Author: Bob Mueser

by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 3 email

Good afternoon all:
This weeks email just has a couple of lead time items to get on everyone's radar for post season play.
1. Developmental tournament – The Developmental Tournament this year will be at No Offseason, Russellton again and will take place on Saturday, October 25th.  Registration will open this Wednesday September 10, and will remain open through Friday, October 10th.  As in the past, registration is first come first serve and I do expect the younger brackets to fill up as they have in years past.  Let me know if you have any questions.
2. Playoffs – Let me know if anyone has a lead on some turf fields with lights for the last week of October for our higher seed play in matches at the JV/V level.  Currently I have fields to allow us to play but between the combination of dates and field conditions, those venues aren't ideal (for example I have access to a grass field with no lights for a couple of games and I have access to a turf field with lights on Friday October 31.  If I can avoid grass fields and Halloween that would be more ideall.  Currently I have checked in with the following fields, but I am open to any other options, we are looking for a 2.5 to 3 hour window starting somewhere between 5-6pm for two of the following days – Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday 
Seton LaSalle – mid week is not likely due to high school practices; 
La Roche – no lights so limited utility; 
Butler Turf fields (aka the blue monster) – booked up; 
Pine Township Community fields – booked up; 
Highmark – cost prohibitive; 
No Offseason Russelton – booked up
I also have calls in to Founders Field (grass, but has lights) and JC Stone
Regards,
Rob Glentzer

by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 2 email

Good morning:

 

As we head into our second week of the JV/V season and first week of the developmental season there are just a few items to address:

 

1. Updated contact list – see attached for the most current coach contact list.

 

2. Score control –  As a reminder, teams are capped at a 7 goal differential at both the JV/V levels and the developmental levels.  Failure to adhere to this rule can result in sanctions on offending teams, including, but not limited to setting aside the win at the JV/V level and the loss of home games in the following season for developmental teams.  Please refer to the rules for strategies on score control and let me know if you have any questions.

 

3. Developmental – With our 1st through 4th grade seasons kicking off this weekend I wanted to remind everyone on a few items:

  • Build Out Rule – All developmental games should be using the build out rule
  • Offside – this is enforced in grades 3 and 4 during the regular season and obvious cherry picking will be called at grades 1 and 2 in the end of season tournament.  My recommendation is that sometime during the last couple of weeks of the season teams start implementing offsides in grades 1 and 2 as well so the kids have a bit of familiarity with the rule heading into the tournament
  • Referee Abuse – Referee Abuse of any kind is not tolerated in our league.  Please be respectful of the officials on the field, especially at the developmental level where many schools utilize younger kids as referees.  Spectators should keep the comments on the sidelines positive and coaches who believe a call is not correct can respectfully discuss the issue at a stoppage in play (preferably at half time or end of game) to get an understanding of what the ref saw and why they called it the way they did. 

That's it on my end, Good luck this weekend.

 

by Bob Mueser

Fwd: DSL – Week 1 email


Good morning:

 

This weekend is the start of our season for several of our teams so I wanted to reach out on just a few quick items:

 

1. Rosters – Rosters are due by tomorrow for the league.  It is essential that if you are playing this weekend that you send me your signed rosters before your first game (schedule has the following JV/V teams playing –  Archangel Gabriel,  Blessed Seelos, Guardian Angel, Mary of Nazareth, Our Lady of Fatima, Sacred Heart, St. Bede, St. Louise, South Hills Catholic).  To date I can confirm receipt of rosters from Holy Cross and St. Bede).  If you aren't playing this weekend I can give you until Wednesday of next week to turn those in.  The purposes of the rosters is to provide verification that the players participating in our league are all enrolled at your school (or another Catholic School that I have approved in advance).  If an allegation is made that a player is not attending your school (and I get a few every season), I refer to these rosters as my first line of inquiry.  If you have not provided a roster for reference, there is a strong likelihood that your game is forfeited so please protect yourselves and send those signed rosters in.  I previously sent the form, but if you need it again, let me know.  Also, please have the school's soccer coordinator or AD send them in at one time via email, one off's from coaches can be overwhelming and can be lost in the shuffle given that we have over 120 teams in our league.

