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Team Canada Prepares for NFL Global Junior Championship XI

Forty players from high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties will be selected to represent the United States as Team USA Football at the NFL Global Junior Championship XI in January. The Americans figure to provide the stiffest competition to defending champs Canada, who won the 10th edition of the tournament last year in Detroit.

The event is in its eleventh year and will be played as part of the Super Bowl XLI festivities. Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale will become the first venue to host the NFL Global Junior Championship for a second time, since initially hosting the international teams in 1999.

Reigning Florida 2A state champion head coach Mark Guandolo of Chaminade-Madonna Preparatory School will lead the Team USA Football challenge against the junior national teams of Canada, France, Japan, Mexico and Panama. This marks the first time the event, which began as a showcase between Mexico and Europe in 1997, has featured six teams.

Guandolo will build his roster by rewarding student athletes from the region. Head coaches in Broward and Miami-Dade counties may nominate up to three players who are graduating seniors and recorded a 2.5 GPA through their junior year.

"It is an honor to lead the home challenge against teams from around the world," said coach Guandolo. "The USA had won four straight championships until Canada took gold the past two years, including one up in Jacksonville, so we are aiming to win back the world championship. It will be a unique and interesting experience to meet players and coaches from foreign countries on the football field."

Visiting teams from each country will live with volunteer families from local high schools. Cardinal Gibbons will welcome current champion Canada, Pine Crest hosts European Junior Champion France, North Broward Prep opens its doors to Japan, Western High welcomes Mexico, and University High hosts Panama. Tickets for the event cost $5 per day with one hundred percent of the proceeds benefiting the participating schools.

Miami Dolphins defensive end and four-time Pro Bowler Jason Taylor will serve as Honorary Chairman. The ten-year veteran will attend a Team USA Football practice, speak at the GJC Welcome Banquet and perform the coin toss before the Championship Game.

"I am excited to support an international youth event that shows how the appeal of our game is spreading far and wide," said Taylor. "I saw when I visited military bases in Germany that the sport is very popular overseas and to welcome teams from three continents is incredible."

The teams will be divided into two groups based on the standings from 2006 and will play from 12pm to 10pm on Wednesday, January 31 to determine who will contest the Championship Game on Saturday, February 3 at 3pm. The medal games will kick off at 9am and 12pm. All games will be played at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

NFL GLOBAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP XI SCHEDULE

Jan. 28	Teams arrive and live with families from local high schools
Jan 29-30, Feb 1-2	Teams practice at local high schools (times TBD)
Jan. 29	NFL GJCXI Press Conference and Welcome Banquet
	Fort Lauderdale War Memorial Auditorium
Jan. 31	First Round Games, Lockhart Stadium

National Conference	American Conference
Canada, Japan, Europe	USA, Mexico, Panama

Game schedule to be confirmed; kick-off times will be at 12pm, 1.45pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.15pm and 9pm. Each nation will play the two teams in its conference. Team USA Football will face Panama and Mexico in the First Round

First Round games consist of two, 12-minute halves each. No overtime. There will be a 20-minute break between games within the conference. Standings from the First Round will determine the seeding for the Medal Round games. Standings Tie Breakers are as follows:

i. Head-to-Head results

ii. Total points given up in all games

iii. Total touchdowns given up in all games

iv. Total point differential in all games, with a maximum of 14 per game

v. Team that gave up the first score latest in their first game, or if not scored upon in the first game, then in the second game.

Saturday, February 3: Medal Round Games
9.00am	3rd place NFC vs. 3rd place AFC
12.00pm	2nd place NFC vs. 2nd place AFC
3.00pm	Championship Game: 1st place NFC vs. 1st place AFC

The Medal Round games will all consist of four, 12-minute quarters. NCAA overtime rules apply in Medal Round games only.