Great day for our Football for All players

The DDSL Football for All players were invited by Dublin City Council to take part in a number of football games & up to 30 of our players participated on the Astro in Smithfield & all received a special Luke Kelly Commemorative Medal & Jersey from Luke Kelly’s niece Paul, brilliant day for the players & well done to Dublin City Council & all involved.

Players/Families were able to enjoy the rest of the activities through-out the day

Anyone looking to join Football for All Teams, please contact Mick Kennedy

 

FFA to participate in the Luke Kelly Festival

The DDSL has been invited to participate in the above festival by bringing 30/40 Football for All players to play small games in the Astro close to Smithfield Square.

We be playing our games on Sunday 25th May from 11am to 12.30pm & the players will receive a ‘Special Commemorative Luke Kelly Medals’ after the games…on the stage in Smithfield Square.

The event is organised by Dublin City Council & will take place on both Sat/Sun 24th/25th May.

 

 

SSG Surveys: U7 – U10 Boys/Girls

As we come to the end of the SSG season with the last fixtures taking place this weekend, please see below the ‘Survey Link’ to be completed by all DDSL managers/coaches for the u7’s; u8’s u9’s & u10’s. Both for Boys & Girls Divisions.

As part of the EOI process which will open from the 31st May 2025, all managers/coaches are required to complete the ‘Survey Form’. These Surveys together with results received will determine which Divisions your teams will be allocated to…subject to the proper EOI process.

Please ensure your managers/coaches are aware of the importance in completing these Surveys as many managers/coaches were not forwarded this information last season. The Surveys/Results will make it easier for us to allocate teams to the correct Divisions/Standard etc.

Please note the u11’s teams…both Boys & Girls Divisions…are not required to complete the ‘Survey’ as the results received from the current season will determine the allocation to the u12 Divisions for next season.

LINK:

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRRCTV5

Please have your managers/coaches complete/return the ‘Survey’ before Sunday 1st June 2025.

Any issues please contact Mick Kennedy for Boys Divisions/Zoe Poole for Girls Divisions…for U7’s to u10’s.

Yours in Sport

DDSL FSMT (Football Senior Management Team)

DDSL AGM – 23rd June

Dear Club Secretary,

We wish to advise that the League has scheduled the Football AGM

As per rules for

Monday 23rd June 2025

Start 7.30pm

Conference Centre, National Sports Campus, Abbottstown.

Please note your diary and all clubs are expected to attend as per rules.

Further information to follow in due course.

Club Secretary & BDO Meeting 26th May

Please be advised we are holding our next meeting for clubs for secretaries and club BDO’s on:

Monday 26th May 7.30pm in the Sports Conference Centre in Abbottstown.

All clubs must be represented at this important meeting.

We will share updates on Disciplinary data, explore further roles of BDO,s for the coming season,

Agreeable aims for coming seasons, what does best in class look like? Min & Max standards for all?

We will also have S3 solutions in attendance to present on funding for clubs in relation to the above and indeed other opportunities for clubs.

PLAYER MOVEMENT: RULE 14. PLAYER INVITATION & RULE 15. PLAYER POACHING

To All club Secretaries
It has come to the attention of the FSMT that clubs are inviting players to open training days – this is in breach of the DDSL/FAI rules on poaching players
A player who is properly registered to a club remains with that club until mid-night on the 30th June 2025. Any club(s) that advertise open training sessions before that date are in breach of the rules set out below
PLAYER MOVEMENT:
RULE 14. PLAYER INVITATION
1.
No DDSL club is permitted to request or invite a player from another DDSL club for training, coaching, or playing games either within their club, academy, or associated academy during the official playing season August 1st to June 30th the following year.
RULE 15. PLAYER POACHING
1.
When a player becomes a registered player with a club/team in any league it shall be an offence for any official, member of any other club/team or any other person to approach, encourage or influence that player or their or parents/guardians on their behalf to seek a transfer to another team, participate in training coaching or games under the auspices of another team.
2.
Such an offence shall be deemed to be “poaching” and any person found culpable shall render themselves and/or their team/club liable to a fine and/or suspension and their club/team shall be.
– Deducted 15 points for a first offence and a Fine €200
– Automatically relegated for a further offence and a Fine €300

End of Season Update

A number of clubs/managers/parents have been in contact looking for an update on the above. See below

RESULTS

  • As we are nearing the end of the season….with some Competitive Divisions already complete…..can Club Secretaries contact your managers to ensure all their results are entered correctly. If there are any O/S results not yet entered, please forward them to results@ddsl.ie
  • If there are any incorrect results entered, please forward your query to the DDSL Relevant Fixture Secretary ASAP & cc results@ddsl.ie. These ‘Incorrect results’ will be checked to ensure all Divisions are up to date.