 

2. Registration Fees – Fees were due August 1 so if they have not been received I would ask each school to get that done ASAP and let me know of the status later today or tomorrow.  Thank you for the schools that have sent those registration fees in.  As of this morning I am still awaiting fees from the following schools – Ave Maria (partial payment received, need fee for the additional team added), Butler Catholic, Guardian Angel, Holy Cross, Mary of Nazareth, Our Lady of Fatima.  Everyone should have the relevant details of amounts, where to send, etc., but if you need any of that information again, please let me know.

 

3. Communication with Opposing Coaches – Coaches should be reaching out to one another before the games to confirm game details.  Home team should reach out at least 72 hours in advance of game time to confirm details with the Visiting team.  If its 48 hours before game time and the Visiting team has not heard back, Visiting team should reach out and CC me on the emails.  This communication will help make sure that everyone shows up at the right time, at the right place and wearing the right color of jerseys.  For ease of reference I have attached the most updated coach 

 

4. Cancellations/Reschedules – Please be considerate and provide as much notice on cancellations and reschedules as possible.  If your game has PIAA refs, the home team is responsible for ensuring that I and Chuck Pruss (the ref coordinator) is made aware of the cancellation.  If you forget to include Chuck I may not catch that and it can result in problems so please include him from the beginning.  Such notice should be delivered with as much notice as possible, and in no event with fewer than 3 hours notice.  This applies to cancellations due to field closures from excessive rain as well.  If the cancellation is within 48 hours of the game time Chuck should be texted or called on his phone as well as he may not have mail access.  Failure to follow this protocol will result in the home team's obligation to still pay the refs for their games, even if they are not played.  Any rescheduled game needs to be rescheduled within one week of the cancellation date (such game does not need to be played within one week of the cancellation date, just rescheduled).  Failure to do so will result in ever increasing odds that the game is never played and, with respect to JV/V matches, either not counted towards standings or having forfeits enforced. Every effort should be made to play the games as reschedules are logistical nightmares.  As a reminder, we do encourage all teams to work to reschedule a game regardless of the reason for cancellation, but if the reason for cancellation is something other than weather, a verified school/church event, or something approved in advance by the DSL commissioner, such cancelled game could result in a forfeit.  So even if your team is light on players it may make more sense to play with limited subs/no subs/a player(s) down rather than being assessed with a forfeit.  Do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions on any issues you know of with respect to rescheduling.  

 

5. Game Cards – For all JV/Varsity matches, including the girls league, Coaches should bring at least two completed game cards with them

by Bob Mueser

Fwd: DSL – Final Schedules and Updated Coach Contact Information

All:

 

Attached please find the final version of the fall 25 schedule and updated coach contact list. 

 

With respect to the schedules, I made an effort to let coaches know of changes since the last distribution, but please refer to the attached as the final version and disregard the earlier draft as this is the schedule going forward.  Changes to this schedule must be approved by both coaches and me, and, if PIAA refs are being used, Chuck.  As a reminder, PIAA referees are assigned to the JV & V 7v7 and 11v11 games and the home team is responsible for paying each ref $50 per game (there are generally 2 refs per game).  PIAA refs are also available to help ref developmental and all girls matches if needed.  We assume that each school is providing their own refs for these games so if you need PIAA ref support for those games you must reach out to Chuck and coordinate (Chuck’s contact information is in the coach contact list).

 

With respect to the coach contact information we are still missing information from Ave Maria, Our Lady of Fatima and St Bede.  I plan on circulating an updated contact list two weeks from today (on August 28th) so please get me that information before then.  Any coaches needing to contact one of those schools please use contact the soccer coordinator or AD for that school (such info is listed in the same row, a few cells to the right).  Additionally, coaches, please review your contact information to verify that it is all correct.  I am limiting corrections to this sheet to every two weeks so if you miss the August 28th update, it’ll be another two weeks before I update it again.

