Christmas Football for All Blitz 🎅🏼🤶🏻

21st December 📅
Abbotstown Indoor 🏟️

We will have ‘Santa/Mrs Clause to present Selection Boxes’ for all the players. More details below which was forwarded to clubs.

We should have 100+ players on the day but we would like to try & encourage new FFA players to join their local FFA Club. We currently have 20+ Clubs & approx. 300 players in DDSL FFA teams.

However, the majority of these players have joined clubs through ‘Word of mouth’
A lot of people are not aware of Football for All & which players can join.

The FAI Football for All programme was set up in 2005 & provides opportunities for children with various disabilities who may struggle to excel in the environment of underage football or who need additional support to develop as footballers.

Football for All Clubs enable children to join & train/play at their local club & to compete in different Games /Festivals’

Our New Partners @togsauces will also be present on the day 🤝🙌🏻

#footballforall #ddslgrassroots

 

DDSL UPDATES:

DDSL CLOSING/OPENING DATES:

• The closing date for all fixtures including SSG will be Fri/Sat/Sun 12^th/13^th/14^thDecember.
• We await the update from the different County Councils on their opening of their ‘Parks/Pitches’. Once we are notified on these dates, we will confirm the dates for the different Age groups to return with fixtures in the New Year…for the 2^nd half of the season
• We will be encouraging all clubs to continue to play ‘Competitive Games’ during the break due to the weather in the last few weeks. Cup games will be the focus and clubs with facilities are encouraged to play as much as possible. All games must be approved by the league secretaries in advance.

 

SILENT/SIDELINES

• As there continues to be more Disciplinary Issues relating to ‘Sideline Behaviour’ we will be introducing dates for all clubs to follow our ‘Silent Sideline’ initiative. In the past this has worked very well & thank you to the clubs for observing this.
• Dates for ‘Silent Sideline’ to be observed
• 2025: Weekend of; NOV 29^th/30^th; DEC 13^th/14^th
• 2026: Weekend of: JAN 24^th/25^th; FEB 7^th/8^th ; 21^st/22^nd; MARCH 14^th/15^th; 28^th/29^th; APRIL 18^th/19^th; All of MAY
• All clubs are expected to enforce and promotes these activities to create the right environment that all players deserve

DDSL CUP FINALS DATES:

• The DDSL Cup Finals will be held in the AUL Complex again this season. However, for season 2025/2026 there will be 2x weekends where the Cup finals will be played as the number of Cup Finals continues to increase
• Dates: Weekends: May 16^th/17^th & 23^rd/24^th.
• There will be 2x Sets of Cups Final Times each day. This will help with the managing of the event/car parking
• A schedule of all finals will be issued in the coming weeks and as in previous years cancelations will not be permitted.

 

RETURNED LEAGUE & CUP FINAL CUPS

• As you are aware, all Cups were due to be returned by the 31^st October 2025. Thank you to those close clubs who have returned their Cups.
• There are 239 Cups in total to be returned & as of now…more than half of the CUPS have yet to be returned.
• As stated on our initial e-mail re ‘Returned Cups’ we will begin to issue fines to clubs for failure to return the Cups ASAP
• If myself or any other DDSL official are not present in the DDSL offices in Abbotstown….Cups can be left at the FAI Reception where we have a ‘DDSL Registration Returned Cup’ sheet to be completed on returning the Cups. Their office hours are strictly 9.30am to 1pm & 2pm to 4.30pm. The Cups can also be returned to ‘FAI Security’/Reception’ from 5.30pm to 8.30pm Monday’s/Thursdays only.
• Clubs not returning cups on or before 1^st December will be subject to weekly fines as per the DDSL rule book….you have been told!

TRANSFER WINDOW 2026:

• Please see attached the FAI Winter Transfer Dates. Players at all ages can transfer from the 1^st January to the 28^th January 2026. NOTE : There will be no ‘Transfers’ allowed after the official closing Transfer Window date of the 28^th Jan 2026.
• Please note …as per our DDSL Rule Book….players are not allowed to play ‘Across their Own Age Group’ This also applies to the SSG. E.g. u9-1 Sat player cannot play Sun u9-4 etc. We have received a number of reports where players in the SSG are playing both Sat & Sun for the same club & age group….resulting in other players on the Sunday team not been allocating the proper minimum ’Playing Times’ Please ensure all your manager/coaches are updated on these issues/rules.
• Clubs are reminded to check all panels to ensure all your players are registered. The league (as last year)will undertake an audit of all clubs & Teams over the coming weeks on registration numbers.We will also be auditing match cards to ensure compliance and to ensure evey child is insured and protected while playing in the DDSL.
• Please be aware of the consequences of unregistered players which is detailed the Rules

SSG SURVEYS

• As normal there will be the normal Re-grading for the SSG Divisions/Teams which will depend mainly on the Surveys for u8’s/u9’s…..u10’s (Plus Results Received). The u11’s will be based on Results/Requests only.
• We will issue these Surveys for u8’s to u10’s for Boys/Girls in late November. Teams/coaches not completing these ‘Survey Forms….will not be included in any re-grading process.