END OF SEASON GAMES:

SSG Games

  • Both Boys/Girls Divisions…from u7’s to u11’s…. will complete their season on the last week in May i.e. Sat/Sun 24th/25thMay. The following weekend is the June Bank Holiday Weekend & many teams have already looked for games OFF.
  • However, teams are permitted to arrange ‘Mini Blitz’s/Games’ for June…if you so wish….in order to provide more football for your teams/ players.
  • We had organised SSG Fixtures… in previous seasons…. into mid-June….but huge number of games were cancelled in June & therefore caused more confusion/organisation as a result etc.

Competition Divisions

  • Both Boys/Girls Divisions….from u12’s to u18’s….will complete their season at or before the June Bank Holiday weekend.
  • However, there are some Divisions who have a ‘Back-Log’ of DDSL League fixtures due to some teams been involved in DDSL/SFAI/LFA/FAI Cup competitions. Therefore, a small number of these Division fixtures may need to be played into June. The DDSL relevant Fixture Secretary will be in contact with the clubs….if this is the case.

 

League Winners/Runner’s Up Presentation

  • We will be in contact shortly with update on details for the League Presentations.

Yours in Sport

DDSL x Taka Partnership

The DDSL is thrilled to announce a partnership with Taka, a leading sports analytics company, for the 2025/26 season. This partnership brings cutting-edge tools to our clubs, including:

– Free analysis software

– Centralized player profiles

– Personalized development plans

– Additional club support

MLS Quality of Play Review

Taka Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of taka.io

Join us on May 19th at 7pm to learn more about this innovative initiative. CEO, Mark Shields, will be attending to share details and answer questions. We look forward to seeing you there. To confirm attendance please complete the link below. Thanks

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YRQNL3Y

Barry Ferguson

Director of Football

DDSL Cup Finals Update

Following recent matters regarding the scheduling of the cup finals and expressing our disappointment certain clubs not adhering to the dates set and indeed procedures for the 2025 cup finals, issued to all clubs back in August 2024 by the league.

We want to make it abundantly clear that the young players are not at fault in these circumstances and should not be deprived in any way.

In the interest of fairness to these young players, we have decided that those teams (and their oppositions) affected should not be penalized. As a result, any team who is unable to play on the cup finals weekend because of an approved trip, will have that Final rescheduled to take place during the month of May, the dates/Venues and times to be determined by the relevant fixture secretary.

We feel very strongly that no child should be deprived of the memories of playing in a DDSL Cup Final Weekend.

To ensure compliance with league processes in the future, a fine will be imposed on any club that failed to adhere to the rules for traveling away to play in tournaments and not fulfilling their obligations in entering cup competitions. Specifically, clubs are to provide at least six weeks’ notice if planning to travel outside the jurisdiction to play football from the SFAI & FAI.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation in ensuring the smooth organization of the league and upholding the integrity of our competitions and in the best interests of our young players.

On behalf of the Football Senior Mgt Team

Dublin & District Schoolboys/girls League

DDSL Mid-Week Games

Following on and as promised at the meeting last, the information around mid-week fixtures is set out below – for the most current information please always check on the official DDSL website and social media platforms.

Mid-week matches will commence from Monday 7th April 2025, the fixture secretaries will decide the matches that will be played mid-week.

The following will apply to any team(s) who change the official fixture date without notifying the relevant fixture secretary, the game will be deemed null & void and no points will be awarded to the 2 teams participating in such a game.

 

The designated playing days are as follows

Saturday  U12/U13/U14 – Monday

Sunday U13/U14  Tuesday

Saturday U12/U15 – Wednesday

Sunday U15  – Thursday

Sundays U16/17/18s. Tuesday & Thursday

In the small sided games there maybe a small number of under 11s fixture to be played.

 

I reminded those present our rules on walk-over s given by clubs – I have included the actual rule for clarity

 

RULE 6. FIXTURE WALKOVER 1. 

During the season from August till the 30th of April any clubs who give a walkover (which has not been sanctioned by the League) shall be dealt with as follows. 

  1. 11 a-side league clubs will be fined €150, and the match awarded to the opposition per walkover. 
  2. 9 a-side league clubs will be fined €100, and the match awarded to the opposition per walkover.
  3. In all other games the club shall be fined €25, and the match may be refixed at the discretion of the relevant fixture secretary. 
  4. Any team who gives 3 or more unsanctioned walkovers over a season will be relegated from their respective League, have their results expunged and will start the following season with a deficit of 6 points. 

  1. During the season from the 1st of May until the end of season inclusive any club who gives a walkover which has not been sanctioned by the league shall be dealt with additional sanctions as follows: 
  2. First offence: 

A deduction of 6 points and the 3 points awarded to the opposing team for that match, and a €100 fine. 

  1. Second offence:

 A deduction of 12 points, and the 3 points awarded to the opposing team for that match, and a €300 fine. 

  1. Third offence: 

Relegation from the respective division and a starting deficit of 6 points the following season, and the 3 points awarded to the opposing team for that match, and a €500 fine. 

  1. A team already confirmed as relegated, giving 3 or more unsanctioned. walkovers will start the following season with a deficit of 9 points.

 

DDSL FSMT