Upload your game results this week as soon as your game is finished so we can keep track of standings in real time.  There are several competitive brackets and in many instances we will need to use tie breakers to determine who qualifies and what seed they secured in the DSL Championship Series.  The sooner I have that information the sooner I can get schedules for next week to you all.  If I have to chase that information down, the schedules will lag.  Also, please note, our webpage is awesome for keeping track of the standings, but it is not gospel.  We need to double check entries for accuracy and in some instances make sure that it is computing tie breakers correctly (for example, the website often uses goal differential as the first tie breaker when displaying standings and our league rules look at head to head play first, so in the past (and possibly in this season), we need to make corrections prior to finalizing the standings).

The All Girls and Developmental Tournament (“DSL Tournament”) 

• The Tournament location is at the No Offseason 904 Little Deer Creek Valley Rd, Russellton, PA 15076.  Please check into the registration tent at least 30 minutes prior to the start of your first game.  
• In advance of the DSLTournament on Saturday here is a link to a tournament website where you can follow the standings as they are updated.  Here is a link to the tournament site.  

  https://pittdsl.org/tournament/    We will also utilize tournament boards at the tent (weather permitting) to keep track of things in real time as well.

• Remember to bring a completed tournament roster and turn it into the tent prior to your first game.  Failure to do so can result in forfeits being assessed.  For those that need it, here is a link to the forms, including the one you need, the “Current DSL Tournament Roster”  https://pittdsl.org/forms/  Each coach needs to turn one in for each team. Registration fees for each school should be dropped off at the tent as well prior to your first game unless the school is sending the fees for all teams with one coach.  If that is your preferred drop off method, let us know.

• Get to the venue early!  Parking will be a challenge at times– there is a very large lot, but we have approximately 3000 people for our event alone and there will be a baseball tournament going on simultaneously.  If parking is not readily available, consider dropping off your player with another adult so they can get to the fields while you continue searching for a spot— we have the tournament teams coming and going all day so spots will open up
• Get to your fields early!  Your play in games go fast and if you are late you will miss the next game.  There is no time for warm ups on the field once the previous game is over as we need to keep the schedule running on time since we are on the fields all day.  Coaches should be organized and have a plan for the day and execute on it.
• Bring both dark and light jerseys and/or a set of pinnies for your team in case they are needed.  
• Hopefully the rain misses us, but be prepared for it in case it hits–  the fields are turf so we won't get rained out, but an extra set of dry socks is never a bad idea. 
• Please be respectful of the other coaches, players, referees and tournament volunteers.  If there are any issues come see me at the tournament tent and we will do our best to resolve them.
• If your team has a chance of advancing out of the play-in rounds, keep a parent or coach near the tent after your last play-in game .  We will announce who advances at the tent and if someone is nearby that makes it easier for you and us.

That's it for me, if you have any questions reach out to me today or tomorrow or Saturday at the Event Tent.  Note that I will not be in a position to respond to emails/texts/phone calls on Friday as that day is generally consumed with tournament set up, so ask me any questions prior to then or on Saturday.

Just a couple items as we head into our final week of regular season play for the JV/V teams and our post season play for the Developmental teams:

Developmental – This past weekend capped off our regular season play.  I hope you have had a great season with your players and hopefully we will see you all back in the spring.  Before the spring though, we will end the season with the Developmental and All Girls JV/V Tournament this Saturday at No Offseason.  I won't be redundant and relist all the information previously sent (see last Friday's email for those details), but if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me, preferably prior to Friday as I may not be able to respond on Friday with all of the pre-tournament punch list tasks that day are fairly consuming.

JV/Varsity – This is the last week of regular season play.  Please make sure all game cards from this past week are uploaded and check the site to make sure your standings are correct.  This week you must upload your game card immediately after the game so we can keep standings current.  Any game cards not uploaded by end of day Sunday (10/29) will not count for standings.  Playoff determinations, seedings and game times will be determined based upon what has been received.  If you have any issues, give me a call/text/email.

Based on the information that we have received so far I can tell you the following information, all of which is subject to change.

