Thank You for a Great Season!
As we wrap up another incredible season at Heartland Soccer, we want to thank all the players, parents, coaches, referees, and volunteers who made it so special. Your energy, dedication, and sportsmanship helped create unforgettable memories on and off the field.
Don’t forget to join us for League Awards Night!
It’s a fun way to celebrate the hard work and achievements from the season—stay tuned for more details on dates and times.
Looking ahead?
Becoming a referee is a great way for teens and adults to stay involved in the game, build confidence, earn money, and support the soccer community. If you or someone you know is interested, check out our referee certification opportunities with Heartland Soccer!
Thanks again for being part of the Heartland family—we couldn’t do it without you!
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Heartland Soccer Association is now located at The Aspiria Complex
(previously Sprint Campus)
6450 Spring Parkway, Suite A, Overland Park, KS 66211
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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Indoor and Outdoor Signs, Flags and Window Decals
913-706-7352
[email protected]
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Why Sponsorship Matters at Heartland Soccer
At Heartland Soccer, we are more than just a league—we're a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing the game and building character through youth soccer. As the largest soccer league in the country, we serve thousands of players and families each season across Kansas, Missouri, and beyond. With that size comes great responsibility, and we couldn’t do it without the generous support of our sponsors and community partners.
Sponsorship plays a crucial role in everything we do—from maintaining top-tier facilities to hosting large-scale tournaments and providing development opportunities for coaches and referees. Every banner, ad, or event sponsor directly contributes to creating safe, fun, and competitive experiences for our soccer families.
A Win-Win for Businesses and the Community
When you partner with Heartland Soccer, you're not just putting your brand in front of thousands of families—you’re making a real impact. Sponsorship allows local businesses to connect with a loyal, engaged audience while giving back to the community in a meaningful way. It’s a win-win.
Whether you're a small business, a large brand, or somewhere in between, we have a wide range of sponsorship opportunities available—including digital exposure, field signage, tournament partnerships, and more. We’re happy to tailor a package that aligns with your goals and helps make youth soccer thrive in our region.
Let’s Team Up
If you’re interested in learning more about how you or your business can support Heartland Soccer, please reach out to Bridgette at [email protected]. She’d love to connect and help find the right fit for you.
Together, we can keep this incredible ship sailing—and continue to grow the game for future generations.
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Join the Heartland Soccer Association Newsletter!
At Heartland Soccer Association, we’re always looking for ways to enhance communication and stay innovative. We have an exciting opportunity for you to get involved by contributing to our newsletter! Here’s how you can be a part of it:
- Player/Team Stories and Achievements: Share the success stories of players and teams in our community! We’d love to highlight milestones, accomplishments, and special moments.
- Expert Tips & Insights: Whether it’s soccer-related or not, if you’ve got expertise to share, we want to hear from you! Are you a gardening expert? A culinary enthusiast? A nature lover with great hiking trail recommendations? Send us your knowledge!
- Photos & Videos: If you captured any standout moments this season, we’d love to feature them in our newsletter. Send us your best photos or videos, and we’ll make sure they’re shared with the community!
- Inspiration & Encouragement: Calling all poets, artists, and creatives! If you have words or art that inspire others, we’d love to include them in our newsletter to motivate and uplift our community.
- Community Spotlights: Know someone in our community who is making a real difference? We’d love to shine a spotlight on their efforts and share their story.
At Heartland Soccer Association, our goal is to make the newsletter a space where everyone feels welcome to contribute. Your voice, talents, and insights are what make our community strong, so don’t hesitate to share what you’ve got!
To contribute or for any questions, please reach out to Katie at [email protected]. Thank you for your continued support!
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The largest crowd to ever attend a soccer match was 199,854 fans at the Maracanã Stadium in Brazil during the 1950 World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay. That’s nearly double the size of some NFL stadiums today!
Soccer unites people across the world—and every time you step on the field, you’re part of that global story. 🌍
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Parents' Playbook:
5 Ways to Celebrate the Season’s Final Stretch
As the soccer season and school year wrap up, it's the perfect time to reflect, celebrate, and soak up the last few weeks of spring together. Here are five ways to make the most of this special time—on and off the field:
1️⃣ Pack a "Victory" Picnic
2️⃣ Write End-of-Season Notes Have your child write thank-you notes to their coaches or teammates. It’s a great way to practice gratitude and wrap the season up with heart.
