Silent Sideline Weekend
Silent Sideline Weekend ⚽️🤫
Let the Refs Referee
Let the Coaches Coach
Most importantly Let the Kids PLAY
NO TOXIC SIDELINE Behaviour!
Remember “it’s their game”
#itsmygame #silentsidelines
Silent Sideline Weekend ⚽️🤫
Let the Refs Referee
Let the Coaches Coach
Most importantly Let the Kids PLAY
NO TOXIC SIDELINE Behaviour!
Remember “it’s their game”
#itsmygame #silentsidelines
Expression of Interest for the coming season.
The DDSL wish to announce the starting process for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate in the DDSL for the coming season.
This stage does not require any of the # Established Member Clubs to engage unless they are making an application under the criteria listed below as A2.
# Established Member Clubs applying through A1 will be requested to apply when the Renewing Submissions Phase opens on Friday May 30th 2025.
Clubs wishing to make an Eligibility Application at this time must comply with the Eligibility Table below.
The Eligibility Application Phase remains Open until 5PM on Monday March 31st 2025. Clubs who’s eligibility is deemed to have been met by the league will be invited to make an EOI Submission when the EOI Phase opens on Monday April 7th to Friday May 9th 2025.
Clubs who having reviewed the Eligibility Table yet wish to make an eligibility application where the application is deemed not to have been met will be advised by the league.
All communications to eoi@ddsl.ie only, communications made to other emails or individuals within the league may be considered canvassing which may result in your application being rendered null and void. The decision of the league is final.
Yours in Sport
Dublin & District Schoolboys/girls League
Following the successful launch of our DDSL ‘IT’S MY GAME’ campaigns , it is important for the DDSL and its clubs to support and act where possible.
Given the escalation of ‘Behavioural & Respect Issues’ particularly from the sidelines from both Coaches/Parents etc, we are holding a ‘SILENT FOR ALL WEEKEND’ on Friday/Saturday/Sunday28/29th/30th March 2025. We are requesting all clubs support this initiative using their clubs BDO’s to start the culture change required to create the right environment for children in the game.
For the weekend of the 28th March, we want to see ‘IT’S MY GAME’ initiative in action on the sidelines at every match within our League. For this to happen, we need you to help implement in some helpful ways of creating a positive environment on the sidelines to ensure the following happens !
Silent Side lines – Rope of spectator areas if possible
Let the players play and think and learn for themselves.
Let the official’s referee without comment
Let the coaches coach and players learn
Don’t let inappropriate comments, shouting, aggression, physical violence, and laughing at others whilst supporting or coaching a match become the norm!
Change it! Challenge it! Live it!
The ‘SILENT FOR ALL WEEKEND’ is there for a purpose to allow our players play & enjoy their football and stop those who are running children’s football.
REMINDERS
Match procedures for teams(compulsory)
Start-Captains bring ‘’LET US PLAY’’ banner to Centre with both teams. Teams line up Centre approaching from opposite halfway-lines, After toss etc. both teams Cross walk and shake hands.
During– all subs ideally seated in technical area, subs will shake hands as they come on/off pitch at halfway line. No player on until he arrives at halfway line.
Match break (Half time)- teams will gather on opposite sides for duration of break. Only manager/Captain can talk to referee if required – no other club official/person
Match end– Captains will bring team (including Management team) in file to halfway line and both teams will shake hands with everyone concerned including the officials who will be thanked by all. The winning team may stand in two lines and applaud the loosing team if they so desire.
Match procedures for club/Team Officials
Children are encouraged to develop themselves via their own experience on the pitch and therefore no excessive Coaching/shouting at any player will be accepted. As we must set examples-No smoking ,foul language or any encroachment by anyone on the pitch is permitted. Monkey see monkey do!
The Captain only, may ask the management (of his own team) to cease such behavior by his own team or raise the matter with the referee.
Match procedures for Parents/supporters
Remember this is their game -not yours ! therefore what children are exposed to seeing on the sidelines must be of the highest standards. Players will be empowered to not accept sub-standard behavior from anyone including their own parents. We all have a legal duty to protect children -The League, The Club, The Coaches, The Referee and more importantly their parents.
Both sets of supporters will be always assembled on opposite sides of the pitch. No coaching or instructions by parents at any time-this is the managements job, and they should not be undermined in their role-it shows a lack of respect to all concerned including your child.
There is no place for aggression, shouting or screaming in children’s sport and should Children really see their Parents or anyone behave like this at THEIR game.
