american
football
BRITISH
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
american football
Spirit of the Games: Excellence through
competition — how does your sport
exemplify these values?
With its thoughtful preparation of plays
and its explosive action, this sport requires
a passionate approach and can touch
even the most disaffected youngsters.
What are the benefits of playing your sport?
American Football is a sport that has historically promoted academic achievement, personal betterment,
community engagement and excellence in athletic ability, regardless of gender, ability or disability. The
sport is imbued philosophically and structurally, from grass-roots to the NFL, with the quintessential
British value of ‘fair play’ – a perfect sport for schools!
Signposted competitions:
Further competition opportunities exist either through
established BAFA National League Competitions
and/or through the developing Touchdown Football
Programme. Competition rules vary.
Why is it easy to run competitions in your sport?
Name of the competition
National League under 12s (Cadet) Competitions
The British American Football Association’s preferred format for schools is 5 v 5 flag (non-contact)
American Football. This is a fast, engaging and fun version of the sport that is highly adaptable to
places, spaces and people. Played inside or outside, on grass or an artificial surface, it also requires little
equipment beyond cones, rugby-style tag belts and a suitable American Football.
Age groups
Under 12s
What level/location?
Local, regional and national competitions
Who can run it?
BAFA through National League Community Clubs
The sport demands players follow
instructions from both coaches and
officials – players need to respect each
other and be very disciplined to do well.
All sports have trick shots or trick plays
but in American Football, such plays
cannot be dishonest trick plays!
The game can build confidence and
self-belief in the least confident individual
because it remains in essence a simple
game to play.
American Football can only work if it is
played by a team working together – every
player can make a difference to the result!
Priority competitions:
Name of the competition: Age group: What level/location: Who can run it? How to enter it: When does it take place? Next steps in competition
after this competition
School Games 5 v 5 American Flag Football Plus
Year 8/9/10 mixed or single gender
Level 2 inter-school competitions run at a local level
Run by teachers, Young Leaders, SGOs (with support from Touchdown Activators and Advisers (TAA) and/or NL Community Club Youth Coaches)
Contact your SGO who will coordinate a local interschool competition
All year
BAFA will not offer a Level 3 competition at this stage but your SGO will let British American Football Association Schools’ Division (BAFA) know the winners who can opt to progress onto the NGB’s National Touchdown Football Competition (September-November) and/or enter NGB National Leagues Competition (June – August). Also refer to
britishamericanfootball.org for information on planned international competition opportunities.
Young Leader/Officials
courses/qualifications available:
There is an information course for teachers and school staff:
• The Touchdown Football Induction Day (externally run) Age: 18+
There are three Awards and one Qualification for students:
It takes hard work and determination to be
good at this sport and because students
do want to be good at this sport, it
develops hard work and determination.
• Touchdown Buddies Award (self-certificating) Age: 9-11 years and Touchdown Team-mates
(self-certificating) Age: 12-14 years
• Touchdown Respect Award (self-certificating) Age: 12-14 years, and a
• Touchdown Junior Flag Activator Qualification (externally verified) Age: 15+
What should schools do if they want to cater for Years 3 and 4?
American football is composed of a range of fundamental skills including throwing, catching agility,
balance and coordination. BAFA welcomes their development through multi-skill games, skill
development practices and a multisport approach. These will all underpin American football ability at
a later stage. Depending on demand, local and regional 3 v 3 competitions may be available through
TAAs and/or local NL clubs.
How to enter
Schools should enter after registering with
britishamericanfootball.org
Name of the competition
Touchdown Football’s National Schools’ Flag Championship.
Open to boys and girls whose school has registered as a
Touchdown School with britishamericanfootball.org. The
competition will include three elements: 5 v 5 Flag competition,
Field-Goal Challenge and Quarterback (QB) Challenge.
Age groups
Teams can be single or mixed sex and the current focused
age group will be years 8-10. Other age groups will be
considered subject to demand.
What Level/location?
Winners of regions will proceed to a knockout round
leading to a semi-final and national final at an appropriate
Touchdown Lombardi School or appropriate venue.
Who can run it?
Touchdown Competitions will be run by teachers at
Lombardi or equivalent venues with volunteer Touchdown
Activators and Advisors and Community Club Youth
Coaches.