3️⃣ Host a Backyard Kick-Around Invite teammates over for one last casual scrimmage, s’mores, or movie night. No whistles, no pressure—just fun.
4️⃣ Capture the Memories
Gather your best sideline photos or video clips and create a little slideshow or scrapbook. You’ll be glad you did when they’re older!
5️⃣ Reflect and Reset
Go for a walk or ice cream run and chat about what your child loved most about this season. It’s a great way to reflect and start dreaming about next year.
Here’s to finishing strong, celebrating the wins (big and small), and soaking up the season while it lasts!
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This Month in History:
28 April 2004 - You Know Clash Of The Titans? This Was Nothing Like That
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On 28 April 2004, San Marino recorded their first win in 65 attempts, beating Liechtenstein 1-0 in a friendly.
Although founded in 1931, the football federation of San Marino--situated on the northeastern part of the Italian peninsula--did not enter a team into an official FIFA competition until 1990. Their early years were ones of frustration, as the small nation went up to their fourteenth match before avoiding defeat, finally earning a draw with Turkey in a qualifier for the 1994 World Cup.
By 2004, San Marino had suffered defeat in 61 of their 64 matches, earning additional draws at Latvia in 2001 and at Liechtenstein in 2002. When they hosted Liechtenstein in 2004 for the pair's second meeting, San Marino was ranked 164 by FIFA, twenty-two spots behind the visitors.
A meager crowd of only 700 people turned out at the Stadio Olimpico for the match. But they were rewarded with a goal from San Marino striker Andy Selva (pictured) in the fifth minute. It was his fourth international goal and only the eleventh in the history of the national team. San Marino managed to hold the slender lead until the end, finishing the day as 1-0 winners to taste victory for the first time.
Unfortunately for San Marino, it remains their only win, giving them an overall record of 1 win, 9 draws, and 196 losses.
This article was taken from - https://tdifh.blogspot.com/2017/04/28-april-2004-you-know-clash-of-titans.html
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2024/2025
Tournament Team Numbers
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Border Battle '25 - 172
Midwest College Showcase '25 - 65
Heartland Spring Cup '25 - 171
KC Champions Cup '25 - 436
Mother's Day Classic '25 - 391
Kansas City Invitational '25 - 351
KC 3v3 '24 - 65
Heartland Open Cup '24 - 61
Fall Kick Off Challenge '24- 170
Heartland Midwest Classic '24 - 129
Midwest All Boys '24 - 230
Midwest All Girls '24 - 301
Heartland Invitational Girls '24 - 377
Heartland Invitational Boys '24 - 480
*In the last 12 months Heartland welcomed teams from a total of 17 states and Canada.
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Heartland Soccer's Tournament Reach:
A National and International Stage
In the past 12 months alone, Heartland has welcomed teams from 17 states and Canada, demonstrating the league’s reach and influence across North America. These numbers reflect the growth, diversity, and prestige of Heartland’s tournaments, making them key fixtures in the youth soccer landscape.
With each tournament, Heartland continues to provide players with incredible opportunities to showcase their skills while bringing together teams from near and far. We’re proud to be a part of such a dynamic and thriving soccer community!
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Come ESCAPE with us!
Exercise your MIND
at one of KC’s most exciting
escape room adventures.
Lots of fun!
Soccer weekends sell out quickly
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2024-25
Heartland Numbers
Spring league teams '25- 1,400
Fall league teams '24- 1,388
League players - 48,000
Tournament teams - 3,500
Tournament players - 56,000
Referees - 2,000+
Coaches - 4,000
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The Kansas City Invitational was the single largest soccer tournament in the city and once again sold out completely. With four levels of play—Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Recreational—teams from 14 different states came to compete. Proper seeding ensured that all teams were matched with opponents at their level, creating a competitive and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Matches took place at the SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex and the GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex, two of the finest youth soccer facilities in the region.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this incredible event such a success!
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Save the Date:
League Awards Night Coming Soon
We’re also excited to celebrate all of the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship from this season. Be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming League Awards Nights happening in June and July. More details are below!
Let’s finish the spring season strong—see you on the pitch!
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Don't Forget To Order Your Spring League
Championship Apparel
Order Here
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Riddle of the month: May
I run all around the field, but never move.
