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Heartland Soccer Association
Celebrates 45 Years of Soccer!
9161 W 133rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66213
Phone: 913-888-8768
Heartland Soccer Association is recognized as one of the largest soccer leagues and tournament hosts in the country. We offer recreational to premier divisions, ages U8 through U19.
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In soccer, the psychological strength of players is key to winning games and continuing improvement. Mental fitness is an often overlooked part of coaching, and many players are not aware of how big an impact their mindset has on their performance.
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This Month in History: May |
On 23 May 1954, Hannover won their second German championship, beating Kaiserslautern 5-1. And they did it with a little tactical advantage in footwear.
Before the match, eight of Hannover's eleven starters were given new Puma boots with a special feature--screw-in studs. Puma had been developing the technology for several years, first releasing the "Super Atom" model in 1951. When Kaiserslautern won the German championship in 1953, seven of their players wore the Super Atom. By 1954, however, Puma had developed an improved style dubbed the "Brasil" and Hannover quickly adopted the new boots.
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Here’s what you can expect from the high-quality replacement windows of Renewal by Andersen®. Visit www.RenewalbyAndersen.com for more information!
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Common Mistakes Young Athletes Make While Conditioning
1. Wrong fuel = poor performance
Many young athletes either don't eat breakfast or eat the wrong thing for breakfast. They may even skip lunch. Don't forget "breakfast" literally remains "to break a fast ". This means after sleeping all night the body is craving appropriate nutrition. Not eating or eating too many simple sugars and not enough protein and healthy fats is a recipe for poor athletic performances. Eating foods rich in protein, like eggs, and healthy fats, like whole milk or lean meats, will allow the athlete to be well-prepared nutritionally for future events.
2. Lifting too much weight, too soon, too fast, and with poor technique.
Lifting the proper amount of weight, the proper number of times, with good technique will ensure fewer injuries and establish life-long exercise habits. Lifting to muscle fatigue or failure is fine, as long as EACH lift is done with perfect technique EVERY time. Be patient, consistent, and focused, and the strength will come!
3. Keep things simple.
For example, if you want stronger legs, squat! If you want more explosiveness from your legs, jump! If you want more strength to improve or refine a sports-specific technique, copy that move in the weight room. Practice makes perfect, but perfect practice makes perfection!
4. Sleep.
Enough said! If you need ideas on how to sleep better, the internet is full of them! Again, keep it simple. For example, no huge energy drinks full of sugar and caffeine after 3 p.m.
5. If something is hurting, it’s hurting for a reason!
Learn to listen to your body, and it will tell you amazing things. If something hurts acutely, STOP! Use ice and ask for help from your coach, athletic trainer, parent, or teammate. If something hurts for more than three days, ask for help! Don’t let injuries sideline you for longer than is necessary.
6. Use your heart rate to guide the intensity of your workouts.
For simplicity’s sake, 220-age=maximal heart rate. Working out at a submaximal heart rate (85 percent of max heart rate) for prolonged periods increases the risk of injury. No heart rate monitor? If you can talk while exercising, you are in a good zone. Once talking becomes more difficult, you are nearing your submaximal heart rate.
HCA Midwest Health is the official healthcare provider for Heartland Soccer Association and we work with parents and coaches to keep athletes safe and on the field of play year round, learn more about our services at www.hcamidwest.com
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The KC Current is back in action in Kansas City this Memorial Day!
Catch Kristen Hamilton and the Current take on Racing Louisville FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Monday, May 30 at 2 p.m.
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Save The Date For Heartland Award Nights |
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The Referee Corner: Reviewing Advantage …
We were approached by several coaches in April who wanted to better understand what the Referees are being taught about the use of Advantage. The incidents they shared focused on when to let play continue and when to bring the play back for the advantage decision. I did some research and found information that was posted online by the CONCACAF Referee Development Program. Let’s review their comments on the use of Advantage.
Their discussion centered on how and when advantage should be applied. But first, to know when advantage should be applied, we must fully understand what defines advantage in our game.
We could start by looking to the Laws of the Game for the official definition of advantage. Let’s jump right into it and simplify the law. Advantage can be defined as allowing play to continue when an offense (foul) occurs and the team that has just been fouled will be afforded an attacking benefit from the application of the advantage.
Another important aspect of the “advantage clause” is that the referee has the power to penalize the team committing the foul if the anticipated advantage does not actually happen or materialize within a few seconds of the foul. So as a referee, ask yourself: “which option benefits the team that has been fouled?”
- Stopping play, and awarding a free-kick, or
- Allowing the team to keep clear and effective possession.
