Heartland Soccer Association
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.

Mark Your Calendar for the 
2018 Heartland Soccer Awards Gala!
Click here  to reserve  you seat


Spring 2018 Calendar
Jan 12
Jan 12-17 Premier seeding challenges via email deadline noon on 1/17
Jan 19 Final Premier seeding posted after 5pm
Feb 21 Spring 2018 schedule posted after 5pm
Feb 23-25 Border Battle Tournament
Feb 23-25 Dick's Sporting Good Discount Weekend for Heartland
Mar 2-4 First weekend of League play
Mar 9-11 League play
Mar 16-18 League play
Mar 23-25 League Play
Mar 30-31 League Play
April 1 Easter Sunday/No Games
Apr 6-8 League Play
Apr 6-8 Dick's Sporting Good Discount Weekend for Heartland
Apr 13-15 Kansas City Champions Cup /League Play
Apr 20-22 League Play
Apr 27-29 League Play
May 4-6 League Play
May 11-13 Midwest Mother's Day Classic / League Play
May 18-20 Rainout Weekend
May 25-27 Kansas City Invitational Tournament

Concussion ImPACT Testing
Mark Your Calendar for the 
2018 Border Battle Tournament!
Border Battle traditional logo
Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex
February 23 - 25, 2018

The 2018 Border Battle Soccer Tournament will be held at one of the country's finest soccer facilities, the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex, home of the 2013 USYSA National Championships.  This tournament has already been established and recognized as one of the top spring tournaments in the Midwest.  It annually attracts ECNL, NPL, State and Regional Champion teams from up to 14 different States.  We are anticipating another sell out event in 2018 with teams traveling from all over the Midwest! 

*Registration Deadline: 
January 23rd, 2018




"Love Heartland and the people that run it! Their tournaments are always well put together with competitive brackets!"

"I grew up playing here and now my kids are playing here! I hope one day to watch my grand kids play in this league!"

"Heartland offers a well run tournament at one of the best soccer complexes in the US. We will definitely be coming back."

"Great organization! Love being a referee for them!"

"Great people, great tournaments, and some of the best venues I have seen for youth soccer."

"Love the family atmosphere and easy access to restaurants."


This Month in History: January

World Soccer has selected its favorite goals from January. There are some spectacular efforts this month including a couple of acrobatic efforts that will be contenders 
for Goal of the Season.
 
1) Julian Draxler, Paris Saint-Germain v Bastia
Times his run perfectly, following an exchange of passes with Hatem Ben Arfa, and then delicately chips the Bastia goalkeeper on his PSG debut.

2) Olivier Giroud, Arsenal v Crystal Palace
On the break from an opposition corner, he meets a cross from the left with an improvised scorpion kick into the top corner.
 
3) Benjamin Moukandjo Cameroon v Burkina Faso
Curls a delightful free-kick into the far top corner from the right side of the goal.

4) Luis Suarez Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao
Adjusts his position superbly to volley in a cross by Neymar.

5) Andy Carroll, West Ham v Crystal Palace
Spectacular overhead kick into the top corner of the net.

6) Dimitri Petratos, Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Hits a stunning free-kick with pace from 35 yards into the top corner.



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 

Sign Up to Become a Referee for the Spring 2018 Season.


Congratulations to the 
2017 Kansas Youth Soccer Award Winners! 
Winners will be celebrated at the 2018 Awards Gala in February!


Congratulations to the 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees!
The Kansas Soccer Hall of Fame was started in 2009 with only 8 inductees.  Others have been added, and the Hall of Fame continues to grow.  The Kansas Soccer Hall of Fame was set up to honor the outstanding contributions of individuals whose significant accomplishments and effect upon the sport in Kansas merit the highest recognition. With this Hall of Fame many deserving individuals' legacies will be preserved for their contribution to the soccer community in our state. We look forward to celebrating our 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees at the 2018 Awards Gala in February!

 
Dave & Buster's, Overland Park is now open! Be our guest and get $20 in FREE Game Play! Eat. Drink. Play. Watch Sports
US Youth Futsal has launched a new logo and  website:    www.usyouthfutsal.com
U.S. Youth Futsal National Championships
February 16-19, 2018
Kansas City 

2016/17 Heartland Numbers


Fall league teams
1,260
Spring league teams
1,296
League players 
42,000
Tournament teams
2,634
Tournament players 
44,000+
Referees
2,000+
Coaches
4,000
2017 Tournament Numbers
(number of teams)
 
Border Battle '17
181
Sport Shake KC Champions Cup '17 407
Mother's Day Classic '17 407
KC Invitational '17
282
Fall Kick Off Challenge '17
246
Heartland Midwest Classic '17
228
Midwest All Girls '17
289
ALDI Heartland Invitational Girls  '17
311
ALDI Heartland Invitational Boys '17
435

*In the last 12 months Heartland welcomed teams
 from a total of 17 states and Canada.
Reimaging How the World
Manages Youth Sports

The KSYSA 2018 Annual General Meeting will be Saturday, February 3rd.   
 
