The road to spots on the 2015 U.S. National Team rosters begins this weekend as high school football players from throughout the Southwest travel to the University of Texas-Arlington. This marks the first of 17 Regional Development Camps hosted by USA Football across the country to find the players ready to wear the red, white and blue.

The two-day, non-padded camps, are open to athletes of all skill level and include individual drills, 1-on-1 training and 7-on-7 situations. 

Along with instruction from some of the region’s top high school coaches, participants will learn from current college coaches and former NFL players. In Arlington, former Cowboy Larry Brown – MVP of Super Bowl XXX – will work with defensive backs. Brown played eight seasons in the NFL with Dallas and Oakland.

Regional Development Camps are designed to help players improve their individual skills while serving as a tryout for the national team program. USA Football evaluators – who include NFL and college scouts – will provide a written evaluation to each participant, highlighting the player’s strengths and areas to improve.

Along with on-field training, former NFL players will discuss off-the-field issues with athletes and their parents.

Select players will be invited to take part in weeklong U.S. National Team Development Games presented by Shock Doctor. These full-pads events, which include jamborees and full games, are the final step before National Teams selection, the International Bowl roster and other worldwide events.

Other former NFL players and coaches serving as instructors in Arlington:

• Chet Brooks – A former NFL defensive back and two-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers
• Artie Gigantino – Former special teams and linebacker coach with the Los Angeles Rams
• Curtis Jackson – A wide receiver on the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVI championship team
• Craig Nall – A backup to Brett Favre for five seasons in Green Bay
• Aveion Cason – An eight-year NFL veteran at running back
• Willie Pile – Former Dallas and Kansas City linebackers

Current college coaches from SMU, Houston, Mary Hardin-Baylor and Incarnate Word also will be on hand to instruct athletes.

Click here to learn more about Regional Development Camps and to register for one near you.

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2014 USA Football Regional Development Camp schedule:

Feb. 15-16: Dallas, Texas

Feb. 22-23: Kissimmee, Fla., and Austin, Texas

March 15-16: Bay Area, Calif.

March 22-23: San Diego, Calif.

March 29-30: Los Angeles, Calif.

April 5-6: Jersey City, N.J. and Washington, D.C.

April 12-13: Charlotte, N.C. and Chicago, Ill.

April 26-27: Houston, Texas, and Atlanta, Ga.

May 10-11: Indianapolis, Ind., and Kansas City, Mo.

May 17-18: Boston, Mass.

May 24-25:Seattle, Wash., and Denver, Colo.