It may sound complicated, but in reality, it’s a useful officiating tool that ensures teams that are on the receiving end of a foul have an opportunity to keep possession and maintain an attack toward the opponent’s goal.
IFAB or the International Football Association Board, recommends that referees consider the following four criteria and deciding whether to apply advantage or stop play.
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The severity of the offense. In virtually all cases, if the offense warrants a red card, the referee must stop play immediately and send the player off. The exception: when there is a clear opportunity to score a goal.
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The proximity to the goal from where the offense was committed. The closer to the opponent’s goal, the more effective the advantage can be.
- The chances of an immediate promising attack.
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The atmosphere of the match. Atmosphere means the level of game control the referee has at that moment. Will the advantage do more harm to the match control than if the referee whistles for the foul and slowed the game down.
In addition to these considerations, CONCACAF recommends a simplified concept called the 4P’s when considering whether or not to apply advantage. The 4P’s are related to the four questions we just examined. What are the 4P’s?
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Possession of the ball. Which means that the team and the player that was fouled maintains control of the ball.
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Potential for an attack. The ability to continue a credible and dangerous attack to goal .
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Personnel. The skill of the attackers as well as the team that is attacking, having a numerical advantage.
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Proximity. Proximity relates to the distance to the opponent’s goal. The closer to goal the higher, the likelihood of applying advantage. So, you can ask yourself as a referee, does the foul occur and the attacking third, middle third, or defensive third of the field?
The application of advantage may differ (will differ) depending upon the skill level, age level, as well as the overall general control of the match (which is the experience level of the Referee). Please note that possession does not automatically equate to advantage. There must be an opportunity for a clear and effective credible attack by the non-offending team.
As a referee, we must learn to utilize the “wait and see” technique when it comes to the application of the advantage clause. The “wait and see” technique means that we hold our whistle, and we hold our decision to decide and analyze the existence of the 4P’s. Take a split second, take a picture of the play, take a picture of the field, and then ask yourself how many of the 4P’s exist. And do this before applying advantage or stopping the play for a foul.
One of the proudest moments a referee can experience during the match is a goal being scored from the application of the advantage clause. This is truly the definition of excellence. Excellent referees are able to successfully determine the presence of advantage by utilizing the “wait and see” technique to decide whether or not the four-piece exists.
Remember the 4P’s: possession of the ball, potential for attack, personnel, and proximity to goal. Remember possession is only one component of the 4P’s and possession does not always translate to a clear and effective advantage.
To summarize:
•The Advantage clause applies when there has been a foul
•Keeping possession of the ball does not by itself mean that the Advantage clause should be used
•There are 4 P’s. Potential for an attack, personnel and proximity are a part of an effective Advantage decision.
•If the foul happens in the defending third, the Referee will most likely call the foul
•If there is a clear potential for continuing the attack, the Referee should use the Advantage clause
•What if the Advantage does not materialize?
•The Referee can penalize for the initial foul. This means bringing the ball back to the spot of the foul and awarding the free kick
•The Referee should make this decision in a few seconds
•What do you think the correct decision and restart should be for the following scenario?
•The attacking team is fouled just outside the Penalty Area. The player who was fouled does manage to get a pass off to a teammate. The teammate takes a shot on goal. The shot is saved by the goalkeeper (they parry the ball away from the goal) and goes to another attacker. This attacker takes a shot on goal and misses. The ball goes over the goal line, not under the cross bar or between the goal posts).
•Do you:
Bring the ball back to the spot of the foul that resulted in the application of Advantage
Do you determine that the attacking team had a fair opportunity to score and missed? If this is your decision the restart would be a goal kick.
You have the information provided to the Referees. What is your decision and why?
Thank you for allowing us to share another Referee Corner examination of the Laws of the Game with you.
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The Referee Blog
Responding to the Referee shortage…Rebuilding the Referee Pool. What you are seeing and what we are doing …
At the beginning of the spring season, we talked about the Referee shortages across the country and what this might mean to those teams playing at the Heartland Soccer Association. Recent articles from Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado confirm that Kansas is not alone in experiencing the shortage. We know the problem. What you want to know is what are we doing to keep soccer growing at Heartland.
This young Referee was 13 years old when we took the picture. He is now in college. He is not refereeing soccer at the present time. He is too busy studying. During his time at Heartland, he developed into one of our more effective officials. His story is part of our response to the Referee shortage. The solution is both quantity and quality. You can help us and yourselves in both areas.
Let’s start with quality. I am sure you have noticed how many young Referees are working your matches today. These officials are the key to rebuilding the Referee pool if we can keep them coming back. Referees are certified online and in the classroom. They are developed on the field. Experience is the cornerstone for effective officials.
