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Referee Availability for League & Tournaments
As our local soccer community grows, the need for new and experienced referes continues. Join America’s Largest Soccer League. More details on referee meeting schedules, training, and education can be found on the Referee Classes page. Games are available at SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex, Swope Soccer Village, Compass Mineral Sporting Youth Fields, and new GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex. Sign Up to Become a Referee.
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HEARTLAND INVITATIONAL GIRLS
Sponsored by CH Roofing & Exteriors
Nov 4 - 6, 2022
Registration Deadline:
October 3, 2022
HEARTLAND INVITATIONAL BOYS
Sponsored by CH Roofing & Exteriors
Nov 11 - 13, 2022
Registration Deadline:
October 10, 2022
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Sponsored by CH Roofing & Exteriors
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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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Heartland
Rainout Line:
(913) 307-3684
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The most important skill in any soccer player’s arsenal is their vision: the ability to see the field, understand how play is developing, and make the right decision. Stellar soccer vision comes from hard work and good habits:
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This Month in History: September
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On 2 September 1929, the Eastern Professional Soccer League (otherwise known as the Eastern Soccer League, or ESL) launched its second--and last--season.
The ESL was created as the result of a schism between the older American Soccer League and the United States Football Association. For financial and scheduling reasons, the ASL had objected to playing in the USFA-sponsored National Challenge Cup and boycotted the tournament. In response, the USFA suspended the ASL and helped launch the Eastern Professional Soccer League as a replacement.
The new league included eight teams, three from the former ASL (Bethlehem Steel FC (pictured, from 1924), Newark Skeeters and New York Giants), four from the Southern New York Soccer Association (New York Hispano, New York Celtics, Philadelphia Centennials and IRT Rangers), and one new team (New York Hakoah).
For the second season, Centennials and Celtic had dropped out and were replaced by Victoria Hungaria and Newark Portuguese.
The ESL managed to play only half of its new season before financial pressures--including the October 1929 stock market crash--took their toll on the sport nationally. In November 1929, the ASL reconciled with the USFA and the Eastern Professional Soccer League was dissolved.
At the time, Bethlehem Steel were at the top of the standings and were thus declared champions.
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Register Now for Heartland Winter League 2022-2023
Registration closes Nov. 1st
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Go behind the scenes at Children's Mercy Park! Learn about the history of Sporting KC and take a look at the Pitch, Press Box, Broadcast Booth, Locker Room & more!
For more information contact
or 913-912-7578.
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2022 Tournament Team Numbers
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Border Battle '22 - 155
Midwest College Showcase '22 - 68
Heartland Spring Cup '22 - 139
KC Champions Cup '22 - 439
Mother's Day Classic '22 - 422
Kansas City Invitational '22 - 361
Heartland Open Cup '22 - 61
Fall Kick Off Challenge '22 - 252
Heartland Midwest Classic '22 - 171
Midwest All Boys '21 - 215
Midwest All Girls '21 - 289
Heartland Invitational Girls '21 - 383
Heartland Invitational Boys '21 - 411
*In the last 12 months Heartland welcomed teams from a total of 17 states and Canada.
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Gather with friends and family where sophistication meets fun. Pinstripes combines Italian-American cuisine with the entertainment and excitement of bowling and bocce in Overland Park.
Athletes and Coaches get 20% off at Pinstripes.
Mention Heartland Soccer to redeem offer.
This offer is for dine-in only, valid through
Dec 2022. No minimum spend is required.
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Sneaky Ways to Make Exercise a Habit
When it comes to exercise, most of us have the best of intentions, but it's all too easy for busy schedules, Netflix or the snooze button to get in the way. Before you know it, weeks or months go by without breaking a sweat. But here's the good news—if you're ready to get back into it, incorporating fitness into your life doesn't have to be difficult. If you're looking for ways to make exercise an automatic part of your routine, these tips can make the process a little easier.
Schedule a sweat session.
If you want to make exercise a non-negotiable part of your day, add it to your calendar, and treat it like an important meeting. You wouldn't blow off a work event or a conference call, right? If you give your workout the same respect, we guarantee you'll be more likely to get it done. Plus, checking something off your to-do list always feels motivating!
Keep your workout gear front and center.