How to enter
Schools register with britishamericanfootball.org as a
Touchdown School. Details will be released in due course.
When
The competition is proposed to be held in SeptemberNovember.
Relevant web links:
• British American Football www.britishamericanfootball.org
• www.britishamericanfootball.org/coach-and-teach/
teaching-football#.VgyiUY_XJjo
american football
Simple rules:
Competition Card 1
• the game is played on a grass, astro or rubber-crumb pitch (called a ‘field’)
20 yards x 50 yards
Name of competition:
• squads should have a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 12 players of mixed or
single gender. 5 players on the field (offence or defence) at any one time
School Games 5 v 5
American Flag Football Plus
• the Offense has a Quarterback (QB) plus a Centre and three Receivers (one of
whom could be a Running-back)
Age group:
• played with a ‘Touchdown’ branded American Football or Wilson TDY
Year 8/9/10
• use cones to mark the 5-yard lines where the ball should be snapped from, to start
the game, start the second half and for every new possession
• to start the game, the ball is kicked by the Defense and an attempt to return it is
made by the Offense. If the Offense carry the ball past half-way, they start on their
5-yard line. If they are stopped by two Defending players touching the ball carrier,
they start on their goal-line
Via SGO
Young people can take the roles of setting up and checking
the playing area for hazards, officiating and keeping score. The
Touchdown Teams-mates, Touchdown Respect Awards along
with the Touchdown Junior Flag Activator Qualification will provide
young people of various ages with the skills, knowledge and ability
to fulfil these roles successfully.
• the Defense has four Defensive Backs and a Safety (who can also ‘Blitz’ the QB)
• teams wear same coloured tee-shirts or skirts, with flag belts.
How to enter:
Roles for young people:
• the team with the ball (the Offense) has four attempts (downs) to score
• the Offense must move the ball past the half-way line to gain an additional set of 4
downs
Tournament format:
• if a ball is not caught and hits the ground, it is an incomplete pass and the attempt is
wasted
• Local, regional and national venues located at appropriate Touchdown Lombardi Schools or equivalent venue.
• if the ball is caught and held for two seconds and then dropped, it is a fumble and a
live ball (first player to pick it up gets possession)
• the ball carrier has ‘right of way’ and cannot be blocked in their run
• the ball carrier cannot stop a defender tagging them by knocking their hand away
(this is called flag guarding)
• the Defense’s ‘Safety’ is the only player allowed to run at the QB and must indicate a
‘blitz’ by raising their hand above their head and standing 7 yards from the Offensive
line and ball
How can depth in competition
through extra teams be achieved?
Depending on the playing areas available, schools will be able to
submit one or more teams with agreement of the SGO.
Think inclusively!
The game allows boys and girls to play in separate or mixed
teams. The Quarterback position is very adaptable for a young
wheelchair user or a young person with limited mobility.
The number of players and field size can be altered accordingly
(e.g. 4 v 4 on a slightly smaller field).
At all levels the skills are taught and developed to create a
secure platform upon which to build the next level of play.
The route from here to Level 3:
Local central venue winners can progress to county and
regional competitions. Schools can also opt to enter the
National Schools Touchdown American Flag Football
Competition in the autumn and/or the National Leagues Flag
Football Competitions in the summer.
• the QB cannot run with the ball (no ‘Quarterback sneaks’)
• to start a play, the QB shouts ‘Down, Set, Hutt!’
• If the QB is a wheelchair user or has limited mobility, there is no Blitzing by either
team
• a Touchdown is worth 6 points
• one extra or two extra points can be scored from the 5-yard line or 12-yard line,
respectively
• for full game rules and for details on the QB Challenge Competition and the
Field Goal challenge go to britishamericanfootball.org/coach and www.
britishamericanfootball.org/coach-and-teach/teaching-football#.VgyiUY_XJjo.
BRITISH
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Relevant web links:
• British American Football www.britishamericanfootball.org
• www.britishamericanfootball.org/coach-and-teach/teaching-football#.VgyiUY_XJjo
How can regularity be achieved?
There are a number of National League Community Clubs that
organize and play mini-local leagues and competitions. The
Touchdown Football Programme fully supports and encourages
this type of engagement.