The Midfielder
Heartland Soccer Association Newsletter
March 2016
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.
Quick Links
  
  
  
 
 
  
ImPACT Baseline Concussion Testing

Open to all Heartland Soccer participants
for more information click here.

Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Note to Heartland Coaches
 
Please ensure your teams are ready to play
at your scheduled kick off time.
We have a huge number of teams playing and a delay of a couple of minutes per game can lead to the last games of the day kicking off significantly late. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
 
Heritage Soccer Park Concession
Now Hiring Cart Attendant
 
Part time concession cart attendant needed.
Must be a minimum of 16 years old with
a valid driver's license.
Email Ramiro: [email protected]

2016 Heartland Numbers

league teams this spring
1,296
league teams last fall
1,265
league players in 2015
40,000
tournament teams this year
2,634
tournament players this year
42,000+
plus referees
1,600
plus coaches
1,400
2015 Tournament Numbers
(number of teams)

KC Champions Cup 391
Mothers Day Classic 309
KC Invitational
 359
Fall Kick Off Challenge
 224
Sporting KC Affiliate Friendlies
 125
Heartland Midwest Classic
 202
Midwest All Girls
 300
Girls HIT
 238
Boys HIT
 382
NCAA Men's College Showcase
 104

In 2015 Heartland welcomed teams
from a total of 17 states and Canada.
Don't Forget to Register !
 
 
Midwest Mother's Day Classic 
May 6-8, 2016
Registration deadline:  April 4th
 
This is the second year that Heartland Soccer will host the Midwest Mother's Day Classic. Last year over 300 team participated. We anticipate an even larger turnout for 2016.
  
To Register Click here.
Signup to be a referee!
  
  Sign up to be a referee for
Spring 2016 Heartland  league.
  
Click Here
A note from KSYSA
to Kansas Soccer Clubs
  
KSYSA would like to inform all of you of an updated rule that was put into place at the 2016 AGM.
Clubs may advertise their tryout dates and information,
but may not open registration until May 15th. 

KSYSA kindly asks, if you currently have registrations open for tryouts, that they are closed immediately and reopened on May 15th.

If you have any questions, please email Sydney Currier at  [email protected]. 

Thank you.
KSYSA
Big Thank you to Kona Ice
 
Thank you to Eric Wright and Kona Ice
for your continuous support of
Heartland Soccer and the soccer
youth of Kansas City.
Health Tip from HCA
 
Common Finger Injuries in Athletes
Diagnosis
Comparing the injured finger to the same uninjured finger on the opposite hand is always helpful. Seek medical care if the finger does not have its usual range of motion or it looks abnormal when compared to the opposite uninjured finger. Most injuries to the finger involve a direct blow to the tip or forcing the finger beyond its usual range of motion. Damage can involve bone, muscle, tendon, and ligament. Pain, swelling, and deformity are common. If the athlete cannot actively move the finger in all directions or the finger is deformed, immediately call your pediatrician. Simple x-rays of the injured finger are generally all that are needed to identify any possible broken bones or dislocations. CAT scans and MRIs are not routinely necessary. A "jammed" finger is a sprain of the joint-supporting ligaments without an associated fracture (broken bone) and does not have to be "pulled out" forcefully on the field.
 
Treatment
Rest, ice, and elevation are good first therapies for all acute injuries. Compression wraps can be dangerous if they interfere with circulation to the fingertip or compress (squeeze) the nerves.
 
Treatment for most finger injuries involves: protection, immobilization (to hold the injured finger in the correct position to heal), and rehabilitation (to restore the finger to a healthy and useful condition).
 
If there is very little or no swelling, minimal point tenderness, and normal appearance and the finger has a full range of motion, parents may "buddy-tape" the finger until it no longer hurts (1 to 2 weeks). Simply tape the injured finger to an adjacent finger (preferably a longer, uninjured finger) to provide protection and immobilization.
 
When the injury is no longer painful and tender, the athlete may do progressive resistance exercises (PREs) to restore the full range of motion. This can be done by:
  1. making a fist,
  2. squeezing a ball,
  3. trying to crumple up a small dish rag or towel
 
Make sure the finger fully straightens out. Exercises can be done initially (48 hours after injury) in a bucket of warm water. Each activity should be repeated 10 to 15 times in 2 to 3 sessions a day until normal function has returned. Some discomfort and soreness should be expected while doing these activities. Even after acute symptoms have subsided and normal function has been restored, some thickening and stiffness of the joint may persist indefinitely, particularly with severe injuries.
 
If you are uncomfortable with the length of time needed for healing or have any questions, call your pediatrician.
 
Return to play is dependent on the type of fracture, dislocation, or sprain; stability; use of the hand in the sport; and whether it can be protected. Ideally, the finger should be pain free.
 