Have you ever heard the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind?" When it comes to exercise, your motto should be the opposite. Sleep in your workout gear to help resist the call of the snooze button, keep your gym bag by the front door or store your yoga mat on the couch. Having a visual reminder will help you make the conscious decision to follow through on your workout.
Get creative.
Exercise doesn't always have to look like an hour at the gym. If you live within a few miles of work, consider a walk, run or bike commute. Or use your lunch hour to walk up and down stairs and perform body weight exercises like squats and lunges. Not a fan of traditional exercise? A vigorous hour of housecleaning or yard work can count too!
Make it social.
Ask your pals to substitute an indoor cycling or yoga class in lieu of your usual happy hour. Or check out your local running store—many organize group runs after work or on the weekends. Exercising with friends will make the time fly by, we promise. Having others keeping you accountable can go a long way in helping you follow through because no one wants to hear, "We missed you last night—where were you?"
Go streaking.
A fully clothed, exercise streak, that is. Commit to a 30-day running or walking streak (where you log at least one mile every single day) or vow to attend 20 yoga classes in a month. These challenges can be tough but having a lofty goal can also be extremely motivating. To complete the challenge, you'll have to adopt a "no-excuses" mentality, which can help create a routine.
Follow the 10-minute rule.
Not feeling like exercising today? Commit to just 10 minutes. Whether it's a quick stretch session, a 1-mile jog or a walk around the block, a little bit of sweat is better than nothing. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by an all-or-nothing mentality, keep your expectations low. You don't have to run a marathon to create an exercise habit—even a little bit of movement is great for your health!
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QUICK ATTACKING
COMBINATION PLAY
Exercise Set Up
Playing Area is 44x25 yards
10 players (5v5) + Goalkeeper
1 large goal and two small counter goals
FOCUS TEAM (YELLOW)
Objective
Develop the ability of players to find solutions to penetrate defensive lines
Develop a team’s ability to maintain possession
Develop players combination play
OPPONENT TEAM (BLUE)
Notes
Get compact and stay compact – Don’t get split
Press at the appropriate moments
Counter quickly into small goals upon winning possession
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Become a Soccer Referee! Give back to the Soccer Community!
Do you enjoy exercise & fitness? Do you enjoy making your own schedule? Are you interested in making some extra money during your soccer weekends? Are you someone wanting to give back to your soccer community?
Become a Soccer Referee! Our soccer community is in search of more Referees so our players can play the beautiful game.
Click the below link 👇🏽 and follow the specific instruction to register for an Entry Level Referee Clinic.
CLINICS AVAILABLE IN OVERLAND PARK, WICHITA & TOPEKA!!!
Join the Referee Team this Spring soccer season and be apart of the Beautiful Game!
All currently certified referees from 2021 looking to certify for 2022 the process is all done ONLINE so visit the Kansas Referee website to get Re-Certified!
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The Referee Corner:
How can we score in soccer according to the Laws of the Game?
One of the most rewarding experiences in a soccer match is the scoring of a goal. It can come from a breakaway in the run of play. It can come from a well-executed buildup of play with crosses into the path of an attacking teammate. Or it could be the result of a stoppage of play for a foul and the subsequent restart. This month we are going to review the Laws of the Game relative to goals.
Law 10 – Determining the Outcome of a Match is the first play to understand how legal goals are defined.
A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offense has been committed by the team scoring the goal.
In last week’s Fall Kickoff Challenge many goals were scored. Most of them were scored in the run of play and were easy decisions for the players, coaches, and fans to recognize. There were some that were harder to recognize. In one match the attacking team was awarded a Direct Free Kick just outside the Penalty Area. The defensive team set up their wall. The attacker played the ball over the wall and towards the far post. The defending goalkeeper jumped and tipped the ball with his fingers and then caught it. It was a spectacular play by this goalkeeper, but a goal was awarded. The justification for the goal – the goalkeeper stumbled into the goal with the ball in his hands. The young Assistant Referee was positioned on the goal line. In her opinion the goalkeeper carried the ball over the goal line. The whole of the ball passed over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar. No offense was committed by the team scoring the goal. By the Law this was a legal goal. Kudos to the goalkeeper for their marvelous play. But, by definition, all the factors for a legal goal were met.
