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

The DDSL are part of a working group with the DPC  have launched the first conference to help organisations and clubs in the many challenges and supports surrounding Data Protection.

We are asking all clubs in the League where possible, to send a representative to this conference on the 28^th November in Croke Park.

We attach an invitation for club representatives  and ask you to respond early as spaces are limited.

Thanking you

 

DPC Sports Conference_Invite_Final

 

 

Following the successful launch of our DDSL ‘IT’S MY GAME’ campaign & SILENT SIDELINE campaign last season, it is important for the DDSL and its clubs to continue to support and act where possible.

Therefore, we intend to hold a ‘SILENT SIDELINE CAMPAIGN’ once a month until the end of the year to try to stem the continued ‘BAD BEHAVIOR’ from those on the sidelines. It is having a detrimental effect on the players looking to play & enjoy their football.

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/Sunday 26^th/27^th/28^th September. 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 26th, 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 ruining children’s football.

PLEASE ADVISE ALL YOUR MANAGERS/COACHES.

 

Yours in Sport

From Everyone in the DDSL

 

REMINDERS

Match procedures for teams(compulsory)

Start-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.