Coach Education Key Dates/Booking

DDSL Workshop Topic Venue Date Time Book
Coerver Coaching Workshop Passing & Receiving Abbotstown 13th October 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
DDSL Club Workshop Developing Touch Glebe North FC 20th October 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
FAST Workshop Will further educate coaches on the theory & practical application on the fundamentals of movement & speed. Part 1 Abbotstown 20th October 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
DDSL Club Workshop Developing Touch TBC (Southside) 3rd November 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
FAST Workshop Will further educate coaches on the theory & practical application on the fundamentals of movement & speed. Part 2 Abbotstown 3rd November 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
Coerver Coaching Workshop Ball Mastery & 1v1s Level 2 Abbotstown 10th November 2025 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 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
DDSL Club Workshop Developing Touch TBC (Northside) 17th November 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
Coerver Coaching Workshop 2v2s & Small Group Play Level 2 Abbotstown 24th November 2025 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 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
DDSL Club Workshop Developing Touch TBC (Southside) 1st December 2025 7pm-9pm HERE
Coerver Coaching Workshop Passing & Receiving Level 2 Abbotstown 8th December 2025 7pm-9pm HERE

DDSL Coach Education

Please see some workshops coming up over the next few weeks. All workshops focus on creating a fun environment in training whilst making sure kids have lots of touches of the ball whilst learning the game. To book please click on the booking link of the course you would like to book.

  • 6th October DDSL Club Workshop Developing Touch 7pm-9pm, St Francis FC. This workshop has been delivered in clubs this season and focuses on developing players touch. Book HERE
  • 13th October Coerver Coaching Workshop, Abbotstown 7pm-9pm. Book HERE
  • 20th October DDSL Club Workshop 7pm-9pm. This workshop has been delivered in clubs this season and focuses on developing players touch. Book HERE (Venue Northside TBC)

 

FAST Workshops (Fundamentals And Speed Training) (Please see attached)

  • 20th Oct, 3rd, 17th Nov, 3rd Dec FAST Football Workshops, Abbotstown 7pm-9pm HERE

 

  • 3rd November DDSL Club Workshop 7pm-9pm HERE (Venue Southside TBC)
  • 10th November Coerver Coaching Workshop, Abbotstown 7pm-9pm HERE
  • 17th November DDSL Club Workshop 7pm-9pm HERE (Venue Northside TBC)
  • 24th November DDSL Cover Coaching Workshop, Abbotstown 7pm-9pm HERE
  • 1st December DDSL Club Workshop 7pm-9pm HERE (Venue Southside TBC)

8th December DDSL Cover Coaching Workshop, Abbotstown 7pm-9pm HERE

FAST Workshop info:

Fixtures & Referees Update

Dear Secretary:

Please note that the fixtures will be issued on Mondays at 6pm going forward to allow the allocators more time to assign referees before fixtures are released to the clubs.

Clubs can source their own referee(s) if one is not appointed, this can only be done after 6pm on the Wednesday, following the fixtures being issued. 

If you source a referee – you MUST contact the referees department with the referees name, to allow the league to update the system with the relevant information.

We are currently short of approx. 175/190 referees to cover the fixtures (the figures do not include the large number of referees that are rejecting games each week).  The league are working tirelessly to improve the shortage of referee(s).

 Thank you for your co-operation and understanding.

 

Issued on behalf of the:

FSMT (Football Senior Management Team)

LFA Women’s U19 Cup Entry – Closing Date

Entries for LFA Women’s Youth / U19 Cup attached. Can you please send a reminder to your clubs to have their entries in by the closing date as no late entries will be accepted

 

Below is the link for the 25-26 LFA Girls Youth / Under Nineteen Cup

 

https://forms.office.com/r/U2uKCBfqAJ

 

Entry fee is €30 and closing date for entries is September 30th

Entry fee to be paid through bank transfer with details below

 

IBAN: IE67 BOFI 900033 35668377

BIC: BOFIIE2D

Women’s Under Nineteen Entries 25-26

‘It’s My Game’ Silent Sideline Weekend

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 26th/27th/28th 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.

DDSL Logo

Return of DDSL League Cup and Cup Final Cups 31st October 2025

As the season is now up & running, we are looking for the return of the DDSL League & Cup Winners Trophies from those clubs & teams who were successful in winning these Cups.

We have a total number of 239 DDSL Cups to be returned of which 95 are related to the Cup Finals & 144 are related to the League Division Winners from u12’s to u18’s Boys/Girls.

Can you please return the Cups to the DDSL Offices in the FAI H/O in Abbotstown. If the there is no one in the office, please leave the Cup at the FAI Reception & ensure to sign the sheet provided. Please place a ‘Sticker’ on each Cup with your Club Name & Division so we can properly record the return of the Cup.

Please ensure the Cups are returned as you received them e.g. Clean/No Damage etc. All clubs are responsible for the replacement or repairs to the Cup received.

There will be fines issued to clubs who do not return the Cups before the end of 31st October 2025 & these will be strictly enforced.

Any issues, contact me on the e-mail below.

Kind Regards

Mick Kennedy

General Manager

Dublin & District Schoolboys/Girls League

 M:+353 86 058 0332

E-Mail: gm@ddsl.ie

ICOACHKIDS Regional Coaching Conference

As part of the European Week of Sport (EWOS), Sport Ireland Coaching, in partnership with the Dublin & District Schoolboys/girls League are hosting an ICOACHKIDS Regional Coaching Conference for Directors of Football, Behavioural Officers and Coaches of boys and girls teams in football clubs in the DDSL. This is an amazing opportunity for coaches to hear from renowned speakers in the field of coaching children in sport (speakers to be announced in the near future).