RESULTS

• There ae still a good number of results not been returned. If you are one of these clubs, please ensure your results are returned to results@ddsl.ie every week & cc’d to the relevant DDSL Fixture Secretaries as it is creating more work for our ‘Fixture Secretaries’ chasing up results.
• Where Cup Games are played…please have these results returned ASAP as future fixtures will need to be changed taking into account the Winners etc.
• Where your games are postponed….we still need to know if the game was not played otherwise, we are chasing clubs to confirm whether the games were played etc
• For All Secretaries…please have your managers of each team…along with yourself…. To check all your results to ensure the results are correct. As we enter the 2^nd half of the season, the results published will be the results recorded entering into the 2^nd half of the season. Therefore, if there are any results incorrect, you must contact results@ddsl.ie & the relevant fixture Secretary ASAP  to investigate. All these queries must be completed before the 2^nd half of the season otherwise the results recorded will remain in place.

FOOTBALL FOR ALL

• We now have up to 20 DDSL Clubs with 35+ teams & up to 250+ players.
• For those existing clubs, please ensure your players are registered with the DDSL as we want all players to be part of the DDSL & covered by Insurance. Previous details were already forwarded to all clubs. Any issues, let me know
• For any Clubs, looking to set up a ‘Football for All’ section…please contact me at the details below. Most of our FFA players still continue to join our clubs….through ‘Word of Mouth’ We intend to publicise FFA on a wider scale to ensure as many parents/players/organisations i.e. Down syndrome Ire etc are aware of opportunity to play football at any level.
• There will be ‘Football for All’ Introduction & Coaching Course’ organised shortly for any existing coaches/parents who would like to get involved. Well worth it. Again e-mail me if interested.
• Next DDSL Football for All Blitz will take place  on Sunday 21^st December on the ‘Indoor Astro’. Details to follow with Santa/Selection Boxes included etc.

DDSL 3v3: REMINDER

110 Boys & Girls teams booked in to date with a good spread of divisions. Places are limited at some age groups.

Please share amongst coaches in your clubs.

3v3 Skills Festival – 15^th & 16^th November 2025

We’re thrilled to invite you to our upcoming 3v3 Skills Festival at the Sport Ireland Indoor Dome, Abbotstown, taking place on 15th & 16th November

This fun-filled event is open to boys and girls aged U7–U11 (born 2015–2019) and will feature:

⚽ Fast-paced 3v3 games
🎯 Engaging skill sessions
👥 Squads of 4 players
💶 €60 per squad (+ booking fee)

📍 Location: Sport Ireland Indoor Dome, Abbotstown
📅 Dates: 15th & 16th November
🔗 Booking: HERE

 

 

DDSL Workshops

 

Please share with your coaches.

DDSL Workshop	Topic	Venue	Date	Time	Book
Coerver Coaching Workshop	Ball Mastery & 1v1s Level 2	Abbotstown	10th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
FAST Workshop	Will further educate coaches on the theory & practical application on the fundamentals of movement & speed. Part 3	Abbotstown	17th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
DDSL Club Workshop	Developing Touch	TBC (Northside)	17th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
Coerver Coaching Workshop	2v2s & Small Group Play Level 2	Abbotstown	24th November	7pm-9pm	HERE
FAST Workshop	Will further educate coaches on the theory & practical application on the fundamentals of movement & speed. Part 4	Abbotstown	1st December	7pm-9pm	HERE
DDSL Club Workshop	Developing Touch	TBC (Southside)	1st December	7pm-9pm	HERE
Coerver Coaching Workshop	Passing & Receiving Level 2	Abbotstown	8th December	7pm-9pm	HERE

Last year we removed 54 tonnes of bonfire waste from across our operative area, and this year we have already removed several tonnes of waste from our parks alone – including several where DDSL teams play. We are asking that all clubs remind their players and parents of the risks of bonfires and the damage they can do to sports facilities, and to report any stockpiles of bonfire material to their local council