Lifetime deformities or disabilities can result from even the most minor injuries but generally are the result of lack of proper treatment, rehabilitation, and protection.
 
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
 
  
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
Special Thank you

We give a special thank you to Market President Regional Director, Eric Comeau and our friends at Sunflower Bank for supporting Heartland and the youth soccer players of KC.
Welcome Swope Park Rangers!

There is a new soccer team in town, the Swope Park Rangers.The Rangers are one of 31 clubs making up the United Soccer League (USL). The USL is entering their sixth season in 2016. It is one of the largest professional soccer leagues in the world.  
The Swope Park Rangers will kick off their inaugural season on March 26th against the Portland Timbers 2. The match will take place at Children's Mercy Park. Home matches for the SPR will be played at Children's Mercy Park and Children's Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village.
Click here for Rangers complete schedule.
Congratulations to Rylan Childers!
 
Rylan Childers (FCKC Forte Elite) was chosen to represent Region II during the ODP International tournament in Costa Rica. The tournament was held February 25th through March 3rd.
Click here to see the interview.
Huge Thank you to Scheels!

Scheels host Heartland Soccer's monthly referee meetings  in the Steven D. Scheels Training Center located in their Overland Park store. 
Nearly 100 referees participated in the March 7th meeting. The referees reviewed rules, procedures and policies. They capped off the night with a game of referee charades. Scheels donated gift cards as door prizes.
The next referee meeting is Monday, April 4th. We hope to see you there!
Winners of the $25 Scheels gift cards
Vinay Malik, Josh Curry, Nick Sullivan, Sammy Kopecky, Katelyn Koziol, Thompson Penn, Julia Dealmeida, Peter Dulany,
Porter Stotts, Nikhil Mathuv
Coaches Corner

Setup:
15x15 yard grid with 5 players and one ball per grid.

Instructions:
The players move throughout the grid and pass 1 touch to each other.

Coaching Points:
Quality of the pass in lay off and longer pass. Pace of the pass in lay off and longer pass. Timing of supporting player-receive ball on the move and not standing still.  Communication.


Salty Iguana of Overland Park 
8420 W. 135th Street
  (913) 402-0200
 
Salty Iguana is Kansas City's favorite locally owned family Mexican Restaurant. We have been serving the greater Kansas City area since 1991. Our friendly, attentive staff will take care of you and your family's needs. We can accommodate large parties and teams on the go. We have great food and drink specials all weekend long including, Healthy Happy Hour, and Breakfast Saturday and Sunday from 7:30- 2:00. We are just a short drive East of the fields where you can sit and relax and we'll take care of the rest.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS
101 Ladies Accessories
Academy Sports and Outdoors
Advocare
American Family
Arvest
Burger Fi
Casey's
Chevrolet
Chick fil A
Corner Bakery Cafe
Damsel in Defense
Dick's Sporting Goods
Edible Promotions
Elle's Bakeria
Farmer's Insurance
FC Kansas City
Global Connections
Goodcents
Grimaldi's
Harlan C Parker Insurance Agency
Hasty Awards
Hayward's Pit BBQ
HCA
iFLY
Isagenix
It Works
J&K Soccer
Jamberry
Jimmy John's
Johnny Cascone's
Jon Russell's Barbeque
Kansas Athletics
KC Running Store/The Sports Medicine Store
Kincaid Coach
Lenny's Subs
Le-Vel
Levine Advertising
Mary Kay
McCarthy Auto Group
Menorah Medical Center
Missouri Comets
Molle Toyota
Momo Bands  
Moneytalks Financial Foundation
Nerium
Nill Bros.
Norwex
Overland Park Regional Medical Center
Overland Park Soccer Club
Papa John's
Pickleman's
Pinstripes
Portable Soccer Goals
Prairiefire
Premier Designs Jewelry
Price Chopper 
Rasmussen College
Research Medical Center
Rock and Brews
Rosati's of Overland Park
Salty Iguana
Scentsy
Scheels
Scott the Electrican
Shred-It
Slim Chickens
Soccer Master
Southern Charmed
Sporting Kansas City
Storage Mart
Strouds
Sunflower Bank
Tastefully Simple
Team Snap
The Storage Place
Thirty-One Gifts
Three Sisters
T-riffic T-shirts
TSS Photography
Brent Walton, photographer 
Urban Air
Valley View Bank
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun
You Oughta Be In Pictures
Young Living Essential Oils
 

If you have a referee, coach, club, team or player accomplishment that you would like to share please email [email protected]
If you would like to nominate a player for the play of the month email Katie Falco [email protected]
World Class Soccer Fields coming to Missouri!
 
On March 8, 2016  the City of Grandview Board of Aldermen unanimously approved Gateway Sports Village's Conceptual Development Plan.
 