KSYSA Board Positions up for Election are also on the website with the application link. Applications must be submitted by  January 3, 2018 .  
 
CLICK HERE for additional AGM information.  
 
Email Sydney Currier at [email protected] with any questions.  
 
Thank you,  
Kansas State Youth Soccer Association 





The Spring 2018 State Cup, Presidents Cup, & Jr. State Cup will be held at the Wyandotte Sporting Fields, 
May 29th through June 6th!
We Want your Photos!

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.
Please send all photo submissions to Bridgette at [email protected]
 
 
FCFA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Powered by Fountain City Futsal Academy

FCFA is excited to announce Fountain City Futsal Academy Development Program. This is a six week, training only program focusing on the technical aspects of futsal.  
It will be offered to players of all ages, all play levels.

Session 2: 
Fridays - January 5, 19, 26 and February 2, 9, 23

Cost:
$150 per session ($275 for 2 sessions)
Cost includes uniform kit - t-shirt, shorts and futsal ball

 All sessions will be held at SportPlex in Olathe.   Additional information can be found on at: www.fountaincityfutsalacademy.com



Congratulations to Kansas Youth Soccer's 
 January Players of the Month! 

Lily from Sporting Kaw Valley & Peyton from Toca FC! 

 

 
Attention!
 
If you have a referee, coach, club, team or player accomplishment or photo that you would like to share please email Katie Falco at
 
 
Coaching Requirements
 
Heartland Soccer League is sanctioned by Kansas Youth Soccer. There is a minimum coaching requirement.  All recreational and premier coaches must complete the F license course.  It is online and can be found at the following link. 
NATIONAL "F" LICENSE
A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS  
3 Women and an Oven
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7 Eleven
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Benjamin Franklin Plumbing
Boy Scouts of America
Buca di Beppo
BV Crossfit
California Pizza Kitchen
Casey's
Chartroose Caboose
Chick fil A
Chipotle
Cinzetti's
Columbia College
Commercial Capital
Costco
Cycle Bar
Dave and Buster's
Dick's Sporting Goods
Drs. Hawks, Besler, Rogers & Stoppel
Dunkin' Donuts
FC Kansas City
Freezing Moo Ice Cream
Fry Wagner
Fuzzy's
Global Connections
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Hasty Awards
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Huntington Learning Center
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Jon Russell's BBQ
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KC Motor Company
KC Steak Company
Krusich Dental
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Lenny's Subs
Levine Advertising
Market Leverage
Menorah Medical Center


Minsky's Pizza
Kansas City Comets
Molle Toyota
Momo Bands
Moneytalks Financial Foundation
Morrill & Janes Bank
Museum at Prairiefire
NAIA
 Nerium
Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Oxford Animal Hospital
Pacific Dental Services
Papa John's
PB&J
Pickleman's
Pizza Hut
Presto-X
Price Chopper 
Raising Cane's
Research Medical Center
Ritz Charles
Rock and Brews
Rosati's of Overland Park
SeatGeek
Scheels
Scott the Electrican
Security Bank
Shred-It
Simple Science
Simply Soccer
Simplified Team Management
Slim Chickens
Smoothie King
Soccer Master
Spin Pizza
Sport Shake
Sporting Kansas City
Sprouts Farmers Market
Stinkboss
Storage Mart
Stroud's
Sunflower Bank
Swope Park Rangers
The Foot Spot
The KC Steak Company
The Roasterie
The Sports Medicine Store
The Storage Place
Timber Challenge
T-riffic T-shirts
Twisted Fresh
University of Missouri Kansas City
Urban Air
Wendy's
Which Wich
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun
Ya Ya's
Zaxby's 
Z ip KC

Kicking Off The New Year!
2018 Heartland Soccer
 
 
Overland Park, Kan. Heartland Soccer Association's Spring League registration has officially closed and we are pleased to announce that nearly 1,300 teams will be participating in our spring league season.  Although the majority of the teams participating are from the KC metropolitan area, we will also welcome in clubs from Arkansas and Nebraska.

"It's incredible to see our league hit yet another registration record for the Spring 2018 season.  It's a direct reflection of the number of kids playing soccer here in KC and the regional draw of our complexes and local competition," said Shane Hackett, executive director of Heartland Soccer Association. 

League play kicks off March 2nd and will run through the end of May.  The full schedule will be posted after 5:00 p.m. on February 21st.

