August 2025

1. The LDSL fixtures are up on the website, once the fixture appears on the web site no games will be called off unless for exceptional circumstances. When the season finishes the top two teams in the league are promoted and the bottom two teams are relegated.
All boys’ leagues will have a 2-round league except for the following. Boys u 15 div 3, 3 rounds, and u 12 div 2 and u 12 div 3 will have a 1 round league
All Girls leagues will have a 3-round league, except for u 12 div 1 it will have 2 rounds. 
A player can only play and be registered with 1 team within their own age group same rule applies for playing up a year.
Any club can only sign one player that has represented the LDSL inter league teams from last season across all competitive age groups U12-U16.
For clubs with boys and girls’ teams you can sign 1 girl and 1 boy that have been on representative teams.
The LDSL will be using the same paper team sheets as last season for the upcoming season
The link to print off team sheets can be found here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1px9oBO_e0FWixhGCAUckEMrnPa-cbDJG/view

2. New Rules for the coming season Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
In order to combat time-wasting by goalkeepers the Law now reads
A corner kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, controls the ball with
their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds before releasing it.
A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) when:
• the ball is between their hands/arms or between their hand(s)/arm(s) and any surface
(e.g. ground, own body)
• holding the ball in their outstretched open hand(s)
• bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air
The referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball and the eight seconds
begin and will visually count down the last five seconds with a raised hand.
Explanation
If a goalkeeper has control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds,
the referee will now award a corner kick (rather than an indirect free kick) on the side of the
field closest to the goalkeeper’s position when penalised. There is no disciplinary action
unless the goalkeeper repeatedly commits the offence.
To assist the goalkeeper, the referee will signal the final five seconds using a raised hand.

Law 9 – The Ball in and out of Play
With regard to game participants off the field of play, the Law now reads
If, without intending to interfere with play unfairly, a team official, substitute, substituted or
sent-off player or player who is temporarily off the field of play (injury, adjusting equipment
etc.) touches the ball while it is still in play but when it is clearly leaving the field of play, this
is penalised with an indirect free kick; there is no sanction.
Explanation
There are times when a coach, substitute or player who is temporarily off the field of play
(among others) touches the ball as it is going out of play with the intention of helping the
game restart quickly.
In such cases, an indirect free kick will be awarded but there will be no disciplinary sanction,
unless such a sanction is to be issued for persistently leaving the technical area.
Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play
The Law now reads If, when play was stopped:
• the ball was inside the penalty area, the referee drops it for the defending team
goalkeeper in their penalty area
• the ball was outside the penalty area; the referee drops it for one player of the team that
has or would have gained possession if this can be determined by the referee; otherwise,
it is dropped for one player of the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its
position when play was stopped.
Explanation
There are times when the ball would clearly have gone to an opponent of the team that last
touched the ball. In such instances, it is fairer for the ball to be dropped for the team that
would have gained possession, as long as this is clear to the referee.
Outside the penalty area, the ball will now be dropped at its position when play was
stopped.
Law 5 – The Referee
Following the introduction of the eight second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the ball the
referee can now signal the last five seconds of the eight-second period with their hand(s)/arm(s)
Explanation
This signal is designed to provide a clear visual reference that the goalkeeper must release
the ball within the allowed time.
It's important to continue to use your voice to be proactive and ensure the keeper releases
the ball.
Law 3 – The Players
The FAI is committed to reinforcing the ‘Only the Captain’ policy at all levels of the game.
This now included in the IFAB Laws of the Game.

Normal interactions between players and the referee are allowed and remain important
•Players showing dissent by word or action will be cautioned • Key decisions will be explained to the captain
• Penalty area decisions/ Red cards/ Serious Foul Play/ Goal Decisions
•The captain must approach the referee and engage in a respectful manner.
• It may be helpful to delay the restart to allow the captain to explain the decision to the
players in the vicinity
Consistency is key in making this policy a success. All referees must apply the policy
consistently and firmly.

HIGHLY IMPORTANT - LDL TEAM SQUADS - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Following on from queries and the set up of adding players on squads it's important to note the following.

Clubs need to be clear that they understand the following.

- The team that a player plays with first will be their recognised squad. 

- A players added to A roster 

- B players added to B roster

- C players added to C roster

- D players added to D roster. 

- Players from D, C & B teams are entitled to assist the team above them as per current rules but this should only happen after they play with their own team first. 

- If a player plays in a team above him before his own team then he will be recognised with that team and therefore can not play back down (example. B team player and added to B roster plays with A team before playing with B team then he becomes an A player and can not play with the B team)

- Players who will be assisting teams above them need to be added to rosters but this is only to be done following playing with their own squad. 

- Adding the same players to all rosters is not acceptable and will only lead to ineligibility.
- if a player on the Junior C or B team is a sub player for the A team and doesn't play but is on the bench only, that player has to enter the field of play to become a player of the squad.
 

 

Men’s amateur & youth competitions, which previously operated during the winter season, will now be scheduled within the playing months of the aligned (calendar) season. Please note that a number of national competitions will adopt a hybrid format during the transitional period.

 

The following competitions are included in this transition:

 

From September, a number of hybrid competitions will operate to support the transition. These include:

 

 

Leagues will participate in their respective Provincial competitions, with the winner from each province qualifying for the National semi-finals in January 2026.

Please note: Each Provincial FA will determine its qualifying format, and only one team shall progress from their province for each competition.

 

Both the FAI Under 17 Cup and the FAI Youth Cup will begin their National Phase with the Round of 32 in January 2026.

 

 

Additionally, several single-fixture or weekend-format competitions will be adapted to reflect the aligned season schedule, including:

 

 

It should be noted that a number of competitions already operate on a calendar season basis, including all FAI Women’s National Cup Competitions.

 

Entry for the next round of Men’s and Women’s National Cup Competitions will open at the end of 2025. 
Online entry forms will be circulated to affiliated leagues for distribution to clubs and will also be accessible via the FAI Connect platform. Competition dates will be confirmed in due course and communicated well in advance of the opening of entries.

 

Please also note that all clubs entering FAI National Cup Competitions must have achieved a minimum of the FAI Club Mark – Entry Level. Clubs that do not meet this requirement will not be eligible to participate.

September