per game)

Game 1 09:30A1vB2

Game 2 10:00A2vB1

Game 3 10:30A3vB3

Game 4 11:00A4vB5

Game 5 11:30A5vB4

Sunday 18 June Pitch 3 Pitch 3 (25 minutes per game)

E FINAL 09:30R’UPGAME5VR’UPGAME4

D FINAL 10:00WINNERGAME5VR’UPGAME3

C FINAL 10:30WINNERGAME3VWINNERGAME4

B FINAL 11:00R’UPGAME1VR’UPGAME2

A FINAL 11:30WINNERGAME1VWINNERGAME2

GermanyS. Africa

Points – Group A

Points – Group B

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

3 points – Win 1 point – draw 0 points – lose

Teams in Action Teams in Action

U9 Girls with Dlr Waves

U11 Girls

U13 Girls

U10 Girls trip to Galway

U11 Girls

U17 Girls

MOUNT MERRION F.C.

Player Pathways

THE CLUB PHILOSOPHY

The club objective is to play football at the highest level possible, across every age group & across every league entered in to. The club will achieve this by utilising a style of football that is attacking & skilful in its nature. The club will continually endeavour to facilitate matching player’s talent with the appropriate level of challenge & participation.

A player centred approach will be employed by all coaches & managers. There will be a focus on performance & development rather than results. Players will be encouraged to make their own footballing decisions in an effort to increase learning. The club also recognises that fun & social inclusion is important for all teams regardless of league or ability.

LONG TERM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

Active Start Stage – Ages: 2, 3 & 4

Soccer contributes to the well-being of children by engaging them in the sport, while teaching them basic movement skills.

At this introductory level, the objective is to get moving, keep active & have fun, in a safe, low pressure, positive learning environment.

Fundamentals Stage –

Ages: 5, 6, 7 & 8

At this stage, individual player development is paramount. Players at this stage are totally self-centred & the primary focus should be on individual, technical ball mastery. Coaches should create a stimulating learning environment where the atmosphere is one of freedom and fun.” A “positive coaching” philosophy is vital at this stage.

Learning to train stage –

Ages: 9, 10 & 11

The effect of the role-model is very important at this stage. Children begin to identify with famous players and successful teams, and they want to learn imaginative skills. Skill demonstration is very important, and the players learn best by “doing.”

Training to train stage – Ages: 12 & 13

Awareness of tactics within the game becomes an important facet of the learning process. Players tend to be self-critical and begin to question more, but they are also beginning to form a strong commitment to the team.

Training to compete stage –Ages: 14 & 15

Athletes who are now proficient at performing basic and soccer-specific skills are working to gain more game maturity as they learn to perform these skills under a variety of competitive conditions. Players must have a sound understanding of the game principles and concepts.

Training to win stage – Ages: 16+

The majority of the player’s social, physical, technical, tactical, and psychological qualities are now fully established, and the focus of training has shifted to optimisation of performance. The focus at this stage is on the maximisation of all capacities, in an effort to produce good people as well as good footballers.

Active for life: Retention & Recruitment stage – Ages: All

The recruitment and retention of players, coaches, referees and administrators is key to the ongoing development & long term future of Mount Merrion Youth F. C.