 

Thanks and let me know if you have any questions.

 

Rob

 

 

by Bob Mueser

Fwd: DSL – Draft Schedules, Coach Contact List, and Informational Email

Good evening,

 

Please see below and attached for information relating to the DSL Fall 25' Soccer Season, its a long email, but the information contained within is important so please read to completion.

Schedules:

For those that have coached before in the league, the format of the Schedules and Coaches' Contact List should be familiar.   I've attached both in Excel formats, let me know if anyone has trouble opening them.  In both documents, there is a tab for each of the following brackets:

· First Grade

· Second Grade

· First/Second Grade

· Third Grade

· Fourth Grade

· Third/Fourth Grade

· Girls JV/V 

· MLS (7's JV/V bracket)

· Premier (11's JV/V bracket)


Home teams are listed first and are in blue, Away teams are listed second and are in yellow – if something doesn't look right let me know, it may be a typo or I should be able to explain it.    For those that are new to coaching and are having trouble understanding the schedule, check with your coordinator, AD or a seasoned coach and they should be able to explain it.  If you still can't make sense of it, reach out to me and I can walk you through it.  Home game days, times and locations are listed for each school and if you are the away team refer to the hosting teams information rows for those details, unless the cell for your game contains a different time or location, then refer to that specific time/location.  Note, we generally conformed to time requests but in some instances modified them slightly to allow for the increasing loss of daylight throughout the season and/or to make referee coverage easier to provide.  Generally speaking, each JV/V team plays 8 games and each developmental team plays 7.  In developmental brackets that have an odd amount of teams, one randomly selecting team has an 8th game to make sure that all teams get at least 7 because of, well, math.  

The attached schedule reflects our best efforts to accommodate all of the requests that we received.  If something changed from the date that you submitted your registration or I was not able to accommodate the request that you made, you will need to reach out to the opposing team to coordinate a new game time, please include me on those emails.  Note, in some instances at the developmental level we have schools with multiple teams playing one another on a black out date with the understanding that the school will play that game amongst its two teams on a date that makes sense for them.   Also, home teams must remember to include me on emails that update game information, and with respect to JV/Varsity matches and developmental matches that PIAA refs are utilized, they must include our referee coordinator, Chuck Pruss, who is cc'd here.  Home Teams, please communicate issues as they are discovered with ample time and consideration provided to all involved.  Away teams please be understanding and as flexible as you can when home teams reach out

by Bob Mueser

Fwd: DSL Meeting

All, just a few things this week:
1. The kickoff call is this evening, 7:30pm for those that can attend.  Below is the dial in information as well as an agenda.
2. Friday through Monday of this week is the DSG 20% discount weekend.  Below is the link to the coupon.
3. Registration is closed for the season and I have started scheduling.   Registration fees are due for the league as of August 1,  let me know if there are any issues, but otherwise I will watch the mailbox and let you know once they are received.

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Meeting ID: 252 374 848 961 9

Passcode: bT2rY6pn

Dial in by phone

+1 412-790-6214,,10102604# United States, Pittsburgh

Phone conference ID: 101 026 04#

Join on a video conferencing device

Tenant key: [email protected]

Video ID: 117 499 793 6

________________________________________________________________________________

 Fall 2025 Meeting Agenda

 

1.    Greetings and School Role Call

2.    Fall 2025 Timeline

3.    Registrations are final

4.    Season Mechanics

a.     Purpose of our league

b.    Pregame communication

c.     Postgame procedures

d.    Roster updates

e.     Reschedule Protocol

5.    Competitive Balance Issues

6.    Girls League

7.    DSL Developmental and All Girls Tournament

8.    DSL JV/V Playoffs

9.    Open Forum / Questions

 Below is the link to your 20% off Diocese of Pittsburgh Fall Soccer Shop Weekend Coupon 8/8/25 – 8/11/25. Valid at either our Robinson, Monaca, House of Sport, or Cranberry Locations.

