Heartland Soccer Association is now located at The Aspiria Complex

(previously Sprint Campus)

6450 Sprint 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. 

Beating the Heat: Staying Cool on the Field This August

August in Kansas City brings high energy and high temperatures. As soccer season ramps up, so does the heat—and we want all players, coaches, and families to stay safe, healthy, and hydrated.

Here are some top tips for staying cool and performing your best in the KC heat:

1. Hydrate Early and Often

Start drinking water the day before your game, not just the morning of. Bring plenty of water or electrolyte drinks to the field and take small sips regularly, even if you’re not thirsty yet.

2. Shade is Your Friend

Use team tents, umbrellas, or even a light-colored towel over your head during breaks. If you’re a spectator, bring your own shade and consider cooling towels or portable fans.

3. Dress Light

Lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing is a game-changer. Players should avoid dark-colored shirts during warmups and stick to their lightest jersey when possible.

4. Freeze a Few Items

Freeze a water bottle the night before so it stays cold longer. You can also toss a wet washcloth or cooling towel in the freezer and bring it in a plastic bag to use on your neck or wrists during halftime.

5. Eat Smart

Heavy meals before the game can make you feel sluggish in the heat. Stick with lighter snacks like fruit, granola bars, or peanut butter sandwiches for sustained energy.

6. Know the Signs of Heat Exhaustion

Watch for dizziness, nausea, headache, rapid heartbeat, or clammy skin. If a player experiences these symptoms, get them into shade, give them water, and seek help from a coach or onsite medical staff.

Playing soccer in August heat takes extra awareness, preparation, and teamwork, but it’s all part of growing stronger together. Let’s keep the games fun, competitive, and most importantly...safe.

See you out there, and don’t forget your sunscreen!

—Heartland Soccer Association

Indoor and Outdoor Signs, Flags and Window Decals

913-706-7352  

[email protected]

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, and event sponsor directly contribute 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 sport growing—and continue the beautiful game for future generations.

The youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup match was just 13 years old!

Norman Whiteside of Northern Ireland was only 17 days younger than Pelé when he made his debut in the 1982 World Cup—but Aung Kyaw Tun of Myanmar holds the overall record, playing in a senior international match at just 13 years and 71 days old in 2000.

Talk about starting young!

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!

Parents' Playbook:

August edition

Whether you're on the sidelines or off the pitch this month, here are some fun ways to keep the soccer spirit alive as a family—no cleats required!

1. Backyard Skills Challenge

Set up a mini obstacle course with cones, laundry baskets, or pool noodles and have a dribbling relay race. Time each other and crown the family winner!

2. Soccer Movie Night

Cool off indoors with a family soccer movie. A few fun picks: Kicking & Screaming, Bend It Like Beckham, or The Big Green. Don’t forget the popcorn and post-movie trick shot reenactments.

3. Create Your Own Team Jerseys

Get some plain T-shirts and fabric markers or iron-on patches and let the kids design their own team jerseys. Bonus points if everyone wears them to the next practice!

4. Penalty Kick Contest

Use your backyard goal or chalk a goal on the driveway and see who has the best shot. Mix it up with fun challenges—opposite foot only, eyes closed (maybe not), or goal celebration dances.

5. Soccer Snack Night

Get creative in the kitchen and make soccer-themed treats like soccer ball cupcakes, "orange slice" smoothies, or energy bites shaped like mini soccer balls. Perfect for post-practice pick-me-ups.

This Month in History:

24 August 1975

 The Rowdies Go Bowling

On 24 August 1975, the Tampa Bay Rowdies won the inaugural Soccer Bowl, beating the Portland

Timbers 2-0.

The North American Soccer League, which dated back to 1968, had used playoffs since the 1969 season, but the finals had always been played at the home field of one of the participants. By 1974, league commissioner Phil Woosnam believed that a neutral venue would generate more excitement along the lines of the NFL's Super Bowl and thus the Soccer Bowl was created for the 1975 season.

Like the Soccer Bowl, both Tampa Bay and Portland were in their first NASL season. Tampa Bay, coached by former Charlton Athletic manager Eddie Firmani, won their division, then reached to the Soccer Bowl with playoff wins over Toronto and Miami. Portland, meanwhile, led by former Aston Villa manager Vic Crowe, also won their division, then advanced with wins over Seattle and St. Louis.

They met at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California, where a capacity crowd of 17,000 gathered for the event. The two teams were deadlocked at 0-0 until the 66th minute, when Tampa Bay substitute defender Arsène Auguste, who had come on only three minutes earlier, unleashed a blast from 35 yards out to beat Portland keeper Graham Brown. Striker Clyde Best then sealed the win with a goal in the 88th minute.

