Author: Bob Mueser

by Bob Mueser

Final Day for DSL Registration

All:  Just one last reminder that tomorrow, August 1 is the deadline for Fall Soccer registration for the DSL.  To date I have received the following registrations:

1. Ave Maria (Still need registration fee)
2. Butler Catholic (I have not received it yet, but understand that it is in the mail)
3. Eden Christian (
Still need registration fee)
4. Guardian Angel (Still need registration fee)
5. Holy Family (Still need registration fee)
6. Providence Heights Alpha (Still need registration fee)
7. Sacred Heart
(Still need registration fee)
8. St. Louise
If your name is not on the above list and you think that you have sent in registrations, please contact me.  For all schools not on the above list tomorrow is the deadline for registration.  
Thanks.
Rob

Good afternoon everyone.  As a reminder, team registrations for DSL Soccer and the corresponding league registration fees are due by this Thursday, August 1.  I've reattached the registration form and let me know if you have any questions.
Rob


by Bob Mueser

Fwd:

Good morning:
While soccer registrations are still ongoing through the end of July, I wanted to send to you a Dick's Sporting Goods Coupon Code for our DSL weekend which will take place Friday, August 9th through Sunday August 11th, at select DSG locations.  The coupon is good for 20% of your order, can be used multiple times, can be used for non-soccer gear and soccer gear and can be used by anyone who needs it (no need to be a participant in our league).  Below are more details, including a link and an image of the coupon.
Rob  
Below is the link to your 20% off Diocese of Pittsburgh Soccer fall Shop Weekend Coupon 8/9 thru 8/11 at either our Robinson, Monaca, Cranberry, or House of Sport Locations.

 

https://cmm.dickssportinggoods.com/crmcdn/getoffer.aspx?offer_entity_code=O241DGWZ&token=Dk3V8ijoZ3BI5LJYjpu8NpzVtrlyASmdxIoM8wK7NTu1X9O-80cBXZGkEk4BDhEmRaOnCDVd6LxLt9c8Zjw2

 

Please feel free to post on your League website, forward out in an email blast to all families 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.  This coupon is such an important piece of our sponsorship, the BARCODE is specifically made for your Shop Weekend. Obviously, I am hoping for a BIG turnout. 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” T’s and Shorts from NIKE, UA, and Adidas at 20% off.

 

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 the 20% off discount.

 

by Bob Mueser

DSL Fall Registration Email

Good morning,
I hope you are all enjoying the summer months and that you are able to get some well earned rest.  In looking at our calendar, registration for the fall 24' season will open up this Monday and will remain open until August 1.  Between Monday and August 1, I will need each school's soccer coordinator or athletic director to do the following:
  • Complete the attached registration form for your school's requested teams and email it to me.  I need all of the information in the attached registration completed, including number of teams, home game dates, home game times, any school/diocese conflicts that I need to take into consideration while scheduling, names of coaches and contact information for them (email and phone), and any new individuals to add to the email distribution list.
  • Check made out to the Diocese of Pittsburgh and sent to me (116 Wickerham Drive, Mars PA 16046) for registration fees.  The registration fee is $125 per team.
It is extremely important to have registrations in by August 1.  Failure to do so will jeopardize both the targeted schedule distribution date of 8/26 as well as your ability to register teams for the fall season.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns and keep me in the loop if you anticipate any issues and I can work with you on how to best resolve any such issues.  I'll be travelling during the first half of July but will be back by mid-month and can answer any questions that you may have as availability permits.
Also, if you are receiving this email and you are no longer coaching or coordinating and wish to be removed from the distribution list, please let me know and I'll update my contact list.
Finally, in addition to the registration form, I have attached the fall timeline as well.
Thanks and I am looking forward to dusting off the cleats in August and picking up where we left off this past spring.
Rob
by Bob Mueser

DSL – End of Season Email and Fall 24′ Timeline

Coaches:

A few quick items as we wrap up our Spring Season for DSL Soccer.  
1. JV/Varsity Championship Results.  We had a great weekend of playoff games and I wanted to recognize the schools that made it to the championship rounds, it was a great weekend of soccer from all of our participating teams.
  • USL JV – Holy Sepulcher over St. James, 2-1 in Penalty Kicks
  • MLS JV – St. James over Sacred Heart, 2-1
  • Bundesliga JV – St. Kilian White over Archangel Gabriel 2-1 in Penalty Kicks
  • Premier JV – St. Kilian Green over Aquinas, 4-3
  • USL V – St. Bede over Our Lady of Fatima, 5-2
  • MLS V – Archangel Gabriel over Divine Mercy, 5-0
  • Bundesliga V – Ave Maria over Sts. Peter & Paul, 2-1
  • Premier V – Sacred Heart over Aquinas, 4-0
2. Survey Results.  Thank you to all who took the time to complete our spring survey.  We had a very robust response, 71 responses in total from approximately 20 different schools.  Based on the responses, 52% of the league prefers to keep our spring season intact and not shortened.  30% prefers to shorten the spring season to 6 games, 14% prefers to eliminate the spring season, and 4% prefers something in between a full season and total cancellation.  From a league perspective, we were open to revisiting the Spring Season so long as there was a general consensus for whatever course was opted for.  Because there was nothing close to a consensus to shorten the season and the majority of the respondents preferred to keep the season the full length, we will not make any changes to the Spring 25' season at this time.
That being said, this past spring, we had 7 JV/V games not played, 2 of which likely impacted whether or not a school qualified for the playoffs.  I think we can all agree that the children's play on the field should be determining whether or not a team advances to post season play, not whether one school was lucky/diligent enough to get their games in while another school was not.  Accordingly, going forward there will be a lot more focus on complying with our reschedule requirements, including that requirement that any rescheduled game be schedule within 7 days of the original game date (the requirement is that the game be scheduled, not necessarily played, within 7 days, so you can schedule a game a month out, the date just needs to be agreed to within a week).  I will also be far more likely to assess forfeits if the situation warrants it and will encourage schools that are having trouble rescheduling to involve me earlier in the process.  Structurally we do everything we can to incentivize reschedules
by Bob Mueser

DSL – Final week for the JV/V season

Apologies for the second email, I forgot to mention, if the teams that are playing have some younger siblings (3rd grade and up) that want to serve as volunteer ball boys/girls for the games I could use up to 4 for each game.  We will be fine without them, but if any kids are interested, please let me know and I can coordinate.  
Rob

On Tue, May 28, 2024 at 2:46 PM Rob Glentzer <[email protected]> wrote:
Good afternoon everyone, just a few things to note:
1. Survey. Thank you for the feedback on the survey sent last week.  I will leave it open through end of day Sunday so if you want to respond, please do so before end of day Sunday.
2. Fall Timeline.  I've had a few of you reach out and ask on Fall timeline for soccer.  I will circulate a timeline out to everyone early next week once the JV/Varsity games are wrapped up for the Spring season
3. End of Season Tournaments.  I know that the developmental season is wrapped up, but we do have one last week for the JV/Varsity season.  Every team in our JV/V leagues has an opportunity to play this weekend.  For those teams that qualified for the Championship series, those games will be held at Seton LaSalle over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  See below schedule for game times.  For the teams that did not qualify for the Championship series, Holy Sepulcher is hosting a tournament on Saturday.  I believe that Chris Marsico reached out already to the teams that are eligle to participate in the Holy Sepulcher Tournament, but if you have any questions, let me know and I'll get you in touch with the people that can answer them.
Also, with respect to the championship series, I've attached a set of rules.  Most items are the same as previous seasons, but I did formalize the leagues policy on water breaks for excessively hot days and guidance on ramifications of card issuance.  
With respect to the water breaks, we will key off of USA Youth Soccer guidelines on this matter, which is based off of a formula that takes into consideration geography, temperature and humidity.  If you have concerns on the temperature that day please ask me in advance of the start of the game, I will double check conditions on the ground, cross reference that against USA Youth Soccer Guidelines and then institute water breaks halfway through each half, if conditions on the ground warrant that.
With respect to card issuances, if any player or coach is issued two yellow cards in a match or 1 red, they are done for the tournament.  They will need to leave the field and venue and if the team has another game later that weekend, such player or coach is not eligible to return.  This includes any related soccer activities such as the awards ceremony.  The same holds true of any parents, specators or others at the field who is asked to leave.  They cannot return later in the weekend for other games or attend the awards.  I would ask everyone to remind their players, fans and coaches of this rule. This is everyones' one and only warning
by Bob Mueser