DDSL Club Secretaries Meeting/Presentation of Survey Results:
Please note the next DDSL Club Secretaries meeting will take place as follows:
We will also be presenting the Survey Results to all Clubs which will be issued to the ‘Press’ the following day.
Kind Regards
Mick Kennedy
Sponsor a Trophy 🏆
Remember a family member, a club volunteer, have your club partner with a trophy or have your business partner with one of our prestigious trophies 🏆🤝
All information below 🤝
Get in touch today 📲
Email: Gm@ddsl.ie
Phone: Mick Kennedy 0860580332
Chris Dodd: 0862061820
If you can kindly share 🤝⚽️
The DDSL Cup Finals are scheduled for the Bank Holiday weekend on 2nd to 5th of May in the AUL complex.
We are delighted to announce the Schedule of cup finals as of today which sees over 96 cup finals take place in what has become Irelands largest underage event of the year.
This event is a massive undertaking for the league with 4000 participants and almost 20,000 spectators involved over the weekend.
We need huge support from our clubs to ensure the smooth operation of such an event. The focus on the day must be about the players
and the experience they have (win or lose) and everything we do will impact on that-so thank you in advance!
Clubs are advised no alterations or cancellations will be permitted to the event schedule under any circumstances.
Further information will be issued to Teams/Clubs as they progress to participating in finals. Packs to finalists will be issued nearer the time which include Player/coach wristbands, car park vouchers, match cards etc.
All tickets for the event will go on sale on 14st April and the event is expected to sell out .
The event has limits to car parking and is expected to sell out quickly ,so we suggest you let parents know early and suggest car-pooling where possible..
We will be launching the fixtures and ticket links on all our web and social media channels on 1st April.
We will be holding an on-line meeting for all Managers of finalists the week before the finals for 30 mins to cover
the many aspects of organising, sideline behaviour ,Ref Abuse, player registrations, match cards etc.
We, along with our partners Q102, will be piloting many initiatives on this over the event and clubs support is essential.
Umbro Ireland and the DDSL Announce Five-Year Brand Partnership
Umbro and the DDSL are delighted to announce a new five-year brand partnership.
Under this agreement, Umbro will become the official equipment supplier to the Dublin and District schoolboys’ / girls’ league, also providing footballs and equipment to the representative teams. Umbro will develop bespoke training and match footballs for the DDSL throughout the agreement.
Patrick Peyton of Umbro Ireland said, “This partnership is a significant part of our future plan in grassroots football in Ireland. Partnering with the largest schoolboys’ / girls’ league in Europe gives us an amazing platform to work with clubs at all levels and we are looking forward to this work.
Niall O Driscoll Chair of the DDSL added. ‘’We are delighted to welcome Umbro to the ever growing number of Partners supporting the grassroots game in the Capital. The partnership with Umbro will allow all our clubs benefit with a top quality offering at competitive costings which can only help clubs going forward”
Get your tickets quick 🎟️
Join John Giles, Eamon Dunphy & Liam Brady live at @vicar_st
Monday 26th April
Get your tickets at www.ticketmaster.ie
DDSL & Coerver Coaching Partnership – Club School Link Programme
We are partnering with Coerver in a club school link programme. Coerver will go into schools in areas where DDSL clubs are and direct boys and girls from the school to their local club. Local clubs will be represented on the first day and last day of the programme in the school. The first pilot has seen two clubs increase their academy numbers from the programme
What is the programme?
In 2024, Coerver Coaching delivered 40 schools programmes to over 6000 students, Together in 2025, the DDSL and Coerver Coaching can support more schools and students in 2025 to help grow our game
Keep your eye out 🙌🏻
DDSL Referee Promo
As part of the current Referee drive, and to assist those on their pathway to becoming a referee within the DDSL. We want to give back to you
The DDSL will refund any DDSL club who provides people who attend these refs courses and Refs for the DDSL after completion.
(Refunds will be issued to qualifying people in April.)
With more referees we can get more games on weekly & help educate those who wish to make their pathway to being a referee. We are looking for clubs to help here, Please share within your clubs 🤝
Dublin (Balbriggan) Referee Beginners Course – 10th & 17th February (7-10pm) |
Dublin (Knocklyon) Referee Beginners Course – 15th February (10-4pm) |
Dublin (Clondalkin) Referee Beginners Course – 17th February (10-4pm) |
Dublin (Ballymun) Referee Beginners Course – 22nd February (10-4pm) |
Dublin (Leicester Celtic) Referee Beginners Course – 23rd February (10-4pm)
To sign up for any of the above courses click on becomearef.ie