The Spring 2013 DSL Playoffs will be held the weekend of Wednesday, May 29 - Sunday, June 2, 2013 at Highmark Stadium in Station Square.  Highmark Stadium is the new home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Two games will be held on Wednesday, May 29 at a neutral site; The remaining games will be held on Thursday, May 30 - Sunday, June 2, 2013 at Highmark Stadium in Station Square.

On Saturday night, June 1^st the Riverhounds will be playing against the Rochester Rhinos at 7:00PM and the DSL will have a discounted ticket program and all DSL players will be able to be on the field for Pre-game activities with the professional players. The players can also buy DSL/Riverhounds T-Shirts to get signed by the players.

For JV and Varsity, Sections 1 & 2 comprise the Olympic Division and Sections 3 and 4 comprise the World Cup Division. The top 3 JV and Varsity teams from sections 1 & 2 will make the Olympic Division playoffs. The top 3 Varsity teams from sections 3 & 4 will make the World Cup Division playoffs.  The top 3 JV teams from sections 3 & 4, plus two wild cards based on total points will make the playoffs.

• Coaches should check in at the DSL Registration area before their first game for the following:
  • Turn in a signed Playoff Roster for your team. Coaches should sign the roster which verifies that all players listed go to their school, are in the grades listed, and were rostered by the 4th game of the season. Any exceptions should be brought to the attention of the DSL Coordinator or the school risks forfeiting their game(s). Playoff roster forms can be found under the DSL Forms link to the left.
  • Turn in your $100.00 playoff fee. This fee must be CASH ONLY as it will be used to pay the referees.
  • Coaches must have 2 game cards per game – same as regular season.

Playoff Format & Divisional Seeding
Section 1-2 = Olympic
Section 3-4 = World Cup

* For seeding and wild card selection, in the event two teams have the same number of points, the following tie breaker will be used:

Tie Breaker:

1. Head-to-Head competition between the two teams during the regular season
2. Goal differential between two teams that are tied (4 point differential per game maximum)
3. Fewest goals against between two teams that are tied
4. Goal differential overall for the season (4 point differential per game maximum)
5. Fewest goals against overall for the season

The seeding for the playoffs will be based on Sections per the table below.

1. Tournament Location: – The JV and Varsity playoffs will be held Wednesday, May 29 - Sunday, Jun 2, 2013. Games on Wednesday will be held at a neutral site.  Games Thursday through Sunday will be at Highmark Stadium at Station Square.
2. Arrival and Check In: All JV and Varsity coaches should check in at the DSL Registration area before their first game. When checking in, coaches must turn in a signed Playoff Roster and the Tournament Fee. Coaches should sign the roster which verifies that all players listed go to their school, are in the grades listed, and were rostered by the 4th game of the season. Any exceptions should be brought to the attention of the DSL Coordinator or the school risks forfeiting their game(s). Playoff roster forms can be found under the DSL Forms link to the left. The team warm up is at the far end of the field. Upon arriving, teams should move to the Warm Up area by going behind the fan bleachers on the left side of the field.
3. Playoff fee: The playoff fee is $100.00 per team. The fees are used to pay the referees so coaches must pay in CASH.
4. Game Cards: Coaches should have 2 game cards for every game similar to the regular season. One game card should be given to the referee and the other to the opposing coach. The DSL does not need game cards but coaches should ensure that their roster matches the game card.
5. Changeover between games and warm Up:When finished playing your game, coaches must move their teams off the bench to the Warm up area or to the Tent area to have their post game meeting. This will allow the next team to take the bench. Teams should ensure that their empty drink bottles and other trash are thrown away. For warm up, coaches should warm up their team before walking on their game field. Unless you are playing the first game of the day, there is no warm up time on the field between games. The game schedule is tight so as soon as the game before you ends, coaches should move their teams to their bench. Within minutes, the referees will call for captains. Following this, the teams should say the Diocese prayer by the team benches, then the game will commence. The home team will have the bench at the near end of the field that is closest to the Entrance.
6. Game Balls: There will be 2 game balls provided by the DSL for every JV and Varsity game. When the Tournament transitions from a JV game to a Varsity game or vice versa, the referees are asked to come to the DSL tent and get the correct soccer balls.
7. Fan conduct: It is important that fans do not yell at referees at any time. If this happens, parents will be warned, if it happens repeatedly, the parents will be asked to leave the field. If an extreme circumstance, a red card will be issues to the coach and/or a forfeit by the team. Parents or family members are only allowed on the spectator side line where the bleachers are located. There will be no fans allowed behind the goals.
8. Section Champs Ceremony: After their first game, the regular season Section Champions will be presented with their team trophy in a brief ceremony. Parents are encouraged to bring cameras.
9. Concession:Everyone is encouraged to use the concession. Teams are discouraged from having full tailgate parties.
10. Weather: In the event of lightning, the DSL tent will sound an alarm and all players, coaches, and families should move to their vehicles.
11. Lost and Found: The lost and found will be in the Concession.
12. JV and Varsity Games: There will be a maximum of 3 coaches on the bench during the game. Coaches are defined as head coaches, assistant coaches, parents, high school or college kids, or any other non players. The JV and Varsity games will be 30 minutes halves with a 5 minute half time. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, there will be a five (5) minute Sudden Death overtime. The team that scores first will win. If the game is still tied at the end of overtime, the game will go to a shootout where each team will select 5 shooters from the players who were on the field at the end of sudden death. At the end of sudden death, coaches must keep their 11 players on the field. Each team’s shooter, in alternating fashion, will take a penalty kick from the 12 yard spot until all 5 players from each team have shot. If the score is still tied after 5 shots from each team, then each team will select 5 different shooters and there will be a “sudden death” shootout meaning that if one team scores and the other team misses, then the team that scores is the winning team.
13. Championship Games: Prior to each Championship Game on Sunday, there will be a pre-game ceremony near the fan side of the field. Families are encouraged to bring cameras. Following each Championship game, coaches should move their teams to the Tent area for a post game ceremony. Coaches are asked to conduct their post game meetings, pictures, etc, after the DSL post game ceremony. When coaches reach the tent, they will be asked to consult on their All Tournament team players and also on one Most Outstanding Player from each team. These players will receive medals and plaques respectively. The DSL staff will present the team trophies to the head coach then the head coach should present individual medals to their team members.