Source: USA Football
USA Football, the sport’s national governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, will conduct 24 U.S. National Team Regionals in 2018 starting March 3-4 in Phoenix. Focused on skill development, Regionals are two-day, non-contact events where invited athletes are evaluated for U.S. National Team roster spots.
Since 2007, more than 20,000 athletes have participated in the U.S. National Team program. U.S. National teams represent the United States in International Federation of American Football (IFAF) competitions. IFAF is a provisional member of the International Olympic Committee and USA Football is the sole member of the U.S. Olympic Committee devoted entirely to football, a burgeoning international sport played in approximately 70 countries spanning six continents.
“Our National Team program grows stronger every year,” said USA Football Senior Manager of National Teams AARON INGRAM. “The success and positive culture that our athletes experience results from a team effort between them, our coaches and partners like the U.S. Olympic Committee, the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations. We look forward to kicking off 2018 in Phoenix next weekend.”
U.S. National Team Regionals welcome middle school- and high school-aged athletes. College and high school coaches assist as Regional instructors. Past Regional instructors include coaches from the Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern college conferences as well as high schools including DeSoto (Texas), Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and Saguaro (Ariz.).
Based on performance at a Regional, high school student-athletes are selected to represent the U.S. in annual International Bowl games or in IFAF World Championships. Middle school players may also participate in one of five single-day, non-contact U.S. National Team Middle School Showcases to earn an invite to one of three U.S. National Team Middle School Bowl Games.
The 2018 U.S. National Team Regional schedule (“M.S.” denotes Middle School Showcase):
· March 3-4: Phoenix
· April 7: Washington, D.C. (M.S.)
· May 5: Los Angeles (M.S.)
· March 10: Dallas (M.S.)
· April 14-15: Bay Area, Calif.
· May 12-13: Minneapolis
· March 10: Kansas City, Mo. (M.S.)
· April 14-15: Houston
· May 12-13: Seattle
· March 10: Charlotte, N.C. (M.S.)
· April 14-15: Indianapolis
· May 12-13: Charlotte, N.C.
· March 17-18: Dallas
· April 21-22: Sacramento
· May 19-20: Los Angeles
· March 17-18: Las Vegas
· April 21-22: Lexington, Ky.
· May 19-20: Boston
· March 17-18: Orlando, Fla.
· April 21-22: Washington, D.C.
· May 26-27: Atlanta
· March 24-25: Miami
· April 28-29: San Antonio
· May 19-20: Kansas City, Mo.
· March 24-25: Oklahoma City
· April 28-29: Chicago
· June 2-3: Denver
· April 7: New York City (M.S.)
· April 28-29: New Jersey
· June 2-3: Baltimore
U.S. National Team alumni include WR COREY COLEMAN (Cleveland Browns/Baylor), CB TREVON DIGGS (Alabama), WR DEVIN FUNCHESS (Carolina Panthers/Michigan), RB TODD GURLEY (Los Angeles Rams/Georgia), WR MECOLE HARDMAN, JR. (Georgia), WR N’KEAL HARRY (Arizona State), QB DWAYNE HASKINS, JR. (Ohio State), DB TYRANN MATHIEU (Arizona Cardinals/LSU), OL JACK MEWHORT (Indianapolis Colts/Ohio State), RB/WR TY MONTGOMERY (Green Bay Packers/Stanford), RB JONATHAN TAYLOR(Wisconsin), DE STEPHON TUITT (Pittsburgh Steelers/Notre Dame) and QB JAMEIS WINSTON (Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Florida State).
About USA Football: USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players.