Last weekend I talked to several of our new Referees (people who got certified in the Spring of 2022) to hear how things were going for them. The assumption is that getting better will result in good experiences which will bring them back.
•The first young man had just finished several games where he was assigned as the Center Referee. He told me that he is a soccer player (most of our Referees are), and that he learned that being a Referee is not always easy. As a player he said the Referees were wrong a lot of the time. He thinks they are “not so much wrong now.”
•Another young lady was doing her first match ever as an Assistant Referee. She was unsure of what to do in a “real” game. She knew that she should stay even with the second to the last defender. Then the ball went over the goal line. She was 15 yards from the goal line, even with the second to the last defender, but did not know what the proper restart should be (a goal kick or a corner kick). “It is hard to remember all that you have to do” is what she told the mentor. The mentor helped her through her uncertainty by shadowing her on the line. By the end of the half, she not only stayed even with the second to the last defender. She hustled and followed the ball all the way to the goal line and made correct decisions. Her investment in the first match will make her much more effective in her next match. Thank you to the Mentor also.
•The third example is one that doesn’t happen that often but did on Saturday. The person assigned to do the Center had just completed another game. It did not go well, so he asked to be excused from doing the next Center. One of the AR’s (another new Referee) who had never centered said she would try it. Again, she is a player, so felt like she could do it. The Mentor observed her in the first half. She was sometimes unsure of where to be on the field during dynamic play. She was not entirely comfortable blowing her whistle, so fouls went uncalled. As you would expect, there were a lot of suggestions from the coaches and the parents. At halftime, the Mentor gave this young lady a few ideas. Her second half performance was much more effective. Another player turned Referee experienced the kind of success that will bring her back again.
Referee development is something that happens on the field of play. The conundrum is that we learn more from our mistakes than we do from doing things right. Therefore, we thank you for your patience as we develop our Referees.
I wanted to share an experience from another State to highlight how you can help us build the quality in the Referee pool by contributing to Referees coming back.
The match was a U13 boys’ game. Here is the report from the Referee:
Second half of 0-0 game (18 minutes left). Player pulled the jersey of the player to stop his progress with the ball. There was another defender in the box, so it wasn't a DOGSO offense, but I did give him a yellow card. The Coach started yelling from the sideline about it being his first foul, he should not get a yellow card for that.
The attacking team asked for their 10 yards for the kick. I paced it off, and told the players "Here is the line, keep your hands down". I moved into position for the kick. The attacker stepped forward to take the kick and both players in the wall had already stepped towards the ball kicking their legs into the air to block the ball. I had observed this action before from the team, so this time I blew my whistle and carded both players for failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted. This was the second yellow card for one of the players, who had to leave the field.
The coach started yelling from the sideline, crossed midfield by about 10 yards and stepped onto the field to start yelling again. I walked over to him, and said, "You need to get back into your technical area" at which point he argued that "They are just kids, they didn't know what they were doing, you just want to give out cards to just my team. I pulled out my red card and told him "You are being ejected for crossing into the opponents’ technical area and onto the field." He refused to leave at first, I reminded him that time was still running. He left the technical side of the field and went to the parents’ side but did not leave the field. I pointed to the parking lot and yelled 'Off the field coach'. parents began yelling "He's not on the field, let the boys play, you don't know what you're doing.”
I would like to believe this would not happen at Heartland. Only you can make this a true statement.
Quantity: If we have more Referees, we can reduce the number of games each Referee has to do and have a larger pool to assign to make sure that all the matches are covered with three certified officials. Your contribution is to consider becoming a certified Referee. There are many benefits of doing this. I talked to a couple of dads who got certified at the same time their kids did. They both said, “if I must bring them to the park and pick them up, why not spend time working with them as a part of the same Refereeing team?” You want to share experiences with your kids. This is a fantastic way to make memories together and to watch them grow into contributing adults from another perspective.
Thank you for supporting the beautiful game that we all love. We look forward to hearing your encouragement for the Referees from the sidelines and to welcome you to the Referee family as another certified official.
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Heartland Referee Meetings
Referees of all ages and experience levels are encouraged to attend Heartland's monthly referee meetings! Join us to learn tips and tricks for ARs and Referees, fun games, vital information, and fabulous prizes! Parents are always welcome.
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Get certified to be a referee!
As our local soccer community grows, the need for new and experienced referees continues. Join America's Largest Soccer League. More details on referee meeting schedules, training and education can be found on the
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When did you start reffing?
I started reffing at 12 years old for Rush.
What made you decide to get certified to referee?
