Author: Bob Mueser

by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 6

Good Afternoon, just a reminder that registration for the May 17th tournament closes tomorrow.  Once registration closes I will follow up with each school on details, but a few have asked if the registration fee will stay the same this season, yes, it will continue to be $125 per team, there is no increase.  
Below are the schools/teams that I have registered.  Please let me know if you intend to play at the tournament but your team is not listed below:  As a reminder, once registration closes tomorrow we are locked in.  Teams cannot withdraw.  If you want to add a team, reach out to me, the answer may be no, but if there is an easy way to accommodate before I have made the schedules, then we will try to do so.  Also please note, I do not have any registrations for Guardian Angel, Our Lady of Fatima, Mother of Mercy and South Hills Catholic.  If you would like to play in this spring's tournament please let me know by the end of  the day tomorrow.
SCHOOL NAME 1st   1st/2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd/4th 4th JV Girls Varsity Girls Total
Aquinas Academy 3 0 1 2 0 1 1 1 9
Archangel Gabriel  1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
Ave Maria Academy 2 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 7
Blessed Seelos 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 6
Blessed Trinity Academy 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
Butler Catholic 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
Carlow 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Christ the Divine Teacher                  0
Divine Mercy Academy                  0
Eden Christian Academy                 0
Guardian Angel Academy                 0
Holy Cross Academy 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 5
Holy Family                 0
Holy Sepulcher 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3
Mary of Nazareth  0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 3
Mother of Mercy Academy                 0
Northside Catholic Assumption                 0
Our Lady of Fatima                 0
Providence Heights Alpha 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
Sacred Heart 1 0 3 1 0 2 1 2 10
St. Bede 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 4
St. James 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
St. Kilian 3 0 3 1 0 3   1 11
St. Louise de Marillac                 0
St. Monica                 0
Sts. Peter and Paul  0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
South Hills Catholic Academy                 0

by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 5 email

All:

I don't have much to report this week other than two items, which are as follows:

1. We are quickly approaching May so if you have not rescheduled any make up games yet, please put maximum effort on doing that now.  For JV/V matches no played games will either count as a forfeit or not at all, and by design adversely impact both teams (even a forfeit win is worth two standing points instead of three).

2. Remember that registration for the all girls and developmental tournament will close next Thursday, May 1.  To date, I have the following registrations in:  If you plan on attending the tournament but are not listed, please contact me as soon as you are able as registration will close next week, or sooner if your age bracket hits the maximum capacity before then.

SCHOOL NAME 1st   1st/2nd 2nd 3rd 3rd/4th 4th JV Girls Varsity Girls Total
Aquinas Academy 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 1 7
Archangel Gabriel  1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3
Ave Maria Academy     2     2     4
Blessed Seelos                 0
Blessed Trinity Academy                 0
Butler Catholic 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
Carlow                 0
Christ the Divine Teacher                  0
Divine Mercy Academy                  0
Eden Christian Academy                 0
Guardian Angel Academy                 0
Holy Cross Academy 1 0 1 1 1 0     4
Holy Family                 0
Holy Sepulcher 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3
Mary of Nazareth  0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 3
Mother of Mercy Academy                 0
Northside Catholic Assumption                 0
Our Lady of Fatima                 0
Providence Heights Alpha 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
Sacred Heart 1 0 3 1 0 2 1 2 10
St. Bede     1   1       2
St. James                 0
St. Kilian 2 0 3  1 0 3   1 10
St. Louise de Marillac                 0
St. Monica                 0
Sts. Peter and Paul                  0
Southhills Catholic Academy                 0
Regards,

Rob
by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 4 Email

All:

I don't have much to report this week other than two items, which are as follows:

1. Updated contact list – attached please find what I believe to be the final coach's contact list, including updates to the Aquinas 4th Grade Coaches Contact information.