The plans were first announced in May 2015 as a $300 million dollar project located in Grandview, approximately 15 miles east of the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex, between Byars and Kelley roads. 
 
The plan allows for 14 multi use synthetic turf soccer fields, a field house,  hotels, a grocery store, multi-family housing, retail, restaurants and medical.
 
 
Phase one of Gateway Village will be completed in April of 2017. It will  include retail development, street networks, parking and 8-10 soccer fields.
 
Heartland Soccer, the nation's largest soccer league,
has agreed to be a long term master tenant and scheduler for the fields, which will also be available for football and lacrosse.
 
Rule Change for Spring 2016

Heartland Soccer league, in accordance with Kansas Youth Soccer and US soccer will be implementing the following rule change for the Spring 2016 season.
 
In accordance with the recommendations in US Soccer's Recognize to Recover campaign, Kansas Youth Soccer Association has elected to fully enforce the banning of heading the ball for players that are U10 and below for all Kansas Youth Soccer activities including, but not limited to, all league play, practices and tournaments in accordance with U.S. Soccer's Player Safety Campaign and modified rule. 
 
The information contained in the initiative is intended to give U.S. Soccer Organization Members, as well as players, parents, team/club staff and coaches and referees, guidance and direction when dealing with head injuries and potential head injuries during soccer participation. 
 
In addition to the safety initiatives, the following modified rule was published by U.S. Soccer on February 12, 2016:
 
When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.  If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
If a player does not deliberately head the ball, then play should continue.  
 
For more information, please refer to U.S. Soccer's frequently asked questions, which should help clarify questions regarding the new initiatives by  CLICKING HERE.
 
The referee community will be informed directly of the heading ban for the U10 and below age groups.  Please ask your organization to be respectful of the referees as there will be a learning curve on how to make the right call each time there is a header.   Was it purposeful or not?  Remember, heading the ball has always been a part of the game for all age groups and referees have been instructed to have the players safety in mind first.  I would also ask that all coaches have a conversation with their parents about being patient with this process of change.
                                                      USYSA
    Changes to Small Sided Games and Birth Year Registration
We have compiled this document with regards to the potential changes which will accompany the upcoming player development initiatives from US Youth Soccer. Many of the questions are either drawn from the original US Youth Soccer documents or in response to questions presented to Heartland Soccer by coaches, administrators and parents.
You are welcome to view the original article at :
Why Birth Year Registration?
This mandate from US Soccer is designed to ensure that US Youth Soccer will be in line with many other soccer playing countries. The change will make it easier for American club teams to play in international events.
What are the new small sided game formats?
U-8 to U-10 teams will play 7 v 7 and U-11 & U-12 teams will play 9 v 9. U-13 and older teams will continue to play 11 v 11. Kansas Youth Soccer has amended the maximum roster sizes for these teams to 12 players at 7 v7 and 14 players in 9 v 9. Kansas Youth Soccer will not sanction differences in format for the age groups listed above, so any team wishing to play a different format will need to play in the next age group up.
Which organizations are required to follow these initiatives?
All of US Soccer's membership is required to put these changes in place no later than August of 2017. US Soccer includes, but is not limited to, all State Associations, US Club Soccer, AYSO, SAY, USSSA etc.
What if a player wants to play with his or her school friends, but in a different age group?
Players may be eligible to play in an older age group, depending upon the selection policies of their individual clubs or teams.
Will Heartland Soccer's field dimensions and goal sizes be amended?
Changes will be made to the field dimensions. These will be in line with US Soccer recommendations.
What amendments will be made in order to accommodate those U-15 players that are in 8th grade?
There will be age appropriate divisions available for any teams containing 8th grade players at a time when the 9th graders from their team are playing High School Soccer.
US Soccer Birth Year Chart  
Reference:  

Click here and discover iFLY.

                       
Coaching Soccer Weekly Podcast
with Tom Mura 
   
We encourage our members to tune in and listen to this important discussion on "Preparing for the US Soccer Rule Changes." To listen to this episode: http://www.coachingsoccerweekly.com/049-preparing-for-the-us-soccer-rule-changes/
 
This PodCast hosted by Tom Mura, also involves:
Nick Garcia - Executive Director of Brookside Soccer Club
Chris Duke - Executive Director of Kansas State Youth Soccer
Shane Hackett - Executive Director of Heartland Soccer Association
Jon Parry - Director of Coaching - Boys of Sporting Blue Valley & Sporting Kansas City Academy Director
 
The PodCast topics:

US Soccer has mandated a number of changes that will be occurring over the next two years.

