U.S. National Team Program Kicks Off 2018 With 24 Regionals Across 17 States And Washington, D.C.

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- America's teams in its most popular sport will soon be formed for 2018.

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, which represents the United States in International Federation of American Football (IFAF) competitions. IFAF is a provisional member of the International Olympic Committee. USA Football is the sole member of the U.S. Olympic Committee devoted to football, a burgeoning international sport played in approximately 70 countries spanning six continents.

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 their Regional performance, 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 resides here.

"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 alumni include CB TREVON DIGGS (Alabama), RB TODD GURLEY (Los Angeles Rams/Georgia), WR MECOLE HARDMAN, JR. (Georgia), WR N'KEAL HARRY (Arizona State), QB DWAYNE HASKINS, JR. (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).

SOURCE USA Football