Development Academy Final Tournament teams set

[Stan Collins]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_7274496.html

http://images.ussoccer.com/Images/cms/ussf/561_drawboard9.jpg

I find it interesting that until the Chicago team qualified last, the only MLS club in it was the Crew.

And for those who don't know, the TV schedule for the placement games:

U-17/18 Age Group
Placement Matches
Friday, July 18
Match Time TV
7th Place 12:30 p.m. ESPNU
5th Place 3 p.m. ESPNU
3rd Place 5:30 p.m. ESPNU
Championship 8 p.m. ESPN2
U-15/U-16 Age Group
Placement Matches
Saturday, July 19 Match Time TV
7th Place 12:30 p.m. ESPNU
5th Place 3 p.m. ESPNU
3rd Place 5:30 p.m. ESPNU
Championship 8 p.m. ESPNU

Even with my super-mega sports pack, I don't get ESPNU. But it's amazing to me that even one game makes the Deuce.

[AndyMead]

I shot the first day of last weekend's Summer Showcase north of Greensboro, NC. It was quite an eye opener.

The U18 Chivas/DC United was the best game I saw. The Crew U16s were one of the worst teams I saw.

I was hearing that a lot more MLS teams will be in the Development Academy league next year. Only six (Chicago, Chivas, Colorado Columbus, DC, New York) were on board this year - and oddly all for "C" teams.

I do know that some other MLS youth teams are doing well in the competitions they're in. The KC U-19s have advanced to the national finals of some competition, for instance.