FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2018 FALL REGIONAL SHOWCASES

This weekend kicks off the first major series of events for the 2018-19 Development Academy season: Fall Regional Showcases. For three consecutive weekends, top U-13 and U-14 Boys' teams will gather to face off against the country's best at their age. Here are five things you need to know about the event that puts the Academy's younger age groups in the spotlight.

WHAT IS THE SHOWCASE?

Development Academy showcase events bring together clubs from across the country to compete in highly-competitive, hand-selected games. The Fall Regional Showcases are the first events for players in the Academy pathway, catering exclusively to the U-13 and U-14 Boys' age groups. Academy Showcase events are also held in the winter, spring and summer, but the fall is the only to focus solely on the younger age groups.

Three showcases serve the Academy's three regional conferences: Central, East and West. The Central Regional Showcase runs from Oct. 19-22 at Waukegan Sports Park in Waukegan, Ill. outside Chicago, the East Regional Showcase takes place Oct. 26 - 29 at BB&T Sports Park in Bermuda Run, N.C. near Winston-Salem, N.C. and the West Regional Showcase will be held Nov. 2 - 5 at SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, Calif., just north of San Diego.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

All teams will play four mini-games during the Showcase, consisting of two 25-minute halves. U-13s will take the field on the Friday and Saturday of each event, while the U-14s will play Sunday and Monday.

Each match-up at Showcase events is hand-picked by Academy staff to ensure the most competitive games. The mini-game format provides a variety of competition as teams square off against clubs they don't see during the regular season slate. It also affords a chance for player rotation and a unique talent evaluation environment.

Two of the sites will be hosting Academy events for the second-straight season. BB&T Sports Park in Bermuda Run, N.C. hosted the 2017 East Regional Showcase, while the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, Calif. hosted the 2018 Academy Summer Showcase and Playoffs, as well as the 2017 West Regional Showcase.

WHO WILL ATTEND?

A total of 268 teams will compete at the Fall Regional Showcases over the next three weekends. Broken up by the Academy's regional conferences, there is some crossover in the divisions that will attend each Showcase.

Florida and Colorado will play outside of their geographic divisions, attending the Central and West Showcase, respectively, offering an extra wrinkle of variety in the competition.

READ: Florida Squads Make a Splash at Central Regional Showcase
READ: Elevated Competition at Lower Elevation: Colorado Comes West
READ: Seattle And the Sounders: Building the Player Pathway

EARLY TALENT IDENTIFICATION

Academy Showcase events have become a hotbed for scouts, not only from U.S. Soccer, but also the professional and collegiate ranks. Ninety-two percent of Men's Youth National Team players during the 2016-17 cycle came from Development Academy clubs.

HOW TO FOLLOW

For updates throughout the weekend, follow the Academy on Facebook and @ussoccer_acad on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Schedules and event related news can be found on ussoccerda.com.