It was the only Soccer Bowl appearance for Portland. Tampa Bay returned twice more, but lost to the New York Cosmos in 1978 and to Vancouver Whitecaps in 1979.

This article was taken from - https://tdifh.blogspot.com/2017/08/24-august-1975-rowdies-go-bowling.html

2024/2025

Tournament Team Numbers

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 '25 - 67

Heartland Open Cup '25 - 61

Fall Kick Off Challenge '25- 215

Heartland Midwest Classic '25 - 164

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.

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!

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! 

2025

Heartland Numbers

 Spring league teams '25- 1,400

Fall league teams '25- 1,382

League players - 48,000

Tournament teams - 3,500

Tournament players - 56,000

Referees - 2,000+

Coaches - 4,000

MYSA NEWS

 Under MYSA's sanctioning agreement and guidelines, ALL Missouri based teams (all ages and divisions) Fall 2025 League season must be registered through MYSA. 

Heartland Soccer is a qualifying league for Missouri State Cup.

Back to School, Back to the Pitch!

As backpacks are zipped and school bells ring, there's one more thing making its return: soccer season at Heartland Soccer!

We’re thrilled to welcome our players, families, coaches, and fans back to the fields for another exciting and action-packed season of the game we all love.

Whether you're starting fresh with a new team or returning for another season with familiar faces, this is the perfect time to hit reset, saet goals, and bring that positive energy to the pitch. Heartland Soccer is more than just the competition. It's a community built on teamwork, growth, and great sportsmanship. Let’s remember to cheer each other on, respect referees, and lead by example on and off the field.

We’re also proud to host state-of-the-art tournaments all season long, offering an unmatched experience for players and families alike. There’s still time to register for the final two tournaments of the year, so don’t miss your chance to compete, grow, and finish the season strong.

Let’s make this season one to remember. Here’s to a year of goals, growth, and good vibes.

See you on the field!

—Your Heartland Soccer Association Team 

Congratulations to the Kansas Referees selected to the 2025 USYS National Championships in Orlando!

Heartland Soccer is incredibly proud of your determination, extreme hard work and leadership on and off the soccer pitch!

Thank you for all you to do support and advance the game of youth soccer in Kansas and the United States.

YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

KANSAS PROUD!

Riddle of the month: August



I carry your gear, I zip and I snap,

I'm slung over your shoulders when you follow a map.

I go to school but never learn—

What am I, with so much to return?

*answer is at the bottom of the newsletter*

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!

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

BUILDING UP FROM THE BACK IN A 4-3-3

This is an 11v11 game played on a full pitch that is split into equal thirds to create a scoring system

One team, here attacking left to right, is set up in a 4-3-3 formation. The other team should set up in a 4-4-2 shape.

Points will be awarded for the ball moving into different thirds and then scoring without losing possession.

If either team scores without losing possession, and have moved the ball through every third, they get three points.

Scoring without losing possession after having possession in the middle and attacking thirds is worth two points.

A team gets one point if they score from having possession only in the attacking third during that move.

The team that scores will restart with the ball from their goalkeeper.

There are no corners or throw-ins. The game will always restart from the goalkeeper, to increase the repetition of building from the back.

COACHING DETAIL: IN POSSESSION

ROTATION & FORWARD RUNS

The coach should encourage forward runs from midfielders, as well as rotation between the wingers and striker.

These movements should cause confusion among the defenders, and result in players being able to either penetrate the back line or receive between lines on the half-turn.

BOUNCE PASSES TO MOVE OPPONENTS

The center-backs should be encouraged to use bounce passes with either the central midfielder or full-back, depending on the opposition’s press.

This helps to move players and create passing opportunities into one of the wingers.

When completing this type of pass, the center-back needs to play the ball with the correct weight to allow the receiver to play back into one touch.

Here are some cool courses for kids, teens, and young adults:

The Banzai Courses use real-life scenarios to demonstrate the power of good financial planning. For kids, teens, and young adults, these courses teach basic and advanced financial concepts.

Banzai Junior 

https://azuracu.banzai.org/wellness/resources/banzai-jr

Banzai Junior provides real-life scenarios that show users how to make wise decisions when faced with financial dilemmas. Designed for kids aged 8 to 12, Banzai Junior uses the storyline of a summer lemonade stand and the goal of a new bike—or hoverboard for the financially daring—to teach concepts like interest and fees, envelope budgeting, and discretionary income. This course also weaves in activities like quizzes and counting currency. Plus, Banzai Jr. is available in both English and Spanish!



