Aug 5 - 7, 2022
Registration Deadline:
Registration Closed
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Aug 19 - 21, 2022
Registration Deadline:
July 25, 2022
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Sep 2 - 4, 2022
Registration Deadline:
August 8, 2022
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2022 Spring League Division Winners Awards Nights at Sporting KC |
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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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Why are vision and awareness important on the soccer field?👀 ⚽️ Stellar soccer vision comes from hard work and good habits. Here's are some ways to develop your field awareness:
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This Month in History: July
17 July 2011
The World Cup Turns Japanese
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On 17 July 2011, Japan won the Women's World Cup, beating the US on penalties,
2-2 (3-1).
It was the capstone of a remarkable run for Japan, whose history in the competition included one quarterfinal appearance (in 1995) to go with four group-stage exits. But they had put the rest of the world on notice by reaching the semi-finals in the 2008 Olympics before losing to the United States.
They finished second in their World Cup group to England to set up a stunning extra-time won over hosts Germany in the quarterfinals, then beat Sweden 3-1 in the semis to fix their date with two-time champions the United States.
Playing before a crowd of 48,817 at Frankfurt's Commerzbank-Arena, the two teams played to a scoreless stalemate in the first half due in large part to outstanding performances from the two keepers, Ayumi Kaihori and Hope Solo. At the break, US manager Pia Sundhage replaced support striker Lauren Cheney with forward Alex Morgan, who delivered a go-ahead strike in the 69th minute. But Japanese winger Aya Miyama equalized in the 81st minute to send the match into extra time.
There, the Americans again pulled ahead courtesy of a 104th-minute goal from forward Abby Wambach, but Japan again drew level, this time with an amazing strike from midfielder and captain Homare Sawa, who deflected a corner kick into the goal in the 117th minute using the outside of her foot.
In the shootout, Kaihori saved two of the Americans' first three attempts, with the other going over the bar. Solo made a save of her own, so the tally was 2-0 for Japan after three kicks each. Wambach converted the next shot for the US, but central defender Saki Kumagai then beat Solo to capture the trophy.
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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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Capelli Sport ⚽ Just In:
The Signature Collection
Colorful youth options for the season
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Should You Work Out Twice a Day?
When it comes to exercise, it can be hard enough to get to the gym once a day, let alone twice, but sometimes multiple workouts (also known as doubles) make sense. Wondering if working out twice a day might be for you? Consider the following.
If you're an experienced endurance athlete, it might be beneficial to log the occasional second workout. If you're training for an event like a marathon or triathlon, sometimes doubles are necessary. Logging two workouts a day will allow you to increase training volume and aerobic endurance, meaning you'll be able to run, ride or swim longer before you get tired. And if you have a triathlon on your calendar, you'll want to experiment with "brick workouts," which are training sessions that include two back-to-back disciplines, like a swim-bike or a bike-run. Two-a-day workouts are especially important if you have a half or full IRONMAN on your calendar—you need to prepare your body for the rigors of a multi-hour, multisport race.
When to Double Up
Interval or speed workout days are another time when you might want to fit in a second session. If you log a tough interval workout in the morning (i.e. mile repeats on the track), consider going for an easy swim or slow jog later in the day. This can help flush waste products from your muscles, as well as speed the delivery of blood and nutrients, leading to faster recovery—essential when you have a goal race or event on the calendar.
Not Just for Elite Athletes
Even if you don't consider yourself an athlete, doubles might have some health benefits. According to the American Heart Association, adults should get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise (or 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise) each week, plus a few strength-training sessions. Depending on your schedule, you might want to double up on workouts some days and take complete rest days on others. And while you may feel hardcore, logging multiple workouts in a day doesn't have to be extreme: It can be as simple as bodyweight exercises in the morning and a power walk after work.
Sleep and Nutrition Are Even More Important
If you want to test the waters with multiple workouts, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. You should give yourself a minimum of four hours between workouts (although eight-plus is more ideal). With extra workouts, you'll also need to be more mindful of your sleep and nutrition. On days when you log multiple sweat sessions, make sure you're eating, drinking and sleeping enough. If you ignore the essentials, double workouts could lead to injury, overtraining or burnout.
Don't Overdo It
You've probably heard the saying "listen to your body," but when it comes to working out twice a day, it's more important than ever. If you've never done doubles before, ease in slowly (think once a week, not every day), and if you experience pain or find yourself struggling to get through workouts, it might be time to cut back.
Why?
The final thing to ask yourself before you log a second workout is "why?" You want to make sure every run, ride, yoga class or weight lifting session has its purpose. If it works better for your schedule to squeeze in shorter sessions or you're going through an intense training block, doubles might make sense. But conversely, working out twice a day can be a bit of a hassle (double showers, more laundry), and it may make you more prone to injury. Finding a schedule that works for you might take some trial and error, so be flexible if you decide to dive in.
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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Wow! Kyle Atkins has been selected to officiate the FIFA World Cup in Qatar this November! Kyle got his start in reffing with Heartland Soccer. We could not be more proud of Kyle and are so honored to play a role in his success. Congratulation Kyle and thanks for being such a wonderful role model to all our young referees! |
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Anthony Sobolevsky, Brendan Sweetman, Velimir Stefanovic were selected to officiate the 2022 USYS National Championship in Orlando, Florida next month! We are so proud of these three young men and can't wait to see you all shine! Congratulations! |
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The Referee Corner:
The updated Laws of the Game have been released.
