From SUM U17 Cup to DA FINALS: 10 days in July

[chazsoccer]

Does it strike you as a bit of bad timing that the very best of our youth are being asked to play in two tournaments back-to-back?

Here is an example: FCD Jr U-16 have played 5 games in the past 8 days - in two different states. WHY?

SUM U17 Cup - Colorado - July 3-8
DA FINALS - California - July 10 - 15

Because they were in the SUM U17 Cup in Colorado for the past week. All teams in the competition played 3 round robin games plus one more. The teams that advanced to the Championship game played a 5th game on Wednesday, July 8th.

Because they played well enough to qualify for the finals of the Development Academy (DA), the next day was a travel day to California. Competition began July 10 in Carson, California at the Home Depot Center.

I am concerned about the health of these young players, as well as the impact on the competition level and value of such competition.

What do you think?

How would you handle the two competitions?

[Count]

Well, considering that only 2 MLS teams actually made the DA finals (FCD and DCU) it's not a huge deal. But in the future, I would think that things would be planned better.

[chazsoccer]

Well all the SUM cup participants played a minimum of 4 games (FCD and DCU only played one more) and all the SUM cup teams that qualified for DA FINALS week then had to travel from Colorado to California and play a game within a day or two of arriving.

I think it impacts all the youth players participating.

DA Playoffs are last week of June
SUM Cup is beginning of July (after 4th)
DA Finals started July 10

I would like to see an extra week between tournaments. Cup ends on Wed 8th - start DA Finals the following week (Monday or Wednesday).

How would you set it up?