As we head into the the start of the soccer season this week, I wanted to reach out on a few reminders for the season:

1.  Attached is, what I believe to be, the final contact list.  Please use this to contact opposing coaches, referee coordinators and me as needed.  As a reminder, the home team should be reaching out to the opposing team by Wednesday to confirm specifics.  Opposing team, if you haven't heard from them by Thursday, please reach out and cc me on the email.  If you fail to reach out, you run the chance of having jerseys too similar, arriving at the wrong location, or arriving for a game that one of the teams didn't think was happening.

2. Weather towards the end of the week doesn't look too bad, as a reminder though, cancellations must be sent to opposing coaches/ref coordinators no later than 3 hours before the game, which means, if your game times are 8:30 am, you must make a call by 5:30 am if you are playing or the night before so that opposing teams and refs can plan accordingly.  For cancellations, also remember if it is within 48 hours of game time, Chuck (for schools using PIAA refs for the developmental and all girls leagues) and/or Russ (for JV/V Co-ed matches) must be called/texted as well as emailed.  Failure to follow this protocol could result in you having to pay for refs that day if they show up or the forfeiting of the match.

3. I know Russ and Chuck are working on staffing the referee schedules.  

• For JV/Varsity Co-ed games, nothing more is needed on your end (other than keeping us current with any cancellations/reschedules).  The Refs will be paid via arbiter so coaches won't need to pay those refs.  Coaches will need to have a copy of the game cards for the opposing coach and the refs and the winning team (home team if there is a tie) will need to get a signed game card at the end of the game to upload to the standings site via the included QR code.  Failure to get the game card may result in the game not counting towards standings (which determine playoff eligibility).  If you need a copy of the card, see the link for our forms and select Game Card.  https://pittdsl.org/forms/
• For Developmental and All Girls refs – Schools are free to use their own refs or to coordinate with Chuck on providing PIAA refs.  Home teams are responsible for paying refs (PIAA refs will be $55 per person per game, other refs that the schools use are at whatever pay scale agreed to, usually between $20 and $30 per game)

4. Also, games have been uploaded to the web site for JV/V games.  Please go to the schedule tab of our website and review your games and make sure everything looks accurate.  Also, please check out the “Schools” tab and “Fields” tab and let us know if anything needs updated there as well.  We are relying on you to make sure that your school related content is accurate and we can make any changes requested if needed.  Web address is puttdsl.org

5. For JV/V matches, please remember to both get the signed game card back from the ref and to immediately upload it to the webpage.  You can do so by scanning the QR code or using this link https://pittdsl.org/report-score/ , complete your email address, together with the Divisions (JV/V), and league (Premier (11's), MLS (7's), or Girls, Selecting the correct home team and away team (note if a school has multiple teams playing don't forget to use colors (St Kilians Green or White and Sacred Heart Red or Black are the ones to watch for this season), selecting the correct score, and uploading pictures of both sides of your and the opponent's game cards (you can post two pics).  Once that is all uploaded, hit submit and do not leave the screen until you get the successful upload update.

6. Finally, remember sportsmanship, especially early on in the season where many teams have one or no practices prior to the start of the season.   We do not permit goal differentials in a game to be larger than 7.  If a team exceeds that, you run the risk of that game being set aside and not having it counted for standings.

Thats all for me, good luck and lets hope the fields dry out a bit!  Also, please remember that rain doesn't mean we don't play.  If a team is on turf they can still play and even grass fields can be playable if the traction is safe enough for action.  Lightning though would result in a game delay of 30 minutes from the last seen storm activity.

Rob