The U.S. Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase begins this week, and TopDrawerSoccer.com will have a front row seat for all of the proceedings. Played out from May 22-26 in Sarasota, Florida, the competitive action will feature 218 games at the Sarasota Polo Grounds.

In addition, the US U20 and U17 Men’s National Teams will be present and taking part in friendly matches in conjunction with the showcase, representing the largest amount of U.S. National Team activity ever to occur at a Development Academy event.

The Spring Showcase is the second event of the 2008-09 Development Academy season following the Winter Showcase, which was held Dec. 5-8 in Lancaster, CA, and precedes the upcoming Academy playoffs that will be played June 26-29 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

For TopDrawerSoccer.com’s recent coverage of the Academy divisional races click here for U16 and here for U18.

Per usual, TopDrawerSoccer.com will bring you all the spring showcase action via stories, photos and video each day.

The format will see all 146 teams (73 clubs) play three games over the course of five days as the best young players in the country go head-to-head.

The U20 MNT will play an intra squad scrimmage Sunday that will feature a coaching workshop with US head coach Thomas Rongen. It should all make for an exciting week of soccer.