British American Football Association announces major restructuring of national program
The British American Football Association has unveiled a comprehensive restructuring of its national program, creating a more connected pathway for player development from youth levels through senior international competition as part of its Together to Inspire strategy.
New four-team structure
The redesigned Great Britain Contact American Football Program will feature four distinct teams: the Great Britain Adult Performance team, Great Britain Women’s Performance team, Great Britain Adult Development team (replacing the U19 squad), and Great Britain Academy (replacing the U17 program). This new structure aims to create better alignment between age groups and provide clearer development opportunities for athletes at every stage.
Creating a unified pathway
The most significant change involves creating a seamless progression system where terminology, schemes, and coaching philosophies remain consistent from the academy level through the senior national team. The Great Britain Academy will now be more dynamic, competing across U16, U17, and U18 competitions while working closely with BAFA’s regional series to identify and develop young talent.
When athletes turn 18, they become eligible for selection to the adult program, which will hold joint practices with development and performance teams training at the same venue. This integrated approach allows the country’s best athletes and coaches to develop together while ensuring knowledge transfer across all levels.
Competitive opportunities
The Great Britain Adult Development Team will compete in Tier 2 of IFAF international competition, focusing on developing the nation’s most promising talent under age 24 while drawing from the BUCS university sports pipeline. The Great Britain Adult Performance Team continues to compete at the highest level of IFAF Tier 1 competition.
The Great Britain Women’s Performance Team, current world and European silver medalists, will continue representing the nation at the highest level, including hosting Germany in May 2026 during the European Championship group stage.
Looking ahead
This restructuring represents BAFA’s commitment to creating a more professionalized development system that can compete internationally while providing clear pathways for athletes. With head coach appointments and trial announcements expected in the coming weeks, the new structure positions British American football for stronger international performances in the years ahead, particularly looking toward LA28 and future international competitions.
Source: InsideBritball