I love the game and reffing gives you a different perspective than as a player.
What is your favorite part about reffing?
I love meeting the players from the teams.
What is a life lesson you feel you have learned from reffing?
I've learned to make a decision and stick with it.
Do you play soccer?
I stopped playing soccer in 8th grade.
Do you participate in any sports/activities/clubs/ youth groups/ community service?
I play pretty competitive volleyball with Dynasty. My team won nationals and so far this year we have competed really well. Through volleyball, I've been able to train with the USAV National Team Development Program the last two years. I also compete with P4:13 beach club and finished 5th at Nationals in the U14 division the last time I was at Nationals. I still love basketball and play with Run GMC girls basketball when we all have a free weekend off from volleyball. At ONW, I love competing with the volleyball and basketball programs. My coaches are awesome. I volunteer with the Youth Volunteer Corps and mentor girls through volleyball.
What do you enjoy most?
I definitely love competing in volleyball but anytime I'm on the court with my teams, regardless of sport, that is the best feeling.
Do you have any hobbies?
I am an art fanatic so I love drawing or making sweet cards for my friends and family. I'm also a big fan of family game night and hanging with my friends.
What was the last book you read?
The Silence Between Us, It's about a deaf girl working through the difficulties of going to a hearing school. I love that despite all the adversity she faced, she was resilient and found love in herself and with her boyfriend.
What types of movies do you like? Action
What was the last movie you saw? The Adam Project
Favorite part of the movie? My favorite part was the humor both Adams had.
What is your favorite sports team? KC Chiefs
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US Soccer Coaching Courses
Coming this Summer
Kansas Youth Soccer Coaching Education Department is offering multiple coaching courses this winter for soccer coaches to get more education to better their players on the field. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to expand your soccer knowledge during the off season and be a better coach come the Spring season.
To see what coaching courses are coming up please CLICK HERE.
Questions on Coaching Education please contact Kansas Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Paul
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AB May
Academy Sports and Outdoors
AC Print
Barley's Kitchen and Tap
BFAME KC Entertainment
Burger Shed
Capelli Sport
Chick-fil-A 7500 W 135th St
Chick-Fil-A 15919 W 87th St Pkwy
City Thrift
Commercial Capital
Dick's Sporting Goods
Drs. Hawks, Besler, Rogers & Stoppel
Easton Roofing
Fajita Pete's
Fearless & Capable
GameChanger
Goodcents
Grimaldi's
Hasty Awards
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HCA Midwest Health
Hy-Vee
Jimmy John's
KC Current
Kansas City Comets
K.C. Hopps
Krusich Dental
Land of Paws
Levine Advertising
Menorah Medical Center
Molle Automotive Group
Museum at Prairiefire
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt
Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Papa John's
PinStripes
Pittcraft Printing
Raising Cane's
Rob Ellerman and
Reece Nichols Real Estate
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Renewal by Andersen
Research Medical Center
Salty Iguana
Security Bank
Soccer Master
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City II
Starting Point Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
State Farm-Harlan Parker
The Merchant Fitness
The Rub Bar-B-Que
Tick Tock Escape Rooms KC
Trace (Alpine Replay, Inc.)
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
TW Sportswear + Print, Ship & Signs
Urban Air
Xfinity
Yokohama
Zaxby's
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Heartland Soccer Association is seeking action photo shots of kids of all ages and abilities playing soccer in Heartland League Games or Tournaments. Submitted photos may be included in Heartland Tournament, League and other promotional materials as well as social media posts.
Instructions for submitting photos:
All submitted photo files must be .jpg format, must be a minimum of 1,200 x 1,600 pixels, and no larger than 2 MB in size. Submitting a photo doesn't guarantee that it will be used.
By submitting a photo for consideration for use in Heartland Soccer Association promotional materials, you agree that:
1. You are the sole author of the photograph and control all rights for its use. The photograph is original. You have the rights to grant usage of the photograph as stated below. There has been no prior sale, publication or transfer of rights to the photograph. The photograph shall not contain any libelous or scandalous matter. To the best of your knowledge, the photograph's creation, publication and use shall not infringe any copyright, right of privacy or right of publicity, or infringe or violate any right of any third party.
2. You grant to Heartland Soccer Association all rights to use the photograph in any and all forms of media, including but not limited to electronic, digital media and print.
3. You allow Heartland Soccer Association the right to edit, revise, adapt and crop the photo as necessary.
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THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS COMING! #KC2026
Sign the petition and show the world that Kansas City deserves to be a host city for the WORLD CUP!!!
Sign the Petition
Donate
Volunteer
Kansas City - In The Heart of It All
#KC2026 #United2026
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