2. It looks like it will be another rainy weekend so please communicate to opposing teams and referees if your fields are unplayable.  And remember, if cancellations occur within 48 hours for any reason and you are using PIAA referees (JV/V games and some girls and developmental games), then you need to text Chuck as well so he can coordinate.  I had three cancellations come in via email that were not also texted to Chuck, luckly I caught those and I was able to forward to Chuck via text.  If you fail to text though and refs still show up, remember that the home team is responsible for paying those ref fees, even if a game is cancelled.  don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Regards,

Rob
by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 3 email

Good evening everyone, just a few topics as we head into week 3 of our spring soccer season, they are as follows:
1. Spring Developmental and all girls tournament.  This Spring's tournament will be Saturday, May 27th, at No Off Season Sports in Russellton.  Registration is open as of today and will continue to remain open until the earlier of (i) May 1, 2025, or (ii) until particular brackets fill up.  As in the past, registration is first come, first serve so I encourage schools to register teams sooner rather than later as every season I have to turn away a team or two that waits too long.  I anticipate having the following brackets:
1st Grade – 5v5
2nd Grade – 5v5
1st/2nd Grade – 5v5
3rd Grade – 7v7
4th Grade – 7v7
3rd/4th Grade – 7v7
JV Girls – 5v5
Varsity Girls – 5v5
2. Uploading of Game Cards – As a reminder, for your JV/V games please upload your scorecard immediately following the game and also check to make sure that the website registered your score.  We sometimes encounter glitches in the system where cards aren't registered, especially earlier on in the season.  If you verify your games are recorded on the website, that will go along way to making things go smoother once we hit the later part of the season.
3. Communication – Please remember to communicate with your opposing team each week prior to the game.  This week and last week in particular were rough with weather and illnesses and a few minutes to coordinate will avoid bigger issues down the road.
Thanks and let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Rob

by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 1 email

Coaches:
Welcome to week 1 of our soccer season.  I won't repeat everything from the schedule distribution email, but as we head into week 1, here are a few friendly reminders:
1. Communication – For all teams, Developmental and JV – Home teams, if you haven't already, reach out to your away teams to coordinate details.  This is always a good idea, but even more so in the first few weeks of our season where weather can be a gating issue on whether or not games are played.  I've attached the most current coach's contact list (only change from the previous list distributed is to the email address of Carlow's 1/2 grade team).  As a reminder, we can and do play in the rain.  We do not play during an active lightning storm and we do not play on fields that present a substantial health risk.  Generally speaking, mud is fine, standing water is not.  But I have seen standing water on playable fields and I've seen fields with mud bogs that were shin deep (and not safely playable).  Prior to the game starting the home team determines if the game and field are playable and they should make that determination no fewer than three hours in advance (so for those 9 am games, someone should make the call by 6am if a game is going to be cancelled).  During the game only a referee can call it due to rain.  Also, once a determination is made the visiting team and referees should be notified immediately.  See attached contact list for that information.  For games utilizing PIAA referees, any decisions to cancel that are made within 48 hours of game time need to call/text Chuck as well.  Failure to do so can result in the referees showing up for a cancelled game and the home team will be responsible to pay those refs for the games if they are not notified in a timely manner (generally speaking, notice to chuck via text/cell phone three hours or more prior to the start of the game should be sufficient).
2. Rosters – I am missing rosters for all teams other than Sts. Peter and Paul and Blessed Trinity.  Those should be completed, signed by your principal and emailed to me by Friday.  Failure to do so could result in your teams not being eligible for postseason play at the developmental tournament and JV/V playoffs. 
3. DSL Registration fees.  I have followed up with a few of you.  At this point the fees should have been received almost a month ago.  Please submit those to me ASAP and no later than Monday of this week.  Tournament and Playoff eligibility may be impacted for teams that are not current on their registration fees.
4. Game Cards – For our JV/V teams, please use the attached game card form for your games.  Players names and numbers should be written legibly (I've attached the form in word format if you want to type players and names into it and save it for future use.).  Two copies of a roster need to be in hand for your games, one of which is given to the referees and one of which is given to the opposing coach.  The winner of the game (or home team if there is a tie) is responsible for uploading the game results via the QR code immediately following the game.  Game cards that are lost or not submitted within 24 hours of the game may not be counted for standing purposes and you could put your team at a competitive disadvantage for postseason play qualification.  When uploading the game card please make sure you are clicking on the correct league (Girls/MLS/Premier), division (JV/V) and correct home team and away team as listed on the schedule.  This is particularly relevant for schools that have multiple teams such as AMA where there is a blue team, a white team and a girls team.  If you select the wrong team when uploading the results it wont register correctly.  Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions on this as the system works pretty good when the data is inputted correctly, but if you enter it wrong, the computer won't try to figure out what you really meant.  It'll just reject the game card or overwrite or steal a spot for the teams that you indicated.
5. Referees.  Home teams are responsible for paying the refs.  The JV/V games typically have two refs (although the girls games could be one ref).  The PIAA refs for most JV/V games are paid $50 per ref, per game so the home team needs to have $100 cash available to pay the refs for each game.  Developmental games and girls games that are not using PIAA refs are responsible to pay their refs at the agreed upon rate that the home team sets.  Also, while we are on the topic of referees please note that referee abuse will not be tolerated.  At the JV/V level most referees will give a a verbal caution, then a yellow and then a red
by Bob Mueser

