The sixth season of the Development Academy is nearly wrapped, with just the centerpiece Finals Week in Houston, Texas to come.

But there was plenty to learn about the program at the Academy Playoffs in Frisco, as all 80 teams in the Academy were well represented, offering a chance to learn and observe about development in the United States and where the Academy stands.

Here are ten observations from Frisco (part 1 of 2):

1) USSF put on a good show

Credit to where it’s due – the U.S. Soccer Federation puts a lot of resources into the Development Academy, and nowhere is that more evident than the sort of event they put together for the Academy Playoffs.

With every club in the Academy represented, both the Showcase and Playoff events presented opportunities for all parties: clubs to be seen and evaluated by USSF Technical staff, college and pro scouts to see players in action, coaches to receive education – the list goes on.

And not only are those opportunities valuable for everyone involved, USSF did a great job ensuring that the event ran smoothly, and even building a futsal court on the FC Dallas Field grounds, so that players could work on their skills during down time.