Club Discount Tickets v Armenia Tues 14th October

Please find link below to submit your ticket requests for your Club/School as the Boys in Green continue their 2026 World Cup Qualifying campaign, MNT v Armenia, on Tuesday 14th October, in the Aviva Stadium

Submit Armenia Ticket Order Here

Children’s (U16) tickets are priced at €20 each and for every 10 purchased we will provide 2 adult tickets at the discounted price of €20 each.

Any additional adult tickets ordered outside of this ratio will cost €35 each.

Please note the below important information before making your application

  • The minimum requirement to register an order is 10 U16 tickets & 2 adult tickets
  • To submit an order please click into the below above. The deadline for applying for tickets is 5pm, Wednesday 17th September.
  • Once the deadline passes the Ticketing Team will issue an invoice for your club/school and send you an email with a link for payment.
  • Payment is required by means of debit/credit card only
  • We do not offer refunds for unused tickets
  • Tickets under this scheme must be printed before arrival at the stadium to prevent any delays at the turnstiles.

Should you have any questions in relation to the scheme, please contact customer-relations@fai.ie

 

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Aviva Stadium in October to cheer on the Boys in Green.

 

New Season Updates

To All Club Secretaries.

Following on from our FSMT (Football Senior Management Team) meeting last night, please see below a number of important issues:

REFEREES:

  • All Fixtures will be issued every Sunday at 7pm & should include the allocation for referees to the different games.
  • Where our Referee Allocators have not yet allocated a Referee to your games, they will endeavour to source a Referee up until Thursday at 6pm
  • After this deadline….unfortunately with not enough Referees… it will not be possible to provide Referees for all games…particularly where a Referee needs to be allocated to just the one game. Therefore, we ask clubs to source their own Referee so the players get to play football. Once you have a Referee sourced, please notify the opposition & the Referee Allocators at referres@ddsl.ie
  • Please note as there are so many fixtures, our new Referee allocators will include a ‘Default Time’ for games to be played. However, as most clubs look to change these times due to the huge numbers of teams they have & where they also have the different age groups playing in a number of locations. This is done to ensure all games are played. Therefore, as soon as the fixtures are issued, please advise your opposition if there is a change in time of KO.
  • N.B. It is extremely important for all Club Secretaries to contact your Referee once you are allocated a Referee….the earlier the better.  Please ensure the Referee confirms their availability & you confirm the time & exact location to the Referee. Last season many club secretaries did not contact the Referee beforehand to confirm the fixture & this led to a number of games failing to take place.  If you contact the Referee in advance of the game & for some reason, they cannot make it, please contact the Referee Allocators to advise & hopefully source a new Referee between you both.

DDSL FIXTURES: 

  • As you are aware the fixtures for the Boys/Girls u16 to u18 begin this weekend with all other ages group fixtures beginning the following weekend i.e. 13th/14th Sept.
  • Please ensure all your players are registered as players ‘CANNOT’ play if they are not registered.
  • Please note that all Divisions are now finalised.
  • Please note all fixtures must be played this weekend …unless approval was granted from the relevant Fixture Secretary……otherwise a ‘Fine & Deduction of 3x points will be implemented.
  • Please advise your parents/coaches/managers not to contact the DDSL Fixture Secretaries directly with queries/complaints etc. The Fixture Secretary are volunteers & very busy as it is. They will only reply & deal with the Club Secretary.

RESULTS

  • Please ensure to forward all results to results@ddsl.ie & please also include the relevant Fixture Secretaries as they can cross check results in the event of a dispute/discrepancy
  • Please also forward results for the SSG…particularily the u10’s & u11’s so we can use these for re-grading at Christmas & ensure all teams are in the correct standard Division.

Player Registration Approvals

We have been inundated with calls and emails from Parents who have been told by coaches and clubs to contact the league regarding the approval status of players. All clubs can see the status of a player’s registration on their club portal. Can youplease not direct parents to contact the league.  The league is approving all players and the club as advised also have the option to approve players. Once a player has been approved by the league or club they can be added to Team Panels. All clubs need to advise their players to register in plenty of time to ensure they are approved to be added to Team Panels. As the U16-U18 leagues are the first to kick off these player approvals have been done first. Current approval times are 4-5 days from receipt.

 

Please advise all your managers/coaches on the information as outlined above.

Good luck to all the clubs playing this weekend & please advise your managers/coaches/parents ‘LET THE PLAYERS PLAY’ & prevent & reduce the huge number of ‘Disciplinary Issues’ we had to deal with last season

DDSL Coach Education

We will be hosting a DDSL Club Workshop with Crumlin Utd on Monday 8th September in Crumlin Utd 7pm-9pm.

This will be for coaches of any clubs who would like to attend on the evening. The workshop will be aimed at coaches working with younger age groups from U6-U12 but all sessions will be transferable to all ages. All workshops are based on young players having more fun in the session whilst trying to improve themselves.

Please can you share with all of your coaches in your club. If you would like to attend please complete the link below.

Anyone registered will receive an email Friday confirming all details. Thanks

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MD6C6F9