1. The League shall consist of twelve Divisions;

* one for boys and girls under 7, 8, 9 and 10 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 11 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 12 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 13 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 14 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 15 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 16 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 17 years on the 1st of January in the current season
* one for boys and girls under 18 years on the 1st of January in the current season

Sections of any Division to be established at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

The composition of the U/11 Premier Section shall be the top 6 final league positions from the 10A Division Saturday and 10A Division Sunday

2. (a) Players must be registered on forms supplied by the League. Each player must sign his name and address and give full particulars as required. Any club or player giving wrong information or incorrectly filling out registration forms shall be dealt with by the Executive Committee.

(b) A player us eligible to play provided his form is either (a) received by the League Registrars, and bears the Official League Stamp, or (b) is posted before the game is played. Date of postmark will be accepted as date of registration (franked forms will be regarded as (a) ) Receipts bearing Official League stamp is the clubs only proof of the players registration and it is the responibility of the club to ensure that receipts are collected from the League's offices.

(c) Players may only be registered to play during the official playing season for which the registration form relates, this being the 1st August in any season to the 30th June following in the same season.

3. A player can play for only one club in the league in anyone season except when he/ she has received a transfer from the club last signed for. No player can be registered except when they have received this transfer.

Transfer form must be posted separately or have Official League Stamp at the same time as the players is re- registered. Transfer will not be accepted after the 15th October in each season. Except for players over the sixteen age group, i.e. seventeen and eighteen who may transfer up to 31st January from any other League.

Transfer forms much be passed by a special committee unless the transfer form has been agreed by both clubs. All transfer forms must be registered at least two days before the player is eligible to play in any division. A player cannot be played from one section to another without being transferred. A player cannot be transferred more than once without the sanction of the committee and must be re-registered.

The transfer of a player from a D.D.S.L club to a club from any other league or a player from another league to a D.D.S.L club will be permitted up to the transfer deadline of the other league concerned if that date is later than the 15th October.

A player may only play for one team in each Cup Competition. A player is only "Cup tied" when he participates in the game.

4. In the event of a club or team resigning or being removed from the League, the said players become the property of the League. The Hon. Officers may give permission for the said players to be re-registered for clubs in League - number permitted three. Last date for permission 30th March in current season.

5. The players names including substitutes must be entered in accordance with instructions on Referee's Card.

The Referee's Card must be filled in before the start of the match by the official in charge of the team who shall certify as to the eligibility of his team. 5 substitutes are permitted in age groups catered for within our league from the agreed panel of players.

The signature and date of birth of the player or players concerned must also be supplied on demand at half-time only, not more than 5 signatures and dates of birth to be requested. The signatures and dates of birth of all substitutes or the players they replaced may be requested from the referee at any time. Refusal to accede to such requests will be regarded as an admission of guilt.

A Representative of a club shall be at liberty to examine the registration forms of his opponent of the previous game for the purpose of making a protest. All irregularities shall be dealt with by the Executive Committee or Elected Committee Members nominated by the Officers. For the purpose of this the Hon. Registrars (or their nominee) shall attend the offices of the League on each Monday and Thursday night between the hours of 7.30 and 8.30 o'clock. Alternative arrangements may be made by appointment with the League Registrars. A fee of 10 EURO will be charged for each inspection.

6. The Exec. Committee may during the season adopt whatever measures they may consider necessary to ensure that the players of the various clubs are within the age as prescribed by Rule.

In all matters relating to the age of players, where a player's birth certificate is not available or cannot be accessed in the normal manner it is the responibility of the club for which the player is registered to provide proof that the player is within the age as per prescribed rule.

Such proof shall be in the form of an original birth certificate, passport , international identity card or documentation issued by the Dept of Justice.Equality and Law Reform and acceptable to the League Officers as proof of age. Failure to produce proof of age will deem the player to be in-eligible as per prescribed rule and the player treated as over age.

7. Any team found guilt of playing over-age players shall be removed from the League and fined €100. Offending player(s) will be fined and/or suspended at the discretion of the Committee.

Offending clubs should pay all costs of protest, i.e. search, protest fees, birth certificate fees, registered letter fees, ect. to the club who proves same against them.

8. All matches, venues and hours of kick-off shall be arranged by the Exec Committee. Clubs shall play home and away matches except otherwise decided by the Honorary Officials.

9. No Club or clubs shall have the power to break or postpone a fixture. All matches must be started at the approved hour of kick off. Clubs found guilty of systematic breach of this rule shall be dealt with by the Committee.

10. Each club in the League shall register its colours with the Hon. Secretary. In the event of two clubs playing in similar colours, the home club shall change colours when such clubs meet in competition. Goalkeepers must wear colours that distinguish them from other players.

11. Players sent off are automatically suspended for one game. This being the immediate next game in which the team that they signed for are participating. Walk-overs do not count. The players shall stand suspended from all games under our jurisdiction until sentence is served. The Disciplinary Committee shall investigate each case on receipt of referee's report. If additional action (more than one match suspension) is deemed necessary the club shall be informed and have an option to a personal hearing before the League issues any additional suspension. Where a player is sent off for a hand-ball offence there shall be no fine on the player, manager or the club he plays for.