What am I?
*answer is at the bottom of the newsletter*
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Referee Availability for
League & Tournaments
As our local soccer community expands, the demand for both new and experienced referees is on the rise! Be part of America's Largest Soccer League and help support the game. Check out the Referee Classes page for details on meeting schedules, training, and certification programs. With games hosted at top facilities like SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex, Swope Soccer Village, Compass Minerals Sporting Fields, and GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Sign up today to become a referee!
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NO BS!
Don’t feel like cooking on tournament or practice days? ½ off appetizers at the Burger Shed with the purchase of an entrée. Just mention this ad along with Heartland Soccer.
We offer a full bar and restaurant right across the street from the GARMIN Olathe Soccer Complex. The Burger Shed is located inside the Embassy Suites.
Take a look at our menu: https://eatatburgershed.com/olathe/
Please call ahead for parties of 6 or more: 913-353-9335
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Attacking To End Zone
Set Up:
Area 24x20 (2 areas)
Ball is played into a player who enters area with first touch/dribble
Players look to combine to beat defender (3v1) and end up with possession in the end zone as marked.
Coaching Points:-
Movement to support ball carrier.
Draw defender to the ball.
Timing and weight of pass.
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4 Tips for Using
Peer-to-Peer Payment Apps
Whether you are splitting the bill at a restaurant with friends, paying back your parents, or buying snacks at a sporting event, it is hard to beat the convenience of peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, Google Pay, Cash App, and PayPal.
With these apps, you don’t have to worry about finding an ATM or carrying a bunch of cash at all times. Instead, P2P apps are typically linked to your bank account and let you send or receive money instantly.
Win-win, right? Well, yes and no. There is no denying the speed and convenience of P2P apps. But they aren’t risk-free, so make sure you’re aware of potential pitfalls before you hit Send.
Here are 4 tips for using Peer-to-Peer Payment Apps:
1. Once It’s Sent, It’s Gone
When you use peer-to-peer payments, all you need is someone’s username, email address, or phone number. You don’t know their account details, and they don’t know yours. Transfers are typically free and lightning-quick.
Before you fire off money, make sure you’re sending it to someone you know and trust. Because once that money is gone, it’s typically gone for good. There is little to no fraud protection with most P2P apps, unlike the protections that exist with traditional credit cards and bank accounts.
Exercise major caution before using peer-to-peer payments with people you don’t know and remember it’s best to stick with friends and family.
2. Check Twice, Send Once
Even if you’re sending payment to someone you know IRL, it’s still easy to mess up-are they HenrySmith21 or HenrySmith22? Double-check you’ve got the right person before you send a payment. You could send a small amount, like $1, to verify before following up with a larger payment. Or, if you’re sending payment for the first time, some apps, like Venmo, ask for the last four-digits of a person’s phone number.
Be extra careful with requested payments. P2P apps are an easy target for scammers. It may be obvious to not send money to people you don’t know, but double-or triple-check before paying requested amounts even from people you know. Scammers can easily impersonate someone from your social feed by changing their username and profile picture. Reach out to them outside the app to confirm that the request is legit.
3. Know Your Fees
There is no cost to send or receive money with many P2P apps, but most have fees for added services. For instance, most offer free balance transfer to your linked bank account within one to three days, but include a surcharge for instant transfer.
P2P apps usually draw from the balance in your account or your linked bank account. But if you use a credit card to make P2P payments instead, you will be hit with a transaction fee, too.
Some P2P apps have rolled out “buy now, pay later” offers that let you pay for purchases over a set amount of weeks or months, often without interest. But even if these offers have no interest, there are usually penalties and interest for late payments, just like loans or credit cards.
4. Use Common Sense
With any payments that include social posts-like emoji-filled Venmo notes-act maturely and be smart about what you post. Even posts set to private can be used in legal disputes.
Make sure your P2P apps have password or other protections, like Face ID, so someone can’t pick up or “borrow” your phone to use the app to siphon money from your account.
It is best to keep your running balance fairly low. Peer-to-peer apps aren’t a great place to store or save money. Do not view them as a replacement for traditional bank or credit union accounts. Think of them instead as convenient supplement, and be careful about how and when you use them.
You can find more tips, tools and valuable banking options at Azura Credit Union. Visit us in person at one of our convenient locations or online at AzuraCU.com.
