TEAMS
We know that some girls won’t have played much before, others have been kicking a ball about since they could walk. We are generally able to find the right level for everyone, and with a small army of coaches (from parent volunteers through to UEFA B, as well as goal keeping coaches) we are able to keep them developing.
One of the things we are very proud of is the number of ex-MVG-players we have helping out with sessions, sometimes even leading a team. We are planning for today’s players to be the coaches of tomorrow. We also encourage our older youth players to undertake reffing exams so they can explore other ways of supporting the game.
We have teams from U8s to U18s, plus two women’s teams (playing 7- and 11-a-side). We are also a registered Wildcats Centre.
Juniors
This is where it all begins.
We welcome girls from Reception age and upwards, but we don’t worry about fancy tactics or impassioned half time talks – Juniors is all about the FUNdamentals of the game. Lots of touches of the ball and embedding the necessary skills for the girls to build a solid platform for the seasons to come.
The girls don’t need a lot of equipment to start but they will need to wear shin pads, the slip-in kind going into long socks tend to be the most popular with the girls which is lucky as they’re also the cheapest!
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 5 to 6 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
Under 8s
Our babies. Year 3 at school. Each season we try to form a new U8s team from the oldest of our Juniors section.
Always an exciting time as we kit them out and rope in the new parents! It’s the start of a beautiful new family. Neither parents or players realise the journey they are beginning and the lifelong friendships they are laying the foundations for.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 5 to 6 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
Under 9s
Year 4. No offsides, 5 a side, small pitches and lots of little games are all there to help the girls develop the tools to really play the game well.
If girls come to us through schools, Wildcats or stumbled on to us whilst looking for Pokémon, we don’t care – this age group is all about football and fun.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 5 to 6 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
UNDER 10S
Year 5. Moving to 7 a side from 5 a side so things are hotting up a bit. The balls go up to size 4 and the pitches and goals get a little bit bigger.
Lots of girls are still coming to the game and we find that they are still at an age where they learn very quickly.
We still focus on lots of football and lots of touches of the ball, there’s lots of individual technique to develop and we also start to get the girls to explore the different roles on the pitch and what they may like.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 5 to 6 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
UNDER 11S
Year 6. Still 7 a side and this is still very much developmental football – which is just as well as we still recruit lots of new girls to the game at this age.
There is no age at which the focus moves away from girls enjoying the game but it is around this age that some girls will start to expect to learn more from training and take a bit more responsibility for their learning. The harder they try – the more they will learn.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 5 to 6 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
UNDER 12S
Year 7. The first year of secondary school and the next big step through development football. This is the first season of 9 a side, same size ball but a slightly bigger goal and a bigger pitch.
Girls are getting bigger and stronger so stretching is more important, as is fitness with the bigger pitches. Positions and roles are starting to edge towards there 11 a side equivalent, offside comes into play and tactics start playing a bigger role.
Teams that have been getting success with big kicks and rushing up the pitch start to find things harder, whilst we like to focus on good technique.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 5 to 6 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
UNDER 13s
Yup…..teens. Its Year 8 and the second year of 9-a-side so the girls should start knowing what they’re all about. This is also the second year that leagues will be published so the girls know who is on a par with them and who their rivals are!
We work hard to ensure the girls and parents are focussing on the performance rather than just the result. We also try and maintain coaching principles and practices such as positive reinforcement and guided learning. This can be very important because it can give the girls a positive focus at a time that can be quite challenging.
We start planning for next year as well when squads will need to grow to their maximum size in order to accommodate 11-a-side football. We continue to recruit brand new girls to the game, even at this age, so we have to make sure that everyones developmental needs are met.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 6 to 7 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
UNDER 14S
And so it begins, 11-a-side. Year 9. Even though we are still recruiting new girls at this age we are also in a position where we are doing what we can to stabilise the girls in a consistent team shape. We will normally give each player two or three positions to explore so she can start honing her art. The patterns of play that the girls will observe at 11-a-side will educate their whole playing career. Every training session is geared to ensure girls technical development whilst also giving the girls as much game realistic practice as we can fit in.
Since the girls started playing we have been working on implementing the fundamental principles of football – compact in defence, expansive in attack. We can see the girls playing a lovely possession based game when they are focussed and although these passages rarely last a whole game it’s at this age we can see hints of what is to come. Still not too old for some mud fun though!
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 6 to 7 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
UNDER 15s
Whilst not exactly old hands, these year 10 girls have go† a good idea of wha† is expected of them and how they can deliver good performances no matter who the opposition. The key is in managing the transition having won the ball back or having just lost possession. To do this the girls have to be clear about their role, be composed and have the technical ability and tactical awareness to do what is required.
We do still recruit new girls but normally any new girls will have played before. This is around the age that we expect girls to think about specialising, having said that it’s not uncommon for our girls to carry on playing a range of sports at a regional and national level.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 6 to 7 at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
UNDER 16S
GCSEs, nights out & all the rest don’t seem to compete with the excellent football the girls produce by the time they get to this age group. Positions are more firmly established. We still do a bit on technical work but our focus is mostly on matchplay and decision making. The teams focus on dominating transitions, developing rapid attacking opportunities or disrupting and destroying opposition scoring chances.
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 7 to 8pm at Meadowbank Stadium, Dorking.
Under 18s
This is the last year of youth football, girls can play from 16-18 so there can be quite a difference in age groups. What we find though is that once girls have been with each other for this long they want to stay in the same team which is just fine by us.
A levels, college, university…life, its all here or hereabouts. We’ve been on an amazing journey and the families and friendships that have grown together in that time will live on through sport. Lots done, lots still to do….. and they’re all welcome to graduate onto MVG Women!
Where and when we train and play
Training nights are Fridays from 7 to 8pm at Meadowbank Recreation Ground.
women’s team
After the age of 18 years a number of options open up to our girls. Whilst many fly off to college and university, many others stay closer to home.
Our club now offers a pathway for those graduating from youth football, into 11-a-side women’s football, with our team playing in the South East Counties Women’s Football League.
For the less competitive, we have the Mole Valley Mayhem squad – a mixed bunch of players ranging from complete beginners to those returning after a long break. And all sorts in between.
Where and when we train and play
Mole Valley Mayhem trains on Fridays from 7 to 8pm at Meadowbank Stadium.