  • First is a change from organizing teams based on birth dates from August through July to calendar year age groups.
  • Second, US Soccer will be requiring all U12 teams and below to play small-sided soccer. While many States have been doing this for years, there has been no set standard for roster sizes and playing formats.
  • Lastly, US Soccer has created Concussion Initiative Guidelines . Chief among them is a recommendation that heading be eliminated for players U11 and below with limited heading in practice for U12 to U13 players. This change took effect January 1, 2016 for the US Development Academies but as I understand it is up to each league and club to decide when and if the change will be implemented.
               
Border Battle 2016
We would like to thank everyone from the 159 teams who took part in the Border Battle, our first event of the 2016 spring season. This is the first time that we have been able to play games in this event since 2012, with mid-western winter weather having prevented the last three from even getting started.
This year  we saw a huge change, as temperatures reaching almost 70 degrees over the weekend. This provided a perfect opportunity for those teams to get in some very competitive preseason games in preparation for the start of league play on March 4 th. We are very pleased to see the Border Battle back on the calendar as a great season opening event .
Thanks again, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2017.
Heartland Soccer 2016 Referee Meetings Dates
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.

Monday, April 4th
Monday, May 9th
Monday, August 8th
Monday, September 12th
Monday, October 10th (Columbus Day)
Monday, November 14th (End of Year Party)
 
Meeting times:
Mentors  will meet 6pm-7pm
Monthly Referee Meeting from 7pm-8:30pm

  Meetings will be held at the "Steve D. Scheels" Training Center in the northwest corner of the second floorof the Scheels store located at 6503 West 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66223  
Lauren Saunders is the March Papa John's Heartland Referee Spotlight. Lauren has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old. She currently plays club with Sporting Blue Valley Sting and high school soccer with Blue Valley North West.
Lauren began reffing in 2013. Her love for the game of soccer lead her to referee. She enjoys being at the fields and seeing the game from another perspective. Her next goal is to become certified as a level 7 referee.
When she is not playing soccer or reffing  Lauren works as  Pre-K-2nd grade field marshal. She also is a member of DECA (a school business club) at BVNW. With everything Lauren does she still finds time to cheer on her two favorite professional teams, Liverpool and Sporting KC.
Thank you to Lauren for all your hard work.

 

Do You Know Who Is First In Line

 of Treatment for Your Young Athlete?

What To Expect From An Athletic Trainer.
  
As the number of young athletes continues to grow, so does the rise in injuries among their age group. Young athletes today are playing multiple sports which increases the physical demands of their young bodies.
Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) are the some of the most comprehensively prepared allied medical professionals, trained to deal with the injuries of young athletes. We have similar educational backgrounds as physical, occupational, and other therapists utilized by school districts, sports clubs and leagues across the country. Over 70 percent of ATCs have a master's or a doctorate degree and must pass national certification exams in addition to their state licensure exams.
The Sports Medicine Program at Overland Park Regional Medical Center includes seven ATC's who are at sporting events everyday across our city. ATC's with Overland Park Regional Medical Center are on the fields of high schools and sporting facilities across the city, so when an injury does occur we can provide "on the field" or "on the court" immediate care. ATC's can evaluate, diagnose and immediately treat a young athletes after an injury. That treatment will continue post-injury in a clinic setting and rehabilitation, if needed. Our goal is to provide early intervention as well as prevention of sports injuries.  ATC's provide:
  • Injury/Illness Prevention and Wellness Protection: ATCs are trained in injury and illness prevention and provide education to young athletes, parents and coaches, including ImPACT concussion testing, first aid and pediatric CPR.
  • Clinical Evaluation and Diagnosis: ATCs are the only health care professionals whose expertise ranges from minor sprains to catastrophic head and neck injuries, and from minor illnesses to exertional heat syndrome. ATCs can examine, diagnose and treat young athletes on the field immediately after an injury.
  • Immediate and Emergency Care: ATCs can provide immediate care of conditions including head trauma, wound management, acute asthma attacks, spinal cord or nerve injuries and sprained or broken bones.
  • Treatment and Rehabilitation: ATCs are trained to assess young athlete's post-injury or post-surgery and develop appropriate treatment goals and therapeutic interventions.
Consult your primary care physician for more serious injuries that do not respond to basic first aid. As an added resource, the staff at Overland Park Regional Medical Center is available to diagnose and treat sports-related injuries for young athletes. To make an appointment, call (913) 541-3365. For more information about the Sports Medicine Program at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, visit oprmc.com/sportsmedicine  .    
  
 
Betsy Kellerman, ATC/LAT, is the manager of the sports medicine and concussion programs at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Kellerman attended the University of Wyoming, where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Physiology and Sports Science and a Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training. She also received her Master's Degree in Sports Management from Nova Southeastern University. Previously, Kellerman managed the University of Wyoming Sports Medicine Department and has worked with all different levels of athletes from Division I College Athletes to youth athletes. Her passion lies with educating parents, coaches and the community on mild traumatic brain injuries, as well as athletic injuries and offering the resources needed to heal.
 
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