Law 10 goes on and states, “If a Referee signals a goal before the ball has passed wholly over the goal line, play is restarted with a dropped ball”. This means the Referee stopped play with his/her whistle before the goal. The goal is not legal under this scenario.
Now we turn to Free Kicks that can result in a goal. This takes us to Laws 13 (Free Kicks) and Law 14 (The Penalty Kick).
Law 13 defines 2 types of free kicks.
Indirect Free Kick: The Referee indicates an Indirect Free Kick by raising the arm above the head. This signal is maintained until the kick has been taken and the ball touches another player, goes out of play or it is clear that a goal cannot be scored directly. An Indirect Free Kick must be retaken if the Referee fails to signal that the kick is indirect, and the ball is kicked directly into the goal.
Law 13 adds more explanations for the decision when the ball enters the goal:
If a Direct Free Kick is kicked directly into the opponent’s goal, a goal is awarded. That was the case in the example given above.
If an Indirect Free Kick is kicked directly into the opponent’s goal, a goal kick is awarded. What is the goalkeeper jumps up and tips the ball with their hand and it goes into the goal? It is a goal because the ball was touched or played by a second player.
If a Direct Free Kick or Indirect Free Kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded. This means you cannot score on yourself directly from any Free Kick.
Finally, let’s understand Law 14 – The Penalty Kick. “A Penalty Kick is awarded if a player commits a Direct Free Kick offense insider their penalty area ….” The Penalty Kick is a good opportunity to score. The player taking the Penalty Kick is one on one with the goalkeeper from a distance of 12 yards. If they follow the details outlined in the Law, a legal goal may result. Or the goalkeeper might save the shot and play continues.
Law 14 includes a chart that details the outcomes of the Penalty Kick:
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Enjoy the thrill of a goal being scored. Be passionate about this success. And understand that the Law is specific about what is required for a legal goal. We look forward to seeing you at the fields as either players, coaches, or fans.
If you want to learn more about the fouls that result in Direct or Indirect Free Kicks you can download the IFAB application from either Google Play or the Apple Store (the app is free). Or, if you want to be empowered to make these decisions on the field, sign up for a Referee Certification class at https://www.kansasreferee.org/
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The Referee Blog
Fall, Soccer, Tournaments, League, and Heartland …
The Fall season had a sizzling opening with Heartland Open Cup the first weekend of August. The second week saw a continuation of the extreme heat on the fields, but the teams came to play. The Fall Kick-off Challenge Tournament the weekend of August 19th had much better weather conditions and the teams responded with even more competitive play. As I drove around the SCHEEL’s Overland Park Soccer complex on Sunday afternoon (finals), I saw multiple matches that were decided by Kicks from the Mark. Soccer and the fans are back at Heartland.
Teams came to Overland Park from multiple cities in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and Wisconsin. The opportunity to play against good competition and to take advantage of the world-class facilities are part of the Heartland magic. During the weekend, the players played, the coaches coached, the fans cheered, the Referees officiated, and the Referee mentors mentored. Soccer is back.
Those of you who attended the matches this past weekend might have noticed that many of the Referees were younger. This is a fact in Kansas and in many other states. Fall can be a tough time for staffing soccer matches. High school soccer is starting up. College competition is starting. Adult leagues are finishing their seasons and scheduling their playoff matches. Heartland was able to staff these matches with certified officials because of the efforts of the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association and the State Referee Committee in recruiting, development, and retention. The fans play a significant role also. Referees quit officiating when the conduct of the sidelines becomes too much for them to put up with. Heartland’s fans continue to be passionate but reasonable. For this we thank you.
Let me share some examples of your magic from the tournament.
In one match there was a foul committed by a defender against an attacker who was making a final run to goal. The defender tackled the attacker to the ground. This action took place in the 5th minute of the match. The Referee whistled for the foul (it was outside the Penalty Area) and gave the defender a yellow card for a reckless tackle and breaking up a promising attack. Right before the hydration break, the coach of the attacking team shared the incident with me. He wondered if this could have been a red card for Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO). During the hydration break the Referee also explained the play to me because he wanted to make sure he made the right decision. He thought it could have been a red card, but because it was so early in the match, he decided to issue the yellow card. When he went over the play again, he acknowledged that he gave the wrong card. We agreed that a similar incident later in the game would result in the red card (i.e., he would make the next decision a correct decision according to the Laws of the Game). I shared this with the coaches of the defending team after play resumed. I told them we had made a mistake and wouldn’t make it again. In other words, a similar tackle under the same circumstances would result in a red card. They agreed that the first foul could have been a DOGSO with the red card. They understood what would take place for a similar foul. With this understanding both coaches coached, the players played, and the Referees officiated. There wasn’t a similar foul in this match.