On top of the astonishing league numbers, we will host 9 tournament weekends in 2018;  starting with Border Battle the last weekend in February.  Last year, this tournament brought in 181 teams and we expect that number to increase   in 2018.

More about Heartland Soccer Association:
Heartland Soccer Association is the largest youth soccer league in the country with nearly 1,300 league teams per season, 21,000 league youth players, 2,600 tournament teams each year, 44,000 tournament players each year, 4,000 coaches and 2,000 active referees.  Heartland Soccer Association was formed in 1977 as the Johnson County Soccer League and has grown from an initial 600 players to its current size.  Today Heartland Soccer Association is a nonprofit and educational youth soccer association.  Although the base for Heartland Soccer is still Johnson County, it now draws teams to play in the league from throughout the metro area.  The Heartland tournaments draw teams from as many as a dozen states every year.  

For more information, visit heartlandsoccer.net.


Tickets are going fast. Call now to reserve your $12 tickets today! 
 Call: 888.9.COMETS or 

 


Dear All,

Happy New year to all of you, we hope you had a fantastic holiday period with your families.  The new season is almost upon us, even though it doesn't look or feel that way outside!!!

We have closed out registration and seeding and scheduling has begun.  We will be using the fall results wherever possible, to seed the teams for the Spring divisions.  However, we also have new teams coming into the league and teams that play up in age group etc. That may mean that we have to add divisions in age groups and it may bump some teams down in division number only.  The most important thing is the level of competition and we work as hard as we can to try and make the divisions as competitive as possible for all teams.

As always we will schedule as many games as possible onto the turf fields across the City that we have at our disposal.

We hope you all have a happy and prosperous 2018 and we look forward to seeing everyone on the fields.
Thanks, 

Heartland Staff

Take 20% Off Your Online Order at Minsky's!
 
 
 
 
Although it may be cold and snowy outside, here at Minsky's - just like many of you - we're already gearing up for the 2018 outdoor soccer season! This season is expected to be better than ever, more teams, more challenges, and more fun! To make these cold weather months a little more bearable , Minsky's is offering 20% off your entire online order, a deal exclusively for Heartland Soccer players and families!
 
To receive 20% off you order, just visit Minskys.com and at checkout, enter Online Order code: HSA20  
 
You can build your own masterpiece from our dozens of fresh ingredients, or select a specialty creation from one of our Gourmet Pizza options. Did we mention our pastas, salads and hot sandwiches?   (And don't forget to order from our wide variety of appetizers - and warm chocolate chip cookies for dessert!) We also have gluten-free pizzas and dairy free items for our athletes with special dietary needs.
 
Order online   and have Minsky's delivered hot and fresh - direct to your front door, or pick it up at your favorite Minsky's store!
 
Offer valid at all participating Kansas City area and Lawrence Minsky's location. Not valid with other offers, discounts or package deals
 
Eat Well. Live Better.                                            
 
Health Tip: 
Common Mistakes Young Athletes Make While Conditioning
by Jon Schultz, MD, sports medicine physician, Overland Park Regional Medical Center

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 heartrate (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. 

Jon Schultz, MD, has more than 20 years of sports medicine experience with athletes of all ages. He specializes in diagnostic and therapeutic musculoskeletal ultrasound.

To learn more about HCA Midwest Health visit us online at
hcamidwest.com 
 

Congratulations to Brucker, Jeremy and Brandt Betts for being in the  Papa J ohn's Heartland Referee Spotlight!

Q&A with the Betts:

When did you all start reffing?
2014 

What made you decide to get certified to referee?
"To influence kids to play safely, learn the laws of the game and to get a different perspective of the game. Also, for the exercise!"

What is your favorite part about reffing?
"The interaction with players and coaches and watching kids grow and develop. Also, mentoring the younger kids."
  
What is a life lesson you feel you have learned from reffing?
"Patience, proper communication (communicating with parents and coaches) and teamwork (working with referee team)!"

When did you start reffing futsal?
2014

What is your favorite part about reffing futsal?
"The speed of the game, ball movement (plays develop), love of the game and it helps me with outdoors on watching the hands."

What level of referee to you aspire to be? 
 Brandt-8 
 Brucker-8
 Jeremy- 6 or 7

Do you play soccer?  
Brandt- "Yes, for Sporting KC Academy" 

How long have you played soccer? 
Brandt- "13 years!"
Brucker- "13 years!"

Do you participate in any sports/activities/clubs/ youth groups/ community service? 
Brandt- "Community Service at Samuel Rogers Health Center and on the futsal court at Sporting. It's a great way to give back to the community!"
Brucker- "A youth group called Young Life." 

Do you have another job in addition to reffing? 
Jeremy- "Yes, I am a Warehouse Manager."