Fwd: DSL – Final week for the JV/V season

Good afternoon everyone, just a few things to note:
1. Survey. Thank you for the feedback on the survey sent last week.  I will leave it open through end of day Sunday so if you want to respond, please do so before end of day Sunday.
2. Fall Timeline.  I've had a few of you reach out and ask on Fall timeline for soccer.  I will circulate a timeline out to everyone early next week once the JV/Varsity games are wrapped up for the Spring season
3. End of Season Tournaments.  I know that the developmental season is wrapped up, but we do have one last week for the JV/Varsity season.  Every team in our JV/V leagues has an opportunity to play this weekend.  For those teams that qualified for the Championship series, those games will be held at Seton LaSalle over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  See below schedule for game times.  For the teams that did not qualify for the Championship series, Holy Sepulcher is hosting a tournament on Saturday.  I believe that Chris Marsico reached out already to the teams that are eligle to participate in the Holy Sepulcher Tournament, but if you have any questions, let me know and I'll get you in touch with the people that can answer them.
Also, with respect to the championship series, I've attached a set of rules.  Most items are the same as previous seasons, but I did formalize the leagues policy on water breaks for excessively hot days and guidance on ramifications of card issuance.  
With respect to the water breaks, we will key off of USA Youth Soccer guidelines on this matter, which is based off of a formula that takes into consideration geography, temperature and humidity.  If you have concerns on the temperature that day please ask me in advance of the start of the game, I will double check conditions on the ground, cross reference that against USA Youth Soccer Guidelines and then institute water breaks halfway through each half, if conditions on the ground warrant that.
With respect to card issuances, if any player or coach is issued two yellow cards in a match or 1 red, they are done for the tournament.  They will need to leave the field and venue and if the team has another game later that weekend, such player or coach is not eligible to return.  This includes any related soccer activities such as the awards ceremony.  The same holds true of any parents, specators or others at the field who is asked to leave.  They cannot return later in the weekend for other games or attend the awards.  I would ask everyone to remind their players, fans and coaches of this rule. This is everyones' one and only warning
by Bob Mueser

DSL Season Survey

Good Morning:

With the Spring 2024 Developmental Season wrapped up and the JV/Varsity Season closely following, I did want to reach out to the league and thank you all for your efforts this season.  I know that the weather did not cooperate with us for the first half of the season and I know that despite your efforts and mine, that made for a gruelling second half of the season.  So again, thank you for all of your efforts getting things close to (or over) the finish line.
While I still have your attention on Soccer matters though, I wanted to get you all a very brief survey for your consideration and completion.  There are only three questions, (1) your school, (2) your role at the school, and (3) whether you would like the spring season to (a) remain as is (7 games for Developmental and 8 for JV/V), (b) be shortened to 6 games (which, in theory at least, might lead to less end of season congestion with fewer make up games), or (c) be deleted in its entirety.  Here is a link to the survey:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepZducZK3klujpJN8oTMOMNL1kUhB0Mmky-gk4U2TwdhWcpA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Generally speaking we don't make changes just for the sake of change, but if an overwhelming preference is observed from the survey, that is something that we will take into consideration as we continue to refine and improve our soccer program.  
Thanks all, if I don't see you before next season, please have a great summer and enjoy some well earned time off.
Rob

by Bob Mueser

DSL – Week 10 email

Good morning, just a couple of items for this week, our last regular season week at the JV/V level:

1. Last Week of Regular Season Games for JV/V teams – This is the last week to get your regular season games in in order for them to count for standings.  All games must be played by this Sunday and uploaded to our website no later than 10pm Sunday evening (May 26th) in order to count.  If the game is not played by this Sunday or uploaded by then it likely won't count for standing purposes.  Coaches, it would also make sure to verify the standings info on our webpage to verify its accuracy.  If there is something that needs corrected please let me know by the end of day tomorrow (Tuesday, May 21) so that we have time to verify and correct any necessary revisions.
2. Developmental and All Girls Tournament – Thank you to everyone that was able to come out Saturday to participate in the end of season tournament.  We had close to 1000 players on the field at some point this past Saturday and based on what we saw on the fields, parking lots and in looking at the web traffic from the day (close to 7000 site visits), this was the busiest tournament that we have had to date.  Hopefully your team had a great day as well.  Below is a list of teams of some of our teams that got out of bracket stage on Saturday:
  • First Grade – Blessed Seelos Red, Ave Maria, Aquinas Gray and St. Kilian Black all qualified for the semi finals.  St. Kilian Black won the championship game 1-0 over Ave Maria
  • Second Grade – St. Kilian Green, Ave Maria Blue, Holy Family and St. Kilian White all qualified for the semi finals.  Ave Maria Blue won the championship game 3-2 over St. Kilian White in penalty kicks
  • First/Second Grade – Mary of Nazareth, South Hills Catholic, St. James and Butler Catholic all qualified for the semi finals.  South Hills Catholic won the championship game 7-1 over St. James.
  • Third Grade – St. Kilian White, Sacred Heart Red, St. Kilian Green and Sacred Heart Black all qualified for the semi finals. Sacred Heart Red won the championship game 1-0 over St. Kilian Green.
  • Fourth Grade – Ave Maria won the championship game 1-0 over Sacred Heart Black.  Congrats also to Sacred Heart Red, who was the third team out of 7 that went undefeated in group play and narrowly missed advancing to the championship game on the tiebreakers.
  • Third/Fourth Grade – Blessed Trinity, Holy Cross, Butler Catholic and Holy Sepulcher White all qualified for the semi finals. Holy Sepulcher won the championship game 1-0 over Holy Cross.
  • JV Girls – Aquinas won the championship game 3-0 over Sacred Heart.
  • Varsity Girls – Sacred Heart won the championship game 2-1 over Aquinas in penalty kicks.

It was good seeing everyone at the field on Sunday.  Thank you for choosing to spend your day with us and thank you all to the many volunteers that helped out Friday setting up and Saturday with the tournament itself. 


by Bob Mueser

DSL – Reminder on Tents for Tomorrow’s Tournament

A few quick reminders for tomorrow's tournament relating to school tents.  For those schools that want to bring tents please remember the following:

1. Do not set the tents up on the main walk/access ways.  We need to keep those spaces open to allow for foot traffic as well as an ambulance if one is needed.  You can set your tents up on the remaining three perimeters of the fields, just not on the side where the walkway is.  If you have any questions, stop by the administration tent and ask, that will save you some time from having to tear down and reset your tent in the correct spot, if any spaces remain.
2. Please remember to bring weights or sandbags to anchor your tent.  All tents must be secure and they can not be staked into the turf.  Wind for tomorrow appears to be light, but there is a chance of scattered thunderstorms so we will need to make sure that the tents are secure without staking them down.
3. No tailgating/food spreads in the tent.  The venue only allows small 6 pack sized coolers and in the past, too many schools did not clean up the food/garbage well so we are not permitted to bring food on the field or have tailgating spreads.  Schools that do not comply with this requirement will be asked to remove the food immediately and will lose tent privileges for the tournaments going forward.  
That's it from me.  Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow and good luck!