 

https://cmm.dickssportinggoods.com/crmcdn/getoffer.aspx?offer_entity_code=O241F6TS&token=-BrT8cakpZDP2dm-74D3ypDU3TIifjdlHP4ldAIV36bowJPmnjqfxzCScYRTj-kXWKhACsBIApbDqivXsDVwHg2

 

Please feel free to forward out in an email blast to all families within your league or just make copies and hand deliver at your next event.  Whatever way is easiest for you. Families just need to have a hardcopy coupon in hand or pull it up on their phone at checkout.  Remember the 20% off is on most items NOT just Soccer.  Few exclusions such as Ping, Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Nike Golf, Yeti, and Ugg.

 

Great time to buy those “BACK TO SCHOOL” items from NIKE, UA, and ADIDAS.

 

In addition, if the store is out of an item or size but we carry the item online………the family can simply order the item online in-store that day….and still receive a 20% off discount.

 

Regards,


Rob


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by Bob Mueser

DSL Registratoin update

All:
As a reminder, today is the last day to register and submit registration fees for the Fall 25 season.  Any registrations received after today are not guaranteed registration in the league.  To date I can confirm receipt of the following for the following schools, If you are not on the below list, I do not have anything from you to date:
1. Aquinas – Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
2. Archangel Gabriel – Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
3. Ave Maria – tentative list of teams received; awaiting receipt of registration form and fees.
4. Blessed Seelos- Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
5. Eden Christian – Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
6. Holy Cross- Registration form received; awaiting update on game times and receipt of registration fees
7. Holy Family- Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
8. Sacred Heart – Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
9. St. Kilian – tentative list of teams received; awaiting receipt of registration form and fees.
10. St. Louise- Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
11. Sts. Peter and Paul – Registration form received; awaiting receipt of registration fees
12. South Hills Catholic- Registration form received; awaiting receipt of additional home game date and registration fees


by Bob Mueser

DSL – Fall Registration closes this week and DSG discount coupon

All:
Just a couple of reminders– 
1.  Registration closes this Friday, August 1.  Completed Registrations Forms and registration fees are due that day.  After Friday we will start working on scheduling and 
late registration forms may not be accepted.  As of now, I have received registrations from Aquinas, Eden Christian, Holy Family, St. Louise and Sts. Peter & Paul.  Let me know if you have any questions

2. For those looking to get some new soccer gear or most anything else from Dicks Sporting Goods, see below for details on the 20% off weekend at DSG that will take place on 8/8 through 8/11:

Below is the link to your 20% off Diocese of Pittsburgh Fall Soccer Shop Weekend Coupon 8/8/25 – 8/11/25. Valid at either our Robinson, Monaca, House of Sport, or Cranberry Locations.

 

https://cmm.dickssportinggoods.com/crmcdn/getoffer.aspx?offer_entity_code=O241F6TS&token=-BrT8cakpZDP2dm-74D3ypDU3TIifjdlHP4ldAIV36bowJPmnjqfxzCScYRTj-kXWKhACsBIApbDqivXsDVwHg2

 

Please feel free to forward out in an email blast to all families within your league or just make copies and hand deliver at your next event.  Whatever way is easiest for you. Families just need to have a hardcopy coupon in hand or pull it up on their phone at checkout.  Remember the 20% off is on most items NOT just Soccer.  Few exclusions such as Ping, Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Nike Golf, Yeti, and Ugg.

 

Great time to buy those “BACK TO SCHOOL” items from NIKE, UA, and ADIDAS.

 

In addition, if the store is out of an item or size but we carry the item online………the family can simply order the item online in-store that day….and still receive a 20% off discount.