Clubs/players shall be further fined/suspended at the discretion of the Executive Committee for playing suspended players.

12. Protests much be sent in by Registered Letter to the Hon. Secretary of the League within three days (Sundays and Bank Holidays are excepted) of the date of playing the match on which the protest arises, and must be accompanied by a fee of €25. Exact copy of the protest must be forwarded at the same time, by registered post, to the Secretary of the team protested against. In the event of the protest being lost, the fee shall be forfeited; a further 72 hours will be granted for the purpose of a cross protest. All protests shall be decided by the Executive Committee.

13. The Executive Committee shall have power to deal with any offending clubs, players, or officials as they think fit, and to deal with any matter that is not provided for in these Rules.

14. In league matches three (3) points shall be awarded for a win and one (1) for a draw. In the event of two or more clubs being equal in points, the club must playoff to decide the championship. The club scoring the largest amount of points shall be called the Champion Club of the League. Cup Matches shall be decided on the knockout principle unless otherwise decided by the Executive Committee.

15. The Chairman, Hon. Treasure and Hon. Secretary shall be for all intent and purposes the legal holders of the cups in trust for the League. When the winning clubs have been declared the Committee shall hand the various cups to their represntatives.

They shall make such provision for the safe return of the cups as they consider neccessary. Winners and runner-up trophies will also be presented. All cups must be signed for and insured while in their possession. All trophies must be returned to the League Offices before 30th March. Failure to do so shall result in a fine of 50 Euro per week or part thereof. Clubs in possession of cups shall be notified in writing prior to this deadline to return same.

16. Any objection to size of ball or pitch/markings must be made in writing to match referee prior to commencement of game.Duration of games are as follows

* Under 7 8. 9 20 Minutes
* Under 10, 25 minutes each way;
* Under 11, 12 and 13, 30 Minutes
* Under 14, 35 minutes each way;
* Under 15 and 16, 40 minutes each way;
* Under 17 and 18, 45 minutes each way.

17. Any team giving 2 walk-overs will (unless they give a very satisfactory explanation) be removed from all competitions.

18. When a team does not play and complete more than one third of its fixtures programme then its record in that league shall be expunged.

19. Teams in all "PREMIER" sections of the league up to and including under 17 age group are only allowed to register 18 players in any one season. Teams in the Under 18 sections are only allowed register 20 players in any one season.

Permission may be granted by the executive committee to replace for the following reasons.

* Long Term Injury Supported By Medical Evidence From Hospital Attended By The Player.
* Transfer To Another Club
* Player leaving club by there own violation which must be supported by written document signed by the player or parents concerned where necessary.

20. (a) When a player becomes a registered player with a club/team in any League it shall be an offence for any official, member of any other team or any other person to approach, encourage or influence that player or his/her parents/guardian on his behalf to :

(i) seek a transfer to another team

(ii) participate in training, coaching or games under the auspices of another team

Such offence(s) shall be deemed "poaching" and any person found culpable shall render him/herself and /or his/her club/team liable to a fine and/or suspension and his/her club/team shall :

* be deducted 15 points for a first offence
* be automatically relegated for a further offence.

The practise of teams or large number of players leaving in block i.e. Managers and Players to another club is not to be condoned.


Any clubs who engage in this practise will not be given automatic entry into the DDSL league. On receiving a complaint from the last club that the player signed for, the Executive shall hold the application until a full enquiry is held into the reason for such a move and decisions are taken.

21. No club is entitled to request or invite a player from another club for training, coaching or playing games either within their Club, Academy or Associated Academy during the official playing season.

22. It is recognised that people are appointed by Association Football Clubs to assess players potential who might be influenced to sign for such clubs. These people, known as Scouts/Representatives are prohibited from acting as Directors or in the administration of our League. These people must be licensed or act under accreditation from our league.
Agents are ineligible to act in any capacity within our Clubs or League Administration.

23. The protection and Welfare of Children:

* In line with recent legislation and Government Guidelines (The Child Care Act 1991) and the (Protection for Persons Reporting Abuse Act 1998) in relation to child protection and welfare, it is mandatory that the DDSL should operate with the FAI recommended Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines.
(See FAI Code of Ethics for Under Age Soccer Players, Coaches, Parents and Spectators).

* Any act, statement, conduct or other matter, which harms a child or children or poses or may pose a risk to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour, which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.

* Breaches will become a disciplinary offence.


24. The gathering, compilation, retention, storage or use of any information relating to underage players must be fully with all the requirements of the Data Protection Acts.

25. Each club in membership shall have the right to submit alterations to these rules. Such proposed alterations must be submitted to the Hon. Secretary of the League on or before 31st March in each year and signed for and on behalf of the club proposing such alterations by the Hon. Secretary of the club.

Small Sided Game Rules