In another final match the score was tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation which meant the winner would be decided by Kicks from the Mark. Both coaches talked to their players about the shoot out and sent them out to the center circle. We can all imagine the pressure on the players. It came down to attacker on goalkeeper to secure a Championship. The first player shot and scored. This put additional pressure on the second kicker. He shot the ball over the goal. His team was now down 1-0. The goalkeeper blocked the next player’s shot. The 4th player scored. The score is now 1-1. The rotation continued and the team that scored more goals and was declared the winner. This is where the story gets real. The team that won was over the moon and their coaches were joining in the well-earned celebration. The team that didn’t win was devastated. When the players went to the sideline their coaches told them how proud they were of their efforts and performance over the entire weekend. This was positive coaching at its best. The players on both teams will be better because of the positive actions of their coaches.
We were also proud of the Referee team. This was their first-time managing Kicks from the Mark. They listened, they learned, and they delivered.
Yes, soccer is back for the Fall. Thank you to the players, the coaches, and the fans for getting us started on a positive note. The soccer community is united and focused on what is most important – the players and the game. Let’s work hard to keep our passions positive. We will continue to mentor the Referees, so they come back next week, get more experience and confidence, and make even better decisions.
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Monthly Referee Meetings
Are you wanting to improve as a referee? How about get less grief? What about being considered for higher level games and state cup? Attending monthly Kansas Referee Program meetings is a great step to help all of that happen! Don't miss opportunities to hone your craft, win some fun prizes, make new friends and elevate your game as an elite Kansas soccer referee! Referees of all ages and experience levels are encouraged to attend!
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2022 Referee Meeting Dates
- Oct 10 (Monday) 7-8:30pm
- Nov 14 (Monday) 7-8:30pm
Meetings will be hosted at the SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex Field House meeting room, 13700 Switzer Rd, Overland Park KS 66213
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Congratulations to all the newly certified referees and recertified referees!
Welcome to Heartland! We are looking forward to a fabulous fall season!
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Q & A with Ryan
When did you start reffing?
I started refereeing in 2021 so not too long ago.
What made you decide to get certified to referee?
I decided to get certified by my friend’s encouraging me to get certified and because it sounded like a cool job.
What is your favorite part about reffing?
My favorite part about refereeing is the adrenaline rush of being out on the pitch especially on 11v11 Centers.
What is a life lesson you feel you have learned from reffing?
I feel like a life lesson I have learned is to assert myself more then I did before I started.
Do you referee Futsal? When did you start reffing futsal?
I got certified for Futsal in December of 2021 but I haven't done a futsal game yet.
What level of referee to you aspire to be?
I want to take refereeing as a far as I can, being out there with thousands of fans in attendance and making the decisions sounds really exciting and I would really enjoy it as a full time professional career.
What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was probably “One of us is lying” For a school project, it’s an interesting book. I’m not a huge fan of reading besides when I have to.
What types of movies do you like?
II don’t watch too many movies but if I had to remember one it was probably the new Top Gun, great movie.
What is your favorite sports team?
My favorite sports team is probably LAFC, and of course, Sporting KC.
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Kansas Youth Soccer Partners
with Fearless & Capable!
Olathe, KS January 14, 2022 – We are proud to announce that Kansas State Youth Soccer Association (KSYSA) has partnered with Fearless & Capable as its newest organization partner. The partnership between Fearless & Capable and Kansas Youth Soccer will focus on supporting female coaches, referees, and administrators across the state by providing the opportunity for meaningful mentorship from women across the country to the females working in Kansas.
Female coaches, referees and administrators will be able to join the growing Fearless & Capable membership program, and explore one-on-one mentoring sessions with a trained mentor to grow their skill sets in a holistic and supportive environment.
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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
CH Roofing And Exteriors
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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Reece Nichols Real Estate
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
US Awards
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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