DSL – Kickoff to Spring 25′ Season Email

Good evening,

Please see below and attached for information relating to the DSL Spring 25' Soccer Season:

Schedules:

For those that have coached before in the league, the format of the Schedules 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.  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.  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.    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 – Soccer Update

Good Afternoon, 
I just wanted to give you all a few updates, they are as follows:
1. Season Schedules – Initial Drafts have been prepared for each of the brackets and they are under review.  I anticipate having no issues getting them to you by the initial date indicated in the timeline, March 17th, and there is a good chance that I am able to get them out as early as next week.  Remember, games will begin the weekend of March 21.
2. Practice – From a Diocese perspective, teams are cleared to start practices as early as this Monday.  Each school will determine the time that their practices actually start and it will be largely weather dependent.  
3. Rosters – Season Rosters are due on March 21.  A roster for each team is required to be completed and signed by your principal or pastor verifying that the students listed attend your school.  Every team needs to have a roster on file, failure to do so can result in games being forfeited.  Attached is a form of roster that should be used when completing your rosters.  
4. Dicks Sporting Good Discount Day – See below and the following link for details on the 20% of most items at Dicks Sporting Goods.  The coupon is good Friday March 14th through Monday March 17th.  
5. Summer Soccer Camp – This Summer the DSL is partnering with Challenger Sports to host a one week soccer camp.  The dates will be Monday July 28th through Friday August 1 at the soccer fields at St. Kilian in Cranberry Twp.  They are offering the following options:
Thanks and let me know if you have any questions.
by Bob Mueser

DSL Soccer Registration – 2/21 is final date to register

All:
This shouldn't be coming as a surprise to anyone since we have had the timeline out to the league since last November, but as a final reminder, tomorrow, Friday February 21 is the final day to submit registration and pay the registration fee.  Registrations need to have, at a minimum, number of teams and age groups to be registered, home playing field location, home game days and times for each of the teams.  After tomorrow's date, registration is closed and I cannot promise anyone who registers after that date a guaranteed spot in the league for this spring.  
With respect to the schools that typically participate in the spring league, to date I have not received registrations from the following schools (If you sent me an email with the teams, but did not follow up with a registration form, you will be on this list – theform is necessary when putting together the schedule):
  • Archangel Gabriel
  • Blessed Seelos
  • Blessed Trinity
  • Carlow
  • Christ the Divine Teacher
  • Divine Mercy
  • Holy Cross
  • Mary of Nazareth
  • Mother of Mercy
  • Northside Catholic
  • Our Lady of Fatima
  • Providence Heights Alpha
  • Sacred Heart
  • St. Bede
  • St. James
  • St. Kilian
  • Sts. Peter and Paul
  • South Hills Catholic
Additionally, as of yesterday's mail run, I can confirm receipt of registration fees from Holy Family only.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need to discuss anything.  Also, if you believe that you sent me either the registration forms or fees and you are on the list for not doing so, please let me know that as well.  My inbox is large and I am not above missing an email, and despite my postal carrier's best efforts, mail has been lost in the past.

by Bob Mueser

Fwd: DSL Registration Form S25.doc

All:
Happy President's Day.  Just a follow up on registrations and registration fees and that they are due this Friday.  By Friday I need a completed registration form from each school that wants to participate in Diocese soccer this Spring.  That form needs to include the amount of teams, your game day, times and field location for each team.  If coaching information is still being developed you can follow up with that in the following week.  After Friday I cannot guarantee that any late registrations or modifications can be accommodated if I am to meet the deadline for distribution of the schedules.  Let me know if you have any questions and I've attached the current registration form.