USA Football announces U.S. Under-17 National Team to compete against Canada in International Bowl series

Steve Alic Mon, 11/16/2015 – 10:27am

Fifty-nine (59) of the nation’s best high school football players have been selected to the U.S. Under-17 National Team, which will compete against Canada in the 2016 International Bowl on Friday, Feb. 5, at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is 1 p.m. CT.

Four high school-aged U.S. National Teams will compete against national teams from Canada in the seventh annual International Bowl series. U.S. Select Teams at the high school and junior high level also will compete as part of the series.

COMING THIS WEEK: A closer look at the members of the U.S. Under-17 National Team

LEARN MORE: About the 2016 International Bowl at the event’s official website

All U.S. National Teams are assembled and managed by USA Football, which is recognized as the sport’s national governing body by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

The U.S. Under-17 head coach is Brandon Faircloth of Port Neches-Groves High School in Texas. Faircloth led the 2014 U.S. Under-19 National Team to a 43-7 win over Canada and has served in varying coaching capacities for the U.S. National Team program since 2011. Faircloth took over the Port Neches-Groves program in 2009 and led the team to a perfect 10-0 regular season record, becoming only the third coach to achieve that mark in the school’s history.

U.S. rosters and coaching staffs will be announced throughout November and December and available on www.internationalbowl.com. Canadian rosters will be announced in early 2016.

To be eligible for the Under-17 team, players must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

The games are a collaboration of the sport’s national governing bodies in each country – USA Football and Football Canada – featuring top student-athletes in high school football’s greatest annual international competition.

The event will feature a week of practices and activities for each team, culminating in internationally sanctioned competitions. The schedule includes:

(All times CT)

Sunday, Jan. 31

• U.S. Under-19 National Team vs. Canada Under-19 National Team, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 3

• U.S. Under-14 Select Teams: Stars vs. Stripes, 1 p.m.
• U.S. Under-15 Select Teams: Stars vs. Stripes, 4 p.m.
• U.S. Under-18 National Team vs. Canada Under-18 National Team, 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5

• U.S. Under-16 National Team vs. Alberta Under-16, 1 p.m.
• U.S. Under-18 Select Team vs. Ontario Under-18, 4 p.m.
• U.S. Under-17 National Team vs. Ontario Under-17, 7 p.m.

Single-day general admission tickets are $10. Single-game sideline passes, which include access to the field club, are $50. Games also will be broadcast throughout the United States.

“This is an exciting opportunity for these young men to represent their country on the field and learn from top coaches while working alongside the best athletes in their grade levels,” USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck said. “To play inside the same stadium as the Dallas Cowboys will make this a memorable experience for our coaches, athletes and their families.”

“This roster includes incredible talent, but it’s also centered on the characteristics that make up a true team, a national team,” Faircloth said. “Representing the United States is the highest honor an athlete can seek. Our coaches and players understand this. We will prepare to play our best and make our teammates, families, hometowns and country proud.”

The NCAA recognizes USA Football’s International Bowl as a national team competition. Playing for the United States in the International Bowl is exempt from high school seniors’ two all-star game appearances. USA Football and Football Canada are among the 71 national federations who are members of IFAF. IFAF’s member nations span six continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America.

2016 U.S. Under-17 National Team roster

2016 U.S. Under-17 National Team coaching staff