Source: Banzai 4 Tips for Using Peer-to-Peer Payment Apps
Azura Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA.
| For more information on VIDSPORT email: [email protected] | |
MYSA NEWS
Under MYSA's sanctioning agreement and guidelines, ALL Missouri based teams (all ages and divisions) registering for the Heartland Soccer Spring 2025 League season must be registered through MYSA.
Heartland Soccer is a qualifying league for Missouri State Cup.
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Referee Corner: Handling again according to Law 12.
Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, defines how soccer should be played fairly. It lists the offenses that are fouls. Handball continues to be one of the most misunderstood areas of the Laws of the Game. This confusion causes a lot of inconsistency and controversy. We cannot eliminate all the controversy but will try to share information to make it more consistent.
The location of the arm which the ball touches is a factor in determining if a handball offense occurs. If the ball touches the green area there is no handball. The sleeve of the shirt can sometimes be used as a simple barometer of this. Consider the bottom of the armpit as the end point for contact and no handball. The red area may or may not be a handball. There 3 concepts that need to be considered to straighten the path to understanding what is and what is not a handball offense:
Concept 1: Deliberately touching the ball with the hand/arm. This involves moving the hand/arm towards the ball. It is not always easy to determine this action in dynamic play. The key is when the player is moving his/her hand to the ball.
Concept 2: Making their body unnaturally bigger. Understanding this concept begins with the fact that the further the arm is from the body, the greater the likelihood that the player is making his/her body unnaturally bigger and increases the potential for a handball. You will see this when players put their arms out or up in the air. The players are taking a risk and the potential for a handball call increases. What about when a player slides to the ground? The general rule is that the hand that is breaking the fall is in a natural position. The hand that could be in the air is an unnatural position.
What if the ball comes off another part of their body and then hits the arm? This should not be considered a handball offense. Remember It is NOT AN OFFENSE if the hand/arm is closer to the body and does not make the body bigger.
Concept 3: The Law says this is a handling offense even if it is not deliberate. The soccer world does not expect a goal to be given when they use their hand even if it is accidental.
Handling remains a controversial foul. Remember Diego Maradona and the “Hand of God,” or Thierry Henry’s goal that allowed France to be a team in the World Cup in 2010? Pictures after the fact exposed the offenses, but the goals still counted. Your Referees may not see every handball, but you now know what they are being instructed to look for. Not every contact of the ball with the hand is a foul, but if it is deliberate, the result of making one’s body unnaturally bigger, or results in a goal… It is a handball.
To learn more, consider becoming a certified Referee. Classes will be posted in the late July timeframe.
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Yours, Mine and Ours. What it takes to have a soccer season at Heartland …
I am getting ready to go to a high school reunion next month. My immediate thoughts are on meeting with my classmates and catching up on what has happened to us all over the past decades. It is similar to thinking about soccer. The focus is on the matches we played and the memories we have from wins and losses.
However, like the reunion, soccer matches couldn’t happen unless a lot of people did a lot of work to make them happen. In this article I will talk about the efforts that go into making a season possible. There are things that you do (the coaches and team managers), things that we do (the league, the assignors and the Referee Development program), and then the things that we do together (the playing of each match). We should celebrate the efforts that allow the soccer community to function to have soccer matches for the players, because we know it is not as easy as just showing up for the match. Let’s look at the yours, mine and our efforts.
Yours: There are many ways that teams are formed. Some come together through try-outs. Others are formed with friends and school mates. And, there are teams that are formed for those who want to play and have no connections with the soccer community until they become a part of a team.
To form a team, there must be people who actually put the team together. It could be a club or a league team, but someone has to step forward and assume the role of the team manager or the role of coach. These people register the players, arrange for the practice locations and times, order the uniforms and manage the efforts to get the players ready for the season and each match in the season. They collect the fees and deal with every problem that comes up because they love the game and want the players to have the opportunity to reap the benefits of the beautiful game of soccer. Many coaches are paid to coach. This has its own set of challenges. How do you take 18 individuals and form them into a single unit that can deliver on the pitch? Is the goal the development of the players or just winning matches? For most of you the goal is both. Your efforts and dedication to the players is the first element of the soccer community, but not the last. Where will you play? When will you play? Who will your competition be? What about the management of the fields and the provision of the Referees? That is our role.
