Summary

We require all players in U9-U18 teams to attend the relevant grading day.

Overview

For younger players, MFC recognises that the social aspect of being a member of a community club and playing with friends is important. As players develop, difficulties can arise through having players with a broad range of skills and abilities within the one team. This may eventually lead to a lack of enjoyment for some players as they progress. The better players can become frustrated and the less skilled players often do not get as involved in the play, as they otherwise would if playing with teammates of similar ability.

The primary reason for grading players is to identify individuals of differing skill levels and encourage them to play in a challenging, but enjoyable, environment in order to enhance and encourage their football development. This means young players are playing in an environment that is intellectually and physically challenging through education and competition. The players’ enjoyment when playing football comes above all else.

The format of the competition changes as players move into the U8, U10 and U12 age groups. Practically speaking, this means that the size of field, ball size and team sizes all change. Accordingly, MFC will focus more on team formation for those age groups, with skills assessment gradually playing a more important role in team formation as the players progress. For players in U9 and U11, teams are expected to stay roughly the same as the previous year, keeping in mind that team composition can change for a variety of reasons.

In trying to balance the social and the development priorities, we have developed the following process for team formation for MiniRoos at Mosman FC. It does not apply to players who seek selection in the Academy, as these players go through a separate and specific selection procedure.

To understand the skills assessment process for each group, please read the information below.

Specific age group requirements: U6 – U8

U6 – U7: Squads of ~12 players are split into two teams on Saturday mornings to play small-sided games, with four players on each field. Practically speaking, this means ‘squads’ of up to 12 players, eight of whom who are on the field at one time, with substitutions and rotations. MWFA prefers groups of no more than 12 in order to help ensure each player gets sufficient game time.

There is no skills assessment of players or teams. Teams are formed based on social connections, with individual registrations being allocated to teams from the same school if possible, or into teams that need additional players. Coaching is usually provided by parent coaches who are offered training through the club or MWFA.

U8: Teams play with seven players, including a goalkeeper, so squad sizes of 9-10 are recommended. To support the transition to the new competition format, the club provides coaching to all U8 teams.

There is to be no official grading or skill assessment for U8, however U8 teams do require some restructuring from U7 due to the team size and formation changing.

Grading of teams at Mosman does not start until U9 but, as we form teams for U8, we will try and get as many players together of roughly similar abilities whilst maintaining the social connections from earlier years. This improves both the training and playing experience for all players and allows for a smoother transition into U9s.

The U8 age coordinator and coaching staff will work with your team coaches from last year to make this transition as easy as possible.

Specific age group requirements: U9 – U11

The following information relates to players who have NOT been accepted into an academy team.

For age groups U9 and older,  players and teams must attend the Club’s Grading Day (see Events section of website for details) if they wish to be graded into a team. This is recommended for the following reasons:

1. All U9-U11 teams are graded into bands in the MWFA competition to help ensure a fair competition and an enjoyable playing experience for all players. To achieve this, we need to grade each team into the appropriate band.
2. New players to the club who have not been allocated to a team will need to be placed into the most appropriate team, based on ability and experience.
3. Some teams will have some gaps, with players moving into or out of the team for personal reasons such as schooling or relocation, or moving into or out of an Academy team. We will use grading day to fill any gaps in teams.

Players who do not attend the grading process will be placed into a team by the relevant age coordinator in consultation with coaching staff.

In practice, this means that Mosman FC needs each player who wishes to be graded to be registered for and attend grading day which takes place in February.  If this is not possible, the parent should contact the MiniRoos Coordinator with the reason for non-attendance.

U9: As per U8, teams play with seven players, including a goalkeeper, so squad sizes of 9-10 are recommended. U9 teams will generally be the same as the previous year’s U8 teams, with any individual changes being the exception. All U9 players not committed to an Academy team and who do not already have a team are required to attend Grading Day.

U10 and U11: Teams play with nine players, including a goalkeeper, so squad sizes of 11-12 players are recommended.

In restructuring teams for the larger format, we will assess each player individually at the Club’s Grading Day in order to form teams of players of similar ability. Subject to the skills assessment, we will group players with their friends from previous years or social connections, wherever possible.

All U10 and U11 players not in the Academy and who do not already have a team are required to attend Grading Day.

What this means in practice is that players will be graded individually by the club’s coaching staff. Players will be grouped according to ability first, followed by social connections or preferences second.