 

Regards,


Rob


by Bob Mueser

DSL – Fall Registration, DSL Soccer Camp and St. Louise Fall Kickoff Tournament

All:

I hope all is well with summer and that your soccer registrations are going well.  A few quick things for your consideration this morning:
1.  With respect to Fall registrations and the girls league in particular, nothing this season is contemplated as changing as we continue and expand the girls offering.  It will be continue to be a 5v5 format; we will keep standings, but for the time being there will not be a playoff format other than the all girls tournament that we do in connection with the developmental tournament; it will be a 6 game season; and the girls are encouraged to do both the girls league and the co-ed league.  Finally, as a message to soccer coordinators and school AD's, our 11v11 and 7v7 JV/V leagues are co-ed.  We understand that schools may end up without girls on their JV/V teams and we do not restrict such teams from playing, but schools are required to have those teams open to boys and girls both at sign ups.  If a determination is made that your registration for those teams excluded girls you will not be eligible for postseason play and continued infractions could negate your ability to participate in the league as a whole.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to me to discuss.

2. As a reminder, the DSL is hosting a week-long soccer camp this summer on 7/28-8/1.  If you are interested, here is the sign up information:  https://challenger.configio.com/pd/261916/
3. St. Louise is hosting a fall kick off tournament on 8/9 as well for grades 1-8. See attached for registration information. 
That is it for me, thanks and have a great week.
Rob Glentzer
by Bob Mueser

DSL Fall 2025 Registration

Good morning everyone, I hope that summer finds you all well.  I know that July has just started, but this is the time of year that my thoughts turn to DSL soccer and I have to start gearing up to get things ready for our fall season and our registration for schools for the fall season is officially open.  Below is the Fall 25' timeline, which is substantially similar to the one I sent at the end of the spring season.  Also, attached you can find a form of registration and form of player roster.  As a reminder, registration is open now and will close on August 1, registrations received after August 1 will not be guaranteed placement in the fall session.  On August 1 registration fees are also due, schools that have not submitted both the forms and the fees will not be scheduled.  A kickoff meeting will occur on August 7th at 7:30pm (zoom link to follow closer to the date).  The first practice dates are set by schools, other than the requirement that no practices can start prior to 8/11.  Player Rosters are due 8/29, and the first games start the week/weekend of 8/29 as well. 

 

Subject to their being enough teams to make each bracket viable, the intent is to do the following brackets this fall: 1st grade, 2nd grade, combined 1/2 grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, combined 3/4 grade, Girls JV, Girls V, 7v7 JV, 7v7 V, 11v11 JV, 11v11V.  If we have enough teams at the JV/V level we will further split those brackets based on last season’s performance of the combined JV/V teams.  Also please note that when composing your teams that only players attending your school are permitted (players that attend the church, but not the school are not eligible to play) and if two or more schools are considering combining to be able to make a team, such combination must be approved in advance by the DSL.

 

Finally, I will be out July 14-21 on vacation.  Feel free to reach out as needed with questions, just note that my responses may be delayed at that time, possibly until after I return. 

 

Fall 2025- DSL Timeline

 

July 1st

Registration is open

 

August 1st  

School Registrations to the DSL are due (the registration form is attached, and the form can be pdf’d to me at [email protected])

 

August 1st 

DSL fees are due, the check can be made out to the Pittsburgh Diocese and mailed to me at my home address 116 Wickerham Drive, Mars, PA 16046 (fees are $125 per team, so if you have one JV team and 2 developmental teams, send one check for $375)

 

August 7th

DSL Kickoff meeting – 7:30pm (link to follow closer to the date)

August 11th

Practices can start on or after this date

 

August 25th

Schedules to be distributed

 

August 29th   

Rosters are due (the roster form is attached, it should be signed by the school principal and can be pdf’d to me at [email protected])

 

August 29thth  – August 30th   

First week of games (note this is Labor Day Weekend; if you are unable to play this weekend, clearly indicate that conflict in your registration)

 

September 10th through October 10th   

Developmental Tournament & JV/Varsity All Girls Tournament Registration is open

 

October 25th  

Tentative date for Developmental Tournament

 

October 26th 

Last day to complete JV/Varsity games for playoff determinations

 

October 27th  – November 2nd 

Tentative dates for JV/Varsity Championship Series