Mine: So we now have a group of clubs and a bunch of teams. And, each team has specific requests, from when they can play to when the coach is available to wanting to make sure they are playing against viable competition (no one wants to win every match 10 – 0). This is where Heartland makes its presence known. They provide access to world-class fields to play on. They arrange for seeding to provide the appropriate levels of competition. They arrange for medical staff to be on site and Field Marshals to manage the complexes.
Another needed group is the Referees. The Kansas Referee Development Program conducts both Entry Level Clinics and recertification clinics to make sure that your team will have trained and certified officials to deliver a fair and safe match. The Referee assignor will make the assignments for your date and your field, selecting officials from the list of certified Referees who have signed up to work at Heartland matches. The Entry Level Clinics include field training, so your new officials have a basic understanding of their job. Mentors will be available (not at every field or every complex for every match, but om as many places as possible) to help your Referees get more effective faster.
Ours: With all the preparations in place, it is now time to play the matches. The coaches have prepared the players (helped them develop skills, understand how the game is played, and worked out who will be playing in each position). The Field Marshals will help check in the players who have their cards because the team managers submitted a roster to the Registrar. The Referees will have their pregame discussion, call the captains for the coin toss and blow the whistle to start the match. The fans, who have read the Heartland Code of Conduct, are ready to cheer for their players and to accept the calls of the Referees. This is the ideal world that preparation has set up.
What we don’t want to happen is for fans to egg their team on to hurt the opponents (it happened last week), to complain about the decisions of the Referees (it happened last week), or to blame their team for losing. When these negative things happen, the beautiful game is not so beautiful. Referees decide that it isn’t worth the agony to work games in this league so they don’t accept future assignments. This means that the assignors end up having Referees work too many matches in a weekend affecting their ability to keep up with play. Then we have fans complaining about the lack of efforts by the Referees (it happened last week).
What we do want is for the fans to cheer on their team for effort and good plays. If there are questions about Referee performance, we want the fans to share this with their coaches who will then provide feedback to the league so that we can address specific issues with specific officials.
Yes, we all have a role and responsibility in making soccer work for Heartland. Thank you for accepting your role. We appreciate each and every contribution to making our league a leader in making the beautiful game of soccer available in Kanas City.
If you want to join the Referee team, we will be scheduling Entry Level Clinics starting up again in August. Please check the Kansas Referee website.
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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!
Fall Meetings dates Coming Soon!!
- Via Zoom: 5:30-6:30pm
- In-Person 7:00-8:30pm
All In-person meetings will be hosted at the SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex Field House meeting room, 13700 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS, 66211
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If you are interested in becoming a Referee, please check out the Entry Level Clinics are posted at www.kansasreferee.org. There are many ways to create successful young adults in our game. You can build up players. You can support the coaches. You can congratulate Referees on their efforts. You can thank the assignors on site for their contributions. All of us can enjoy the opportunity that we have to enjoy the beautiful game in the Heartland Soccer Association. Remember, this foundation was not created by accident. A lot of committed people spent a lot of their time making this happen. Thank them.
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Referee of the Month: Paige
Meet Paige, one of Heartland’s standout referees! She started reffing in April 2023, inspired by friends and her own love for the game. “I wanted a job I’d enjoy,” she says, “and my friends were doing it too—so I thought, why not?”
Paige’s favorite part about officiating is watching passionate players play the game she’s loved for years. With 11 years of playing experience under her belt—including time with the Blue Angels and Shawnee Mission Northwest’s JV team—she brings firsthand knowledge to the field. One of the biggest lessons she’s learned as a ref? “To trust my own calls and be more confident.”
Paige has clear goals: “I aspire to be a reliable, confident, and trustworthy referee, especially in teenage games—because I know how frustrating it can be when the calls aren’t fair.”
Off the field, Paige is just as impressive. She’s active in Spanish NHS, Young Republicans, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and serves as a leader in her school’s orchestra, symphony, and pit ensembles. She’s also a Girl Scout pursuing her Gold Award, runs JV track and varsity cross country, attends theatre camps in the summer, and takes all honors classes.
In her spare time, Paige enjoys reading, listening to music, and running. Heartland is proud to have such a well-rounded and dedicated referee on our team. Keep up the great work, Paige!
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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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May Riddle Answer:
A soccer field’s boundary line!
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