What was the last book you read? 
Jeremy-"Total Money Makeover  about getting control of your finances and getting out of debt"
Brandt -"Great Gatsby. Favorite part was when Gatsby worked for his money."
B rucker - "Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters. Favorite part was when Percy Jackson was at the amusement park."

What types of movies do you like? What was the last movie you saw?
"Sci fi movies. The last movie we saw was Star Wars The Last Jedi."

What is your favorite sports team?
"Sporting Kansas City and Kansas City Chiefs!"


  The Referee Corner
Heartland Futsal - The Warm Winter Game: 

How do you keep your soccer mind and soccer skills sharp in the winter in Kansas City?  For the very hearty there is the Winter League.  For the rest of us fair weather fans the solution is the Heartland Futsal League.  

Futsal is a faster game and has its own set of rules. Futsal is played between two teams of five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper. Unlimited substitutions are permitted. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the game is played on a hard-court surface. Walls or boards are not used. Futsal is also played with a smaller, harder ball. The surface, ball, and rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity, and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.

Since the game is faster and there is much less space it creates opportunities for players to improve their decision-making and skills.  It also provides a different type of challenge for the Referees.  For Futsal there are two Referees.  They both have a whistle.  The increased speed of play means they must process what is happening on the pitch faster and to make decisions much faster.  

Several weeks ago, I was working at one of the Heartland Futsal venues.  The Referee team consisted of a 16-year-old and a 13-year-old who was in his second season of doing Futsal. One of the teams wore yellow jerseys.  The older Referee had multiple colors of Referee shirts, but the younger Referee only had yellow (a potential problem).  They made the decision to go Red, and the younger Referee borrowed one of my Referee shirts.  I wear adult large, so he was swimming in the borrowed jersey.  The moral of this story was that he wanted to do his best and changing into a different color was a part of his commitment.  He looked different, but when he blew the whistle everyone knew he was there to manage the game with his partner.  And then it happened.  A player on the yellow team held a player on the blue team right in front of this young Referee.  What did he do?  He blew the whistle, signaled for the foul, correctly indicated the foul to the score keeper and restarted the match with a Direct Free Kick.  

In the next match the teams wore blue and red, so our young Referee got to wear his new yellow Referee shirt.  His appearance changed (his shirt fit him), but his performance remained at a high level, and performance is what we need.
Yes, there are different rules in Futsal.  Contact is limited so skill can lead the way.  The Referees need to know which fouls result in a Direct Free Kick (there are 11 of them in Futsal) because in addition to the Direct Free Kick Restart, these fouls are classified as accumulated fouls.  They are counted in each half and when a team commits 6 or more of these accumulated fouls the laws call for a special restart - a Direct Free Kick without a wall.  Here are the requirements for this special restart:

  For those who have played or who have officiated a Futsal match you don't ever forget what happens when the Referee notifies a team that they have reached 5 fouls.  The players and the coaches say in unison "no more fouls". Because they know the Direct Free Kick without a wall is a very good opportunity for the other team to score.

Enjoy your Futsal matches this winter.  There is no wind or rain or freezing weather to deal with.  Instead, you have a fast game where player skill, decision-making and teamwork are on display. And, you have Referees who have invested in getting Futsal certification which means learning new rules, new positioning and new signals.  This is the Heartland Soccer Association ecosystem at work in the winter.

In next month's column we will talk about Goal Clearances and Kick-ins.  Until then, Have a Happy New Year.  


Coaches Corner:
Receiving on the Turn SSG



Developing and identifying creative young
soccer players for the 
Kansas Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program
ATTENTION all 2007 to 2009 Boys and Girls!
Registrat ion is now open for the 2017-18 
Centers of Excellence (COE) Training! 
 
L ocations: Kansas City, Salina, Topeka and Wichita

Fee: Winter Session (6) six for $120
{All players will receive a training top to be worn at all COE trainings}

The goal of our  Centers of Excellence Academy Training is to create a fun and challenging environment that helps develop and identify creative young soccer players for the Kansas Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program.  We want to help create a passion and love of the game in the players we work with.  We emphasize developing the complete player in all 4 pillars of the game including, technical, tactical, physical and psychological components of the game. 

Our Centers of Excellence Academy Training offers something different because our licensed coaches are innovative in their training techniques and foster playing environments for developing soccer players.  Our goal is to provide a great soccer experience emphasizing learning in a creative, fun and challenging environment where players have the opportunity to develop both as soccer players and as individuals. 

We want our participants to improve, have fun, make friends and look upon their time playing.
Congratulations to the Fall 2017 High School Girls State Tournament Champions!  #TEAMKANSAS will Represent in June 2018 at the Midwest Regional Competitions!