Magpies performance pathway for juniors
Maidenhead United have announced the launch of a new performance coaching and development programme with the aim of helping the club attract, retain, and develop more of their own players.
The MUFC Performance will add to the club’s current junior and youth football coaching provision by providing a pathway between the already established MUFC Juniors and MUFC Academy programmes and hopefully from their into the club’s men’s and women’s first teams.
It’s for boys and girls aged between seven and 16 with all age groups competing in the Junior Premier League (JPL). For the 2024/25 season, MUFC Performance will offer programmes for boys at u10s, u11s, u12s and u16s and for girls at u10s, u12s and u13s. Additional age groups can then be added for the 2025/26 season.
A press release from the club last week, said the new programmes would ‘embody the club's wider philosophy and purpose of putting people first, ensuring our community stays connected, meaning we will offer a player development environment designed to nurture talent and develop the skills which will support achievement on and off the pitch’.
Quality coaching sits at the heart of this new approach, with all sessions being delivered by UEFA qualified coaches and teams managed by coaches who are members of the FA Licenced Coach Club.
A holistic approach to player development will be taken focusing on
W Technical, tactical and physical development framework.
W Individual player development plans.
W Player and match analysis sessions.
W Stretch and challenge opportunities for high performing players.
W Fitness, strength & conditioning support.
W Wellbeing development support including nutrition, psychology, emotional resilience and healthy lifestyles.
W Goalkeeping provision, aligned to the wider framework, will be provided within the practical training hours.
MUFC Performance players will train twice a week and play competitive fixtures in the JPL at weekends.
Entry to the programme will be selective with trials for players at u10s, u11s and u12s (boys) and u10s, u12s and u13s (girls) to be held in the last week of April and the first week of May. These dates were confirmed this week.
They will be held in two stages with the initial open trials taking place on:
7-8.30pm on Thursday 25 April at Bisham Abbey Astroturf for U10, U12 & U13 Girls.
6-7.30pm on Monday 29th April at Cox Green Leisure Centre Astroturf for U10 Boys.
6-7.30pm on Wednesday 1st May at Cox Green Leisure Centre Astroturf for U11 & U12 Boys.
The club will subsequently invite a smaller cohort of players for a second trial on either Thursday, May 2 for
U10, U12 & U13 Girls or Thursday, May 9 for U10, U11 & U12 Boys. These trials will take place between 7pm and 8.30pm at Bisham Abbey.
Final selections for the MUFC Performance Squads will then be made.
Significant competition for places in the programme is expected across all the age groups, however, the club hopes the process will be a positive and enjoyable experience for all.
The club release said: “Our objective is also to offer all participants within the trials access to a development pathway, meaning that players not selected for the MUFC Performance squad will all be offered alternative football opportunities within Maidenhead United. This will include invitations to attend either MUFC Performance’s weekly Advanced or Development training sessions and/or the opportunity to join one of our Maidenhead United FC Juniors teams.”
To register your child for one of the MUFC Performance trials visit the Maidenhead United website.
Trial places will be given out on a first come, first served basis, with the register closing when the club has reached capacity.