The governing body of FIFA (IFAB) releases the changes to the Laws of the Game every summer. They just released the new 2022-2023 Laws. These Laws will go into effect for the Fall 2022 Heartland season.
I am currently reviewing these changes. From a cursory look the primary changes for this season include substitutions (adding more for each match and including additional substitutions when matches go into extra time), and a new sanction called the “SIN BIN.”
I will begin our investigations into the Laws after a more thorough review and after the Kansas State Referee Committee releases the implementation schedule. You can download the PDF that details the changes for 2022-2023.
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The Referee Blog
The Referee Pool. Getting ready for the Fall season …
With the Spring 2022 season in the books, it is an appropriate use of time to reflect on where we are and what we have to do to be ready for the upcoming Fall season. For the Referee community the challenges remain the same – having the right quantity of officials with the experience and quality to provide safe and fair soccer experiences for the Heartland soccer community.
Let’s look at quality first: Our senior Referees are working a number of higher-level leagues during the summer. USL, USK-W, NPSL and the KCKASL are semi-pro and adult leagues which challenge our Referees because they are a higher level of competition with more senior and skilled players to prepare these senior Referees for the college and the high school season. This past weekend Kansas Referees worked USL-W matches in Kansas City, the Adult State Cup Division 1 Final, and the Kansas Adult Soccer League (Divisions 1, 2 and 3).
Our younger top-tier Referees (see the picture above) were in Indianapolis for the Region II tournament. Yes, some of these younger Referees will be going away to college in the fall so we won’t see them at Heartland. Others, however, will be back working matches at Heartland sharing their new knowledge with the younger officials working with them on your matches.
Referees, like players, operate in a pyramid structure. Those at the highest level (FIFA badges) can be assigned to the World Cup (again, only the best). In fact, one of Heartland’s alumnus officials – Kyle Atkins – will be one of the 5 officials from the USA in Qatar. There are 150,000 certified Referees in the US. 5 out of 150,000 shows how selective the top of the Referee pyramid really is, and how Kyle’s performance on the field stands out.
What about quality for the bottom of the pyramid – the Grassroots Referees that will be assigned to your matches at Heartland? In May and June KSYSA re-implemented monthly Referee meetings to improve the quality of these officials. Newer officials discussed the Law, reviewed game clips, and talked about how to apply the Referee thought process to make more correct decisions. These newer Referees were put into groups with more senior Referees (including officials who work the semi-pro and the adult matches and some who represented Kansas at the State Cup and Regional tournament) to help them take their application of the Law to the next level. On-field performance is rewarded with Referees moving up the pyramid (higher aged players, higher levels of competition and more evaluations). The future is made more secure when this advanced knowledge is shared with the Grassroots officials. The foundation for Referee effectiveness is being set. Future mentors are being trained and working relationships among Referees are being formed. This prepares our Referees for the primary training ground for future effectiveness and success – game experience.
We are working on quality between seasons and during the season with the mentoring and education programs. This is how we are getting ready for the fall.
Now, let’s look at quantity: Our goal is to have enough Referees to staff every match and to do this without overworking any individual Referee. To date in 2022 we have certified over 1,000 new Referees. Recertification rates have dropped making the total number of Referees for 2022 at 2,075 which is below the 2019 total Referee numbers (2,139) and our high-water mark of 2,371 in 2018. The increase in the number of players and teams means we need to certify even more new Referees. This is where you can help. We will be posting Entry Level classes on the Kansas Referee page (access the link here become a new Referee).
What are the benefits of becoming a new Referee?
- As a player, knowing the Laws of the Game can help you become even an even better player.
- As a player, you understand the player mentality. This can help you better manage matches.
- You contribute to SAFE and FAIR soccer in the State of Kansas.
- You stay engaged with the game you love.
- You control your schedule (work when you want to work)
- You get to work outside and get exercise on the job, and
- You get paid
Can you be the kind of Referee you would want assigned to your games? If so, check clinic availability and join the Kansas Referee family.
Thank you! We look forward to seeing you on the pitch in the fall….
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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 all start reffing? I started reffing this year and reffed my 1st game the 29th of March.
What made you decide to get certified to referee? I decided to get certified because I had some friends doing it and I saw the pay was good.
What is your favorite part about reffing? My favorite part about reffing is the community of referees, and being able to communicate and build friendships through reffing.
What is a life lesson you feel you have learned from reffing? The life lesson I learned from reffing is that no matter what anyone says, trust your gut, even when parents will yell and get mad at you, you can’t always please everyone and you must stick with your call, but also be 100% on it.
What level of referee do you aspire to be? The level of referee I aspire to be is a State Cup referee or even maybe a regional referee when I turn 16.
Do you participate in any activities? I participate in school activities such as running events like track and cross-country, I did recycling club, where we helped pick up trash around the school and tech crew for a school play. In addition, I have done tai-kwon-do, and swimming.
What else do you enjoy to doing when not reffing? Some of my hobbies are watching show/movies, playing videogames, biking, running, and hanging out with friends.
What was the last book you read? The last book I read was about a Holocaust victim, I don’t remember the name of the book, but my favorite part was when he tries to flee Germany back to Poland, (historical fiction).
What kind of movies do you enjoy? I like action, comedy, and horror movies. The last movie I saw was TopGun Maverick. My favorite part of the movie was when Maverick and Rooster steal the enemy plane to try to get out of the area before the “bandits” came.
What is your favorite sports team (s)? My favorite sports teams are the chiefs, royals, Sporting Kansas City, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Avalanche.
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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
Chicken N Pickle
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
McShane & Brady Law
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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