Just a few things as we head into this weeks for soccer:

1. Developmental level notes- this is the last week of the regular season and our tournament will take place the following Saturday.  Offsides will be called at the tournament for all levels, including 1/2 grade.  Offside calls at the 1/2 level will generally be limited to obvious examples/cherry picking.  I know that many of those young players won't have much exposure to the rule, do your best to introduce them to the concept and consider playing this weekend's matches with that in effect at those younger levels.  For those that are interested, here is a short video that might help the players understand it a bit better.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjnrfRJ6yv0

2. Varsity/JV level notes – we have two weeks left in the regular season so please make sure that you are (1) actively working to get your reschedules made and (2) directly after your match make sure that the winner is uploading your game card/results so that they can count for standings.  When the regular season closes we have to make playoff determinations quickly so unloaded results wont' count.  I am currently missing the following game card results from this past weekend that should be uploaded ASAP:

Here is what I have for the final registration numbers for the Developmental and All Girls Tournament that is taking place at No Off Season in Russelton on Oct. 28.  Coordinators – please verify your team count and let know of any corrections on or before 12pm today (Saturday Oct 14th).  I will start the process of scheduling after that and it will likely be too late to make changes after that.  Once i am able I will circulate schedules to you all, which will, with any luck, be out on or before Sunday, Oct. 22.

Just a few things as we head into the week:

1. DSL Tournament Registration.  Friday is the last day to register teams for the Oct. 28 DSL Tournament for grades 1-4 and the girls JV/V games (Co-ed JV/V playoffs will be the following week and participation for the JV/V Co-ed Playoffs is determined by league standings).  As of now it looks like I will have enough teams to make the following brackets work for the tournament, I will let you know if something changes:  1st, 2nd, 1st/2nd, 3rd, 4th, 3rd/4th, JV Girls, Varsity Girls.

Also, note that the 1st and 2nd grade brackets are almost full so if you haven't registered a team there yet but are planning on doing so, I'd recommend reaching out sooner rather than later.

2. Score Control – I was disappointed to see some instances of poor sportsmanship this past weekend, right on the cusp of a reminder email about keeping game scores in check.  In the JV bracket we had one team rack up a goal differential of 13 on another team.  Our rules are very clear that this is not permitted.  We recommend that teams keep game scores within 4 to 5 goals  In JV/V there is no competitive advangtage to scoring more than a plus 4

Looking ahead just a few things to discuss:

• 1. Regular Season Game Performance – Coaches – please remember to exercise good sportsmanship.  This consists of things like:

• Communicating in advance of game day with the opposing team
• Not running up the score.  Sometimes, especially at the younger ages, this can be a challenge if you have a talented team and you are playing a team without substantially less skill.  Let me know if you need any tips on game control.  At a minimum have a discussion with the opposing coach when a mismatch is in the making.  They will appreciate the effort.
• Remind fans to be only positively cheering.  They should not be making disparaging remarks to the other team or referee, about the other team or referee.  Also, parents need to stay away from the coach/player side of the field at all times
• Coaches, same thing

A couple of things as we head into week 2:

1. Attached is what I believe to be the final coach contacts list which reflects a few more additions and revisions that I received.  Please use this list going forward.

2. DSL Fall Tournament – Registration for the Fall 23 Developmental (Grades 1-4) and all Girls (JV/V) Tournament will open Thursday, September 14th.  I am asking each soccer coordinator to let me know how many teams and at what bracket that they are registering.   This Fall's Tournament will be Saturday October 28 at No Off Season Sports in Russellton.   Registration will remain open until Friday, October 13th and then it will close.  We will take registrations for the following brackets, 5v5 1st grade, 5v5 2nd grade,  5v5 1/2 grade, 7v7 3rd grade, 7v7 4th grade, 7v7 3/4 grade, 5v5 JV All Girls, 5v5 Varsity All girls.  Cost for entry is $125 per team.  As always, if we fill up (and we tend to fill up at the younger age levels), preference is given to those schools that register first.  After October 13th, any registrations are considered late and may not be allowed if scheduling is already complete.  Here is a link for the rules for the tournament