Among the types of topics Banzai Junior covers are things like making payments, unexpected expenses, sales tax, and ATM withdrawals. With fun and goofy circumstances, real financial predicaments, and just the right amount of humor, Banzai Junior engages users, captivating them while providing financial education in a totally unique way.

Getting started with Banzai Junior is easy—just sign up! Once you’re signed up, select the Banzai Junior Course.

When life hands you lemons, become an entrepreneur! Designed for ages 8-12, kids will tackle real-world financial dilemmas to create a successful lemonade stand and save for a big purchase.

Banzai Teen https://azuracu.banzai.org/wellness/resources/banzai-teen

Created for users aged 13-18, Banzai Teen gives teens the opportunity to work through real-life financial problems in a safe environment. Throughout the course, the user's goal is to save enough money to register at Vanderbilt Community College, but unforeseen challenges and quirky scenarios makes reaching that goal not-so-straightforward—just like real life! Plus, Banzai Teen can be played in English or Spanish.

Included in the Banzai Teen Course is a module called Life Scenarios. In some ways this module is a practice round for the game. It includes the basics of banking and budgeting and provides step-by-step instructions on what to do with income and expenses. Once a player has tackled Life Scenarios, they're ready for the game.

Banzai Teen covers important financial topics like credit cards, auto loans, envelope budgeting, checking accounts, and more. Plus, it's fun and silly, engaging users with a rich storyline and entertaining scenarios. To get started with Banzai Teen, all you have to do is sign up! Then, just select the Banzai Teen Course.

In Teen, users play to save enough money for college registration while navigating daily decisions like getting a job, going out to eat, and renting an apartment.

Banzai Plus https://azuracu.banzai.org/wellness/resources/banzai-plus

Banzai Plus brings the same kind of budgeting simulations from the other Banzai courses and elevates it to an advanced level. With real-life dilemmas, exciting challenges, and the goal of purchasing a home, Banzai Plus makes complicated financial concepts easy to understand. Banzai Plus is available in both English and Spanish.

Designed for users 16 and up, Banzai Plus calls for users to embrace adult-sized obstacles and learn about concepts from paying off debt to credit scores. Like all Banzai courses, Plus shows users how to spend their money on what matters most and how decisions have far-reaching consequences.

Banzai Plus covers a wide variety of financial concepts including identity theft, down payments, and tax returns using relatable circumstances and scenarios. To get started on the course, sign up and select the Banzai Plus course.

In Plus, users attempt to save enough money to buy a home. Navigating things like identity fraud and auto insurance along the way could make a win a little trickier.



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 Courses https://azuracu.banzai.org/wellness/collections/banzai-courses

Azura Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA

For more information on VIDSPORT email: [email protected]

We’re launching a new campaign aimed at helping kids think about saving—and having fun while they do it! It’s called Block Build Battle, and it ties into our Minecraft Movie Night event coming up on September 26 as part of Azura Outdoors in Olathe. Through this contest, kids and teens can put their creativity to work by building a digital block-style model of what they’re saving for—whether that’s a new toy, game console, dream car, or something entirely their own. The contest runs from August 4–29, with online voting from September 8–15.

Winners in each of the three age categories will receive:

• A $50 Visa Gift Card
• A $50 deposit into a new or existing Azura Youth Account 

Here’s a link to learn more about it: https://www.azuracu.com/block-build-battle

What Are You Saving For? 

Enter for a chance to win $50!

Using your creativity and building skills, show-and-tell us what you're saving for! Whether it's a new toy, game console, dream car or something totally unique, illustrate it using a block-style build program or app. 

Entering is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Create a block build that answers: "What are you saving for?" If you can dream it, you can build it!
2. August 4-29, submit a screenshot or image of what you built using our contest entry form. Make sure an adult helps you fill it out! Up to four images may be submitted. Please show build only, not images of children.
3. September 8-15, view entries and cast your vote!

 Categories

• Ages 6–9
• Ages 10–13
• Ages 14–17 

Prizes 

• One winner per category will be selected for a three total winners.
• Each winner will be awarded a $50 Visa Gift Card.
• Winners can earn an additional $50 deposit into a new or existing Azura Youth Account.*

Let your imagination run wild—build your dream and show off your skills! 

• Entries Accepted: August 4-29
• Entry Deadline: August 29 at 9 a.m.
• Voting Period: September 8-15
• Winners Announced: September 22
• Entries Recognized: September 26 at Minecraft Movie Night