The British American Football Association (BAFA) has confirmed new details of its partnership with the Union Jack Classic, the UK’s first-ever American College Football game, as it becomes National Competitions title partner with British players, coaches and referees reaping the benefits.
Need to know:
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Kicking off in March, BAFA’s 2026 flag and contact American football competitions will be titled the BAFA National Leagues powered by Union Jack Classic
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At the core of the partnership, the BAFA x Union Jack Classic Gameday Workforce Fund will subsidise British American football coaching courses and support officials’ training in 2026
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The fund aims to widen access to flag and contact American football coaching and officiating in the UK by supporting recruitment, development, and retention
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BAFA members, including BUCS participants, will receive access to exclusive ticket pricing for the Union Jack Classic, the UK’s first-ever American College Football game, featuring the University of Kansas and Arizona State University in September 2026.
The partnership, first announced in December 2025, will bring all British contact and flag American football national competitions under the banner of the BAFA National Leagues powered by Union Jack Classic.
Headlining BAFA’s partnership with Union Jack Classic is the creation of the BAFA x Union Jack Classic Gameday Workforce Fund. The fund will subsidise coaching and support officiating training courses throughout 2026, widening access to the British American football workforce by supporting the recruitment, development, and retention of coaches and officials in contact and flag football.
The fund, which will be reviewed throughout the 2026 season, focuses on growing sustainable workforces in BAFA clubs and BUCS institutions, with an emphasis on improving retention and quality through structured training support.
An enhanced coach and official CPD offer will supplement the fund, providing the workforce with more high-quality development opportunities over the course of the year.
A full breakdown of the Gameday Workforce Fund can be found below:
| Course | Price (£) | Subsidised Price (£) |
| BAFCA Level One | 55 | 10 |
| BAFCA Level Two | 130 | 20 |
| Introduction to Flag Football for Community | 40 | 10 |
| Flag Football Officiating Course | 40 | 10 |
| Self-Officiating for Flag Football | 30 | 10 |
The fund will also be backdated to 1 November 2025 for BAFCA Level One and Two, supporting all coaches who have started or completed qualifications since the beginning of the 2025-26 national competition season. BAFA will work directly with the British American Football Referees’ Association (BAFRA) to support the transition of new officials.
With the Union Jack Classic joining BAFA as National Competitions Title Partner, all BAFA competition in 2026 will take place within the BAFA National Leagues powered by Union Jack Classic.
BAFA’s contact and flag football competitions across all age groups will benefit from heightened coverage as part of the BAFA x Union Jack Classic partnership, including spotlighted team and player performances, featured games, and engagement opportunities leading into and during the Union Jack Classic on 19 September 2026.
BAFA members, including those participating in BUCS, will also receive access to exclusive ticket options at the Union Jack Classic, opening the doors for the British American Football community into the UK’s first-ever American college football game.
“Union Jack Classic is proud to support BAFA’s contact and flag communities with resources that benefit players, coaches and referees to ultimately grow the game across all levels,” said Thomas Hensey, Union Jack Classic’s co-founder and COO.
“It is important to UJC that we support and invest back into the domestic game and together continue to grow the sport we all play and love.”
“Our partnership with Union Jack Classic really highlights the importance of collaboration in providing meaningful and tangible benefits for the British American football community,” said BAFA CEO Chad Ehlertsen.
“Looking at the future of flag and contact American football in the UK, it’s essential that we develop and protect the sport’s workforce of coaches and officials. Our work with Union Jack Classic will not only empower that workforce but continue to raise the profile of the sport in the UK and beyond.”