BRITISH AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Photo by Andy Neale - Whizzyfingers Photography

Over the last twelve months the British American Football Association has made a commitment to further develop competition opportunities forfemales. This period has seen the on-going delivery of open development events for female players to try the sport, both contact and non-contactversions, and we have been delighted to see the enthusiasm and passion that our new cohort of women footballers have shown.

In October 2013 we staged the first ever women’s 5 a-side intenational game at the University of Hertfordshire, a game in which our Britishladies team was victorious over the visiting Swedish ladies team by a score of 27-10.

November 2013 saw the launch of our new 5 a-side non-contact competition for women, the Opal Series. Ten teams competed over a seriesof tournaments for the first Opal title, with the Coventry Cougars winning the final game in December against the Warwickshire Wolverines andbecoming our first Opal Series Champions.

Leading straight-on from the Opal Series we launched the Sapphire Series 5 a-side full tackle competition in January 2014. Teams competedover six tournaments culminating in May with the Birmingham Lions clinching a thrilling championship game against the University ofHertfordshire Tornadoes.

It has been a whirlwind year and we have been delighted with the progress made so far. So we are very pleased to now announce furthercommitment to women’s American football.

Through Spring 2014 we shall be delivering continued open development events for female players leading to the Diamond Series games in the summer. The Diamond Series will feature the first ever 11 a-side full contact game opportunities for women in Britain. Delivered underthe auspices of the BAFA National Programme and guided by our Great Britain Women’s team coaches, the Diamond Series will be an open-to-all players, regional-based team competition that directly supports the training and selection of the Great Britain team, planned to bein action again later this summer.

In addition, we are continuing to support non-contact ‘flag football’ activities through the summer leading to a series of development day eventsin August and September. These will see open events staged around the country to provide opportunities for more females to engage with thesport and for coaches and team administration staff to learn about the game.

By October of this year we will have travelled full-circle and be ready to beging the cycle again with theOpal Series 2014.

Please see the details on the next pages of the opportunties now available for female American football overthe next twelve months and we invite expressions of interest to host development events and to enter teamsfor the coming Opal and Sapphire Series.

Andy FullerDirector

BRITISH AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASOCIATION

BAFA Women’s American Football 2014/15

Diamond Series and Team GBEleven a-side full-tackle American footballavailable May to September 2014 and 2015

• Diamond Series games are run by theBAFA National Programme as open to all player, regional-based teams.

• Team entry is not necessary.• Full equipment is required.• £5 per player registration fee.• £5 per practice or game day.

• Team GB selection will be made from theDiamond Series players in August.

Opal SeriesFive a-side non-contact ‘flag’ American footballrunning October to December 2014 and 2015.• Teams will have the opportunity to play in

four tournaments in 2014 • Footballs, flag belts and cones are the

only equipment required• £10 per player registration fee• £25 team entry fee (one payment)• Teams will additionally host one event

each at own cost (lower cost than hosting a men’s 11 a-side game as only a first aider required)

• Teams can enter with five or more players

Sapphire SeriesFive a-side full tackle American footballRunning February to April 2015• Teams will have the opportunity to play in

five tournaments to decide the 2015Sapphire National Champions. • Full player equipment required.

• £10 per player registration fee.• £30 team entry fee (one payment).

• Teams will additionally host one ‘homegame’ event each at own cost (similar costto hosting a men’s 11 a-side home game).

• Teams of seven or more players mayenter the tournaments

BRITISH AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

BAFA Women’s American Football 2014/15

Photo by Garry Neesam – GLN Photography

Photo by Ree Dawes

Photo by Andy Neale – Whizzyfingers Photography

To register interest (without commitment) and receive further information, please enter details below and return this page to:

ba fawomen@br i t i shamer i can foo tba l l . o rg

Organisation Name:

Team Name (if known):

Main contact person:

Telephone:

Email:

We would be interested in:

Hosting a female non-contact football development day event

Hosting a female contact football development day event

Entering a team for the 2014 Opal Series (non-contact 5 a-side)

Entering a team for the 2015 Sapphire Series (full-contact 5 a-side)

Please note, these competitions are not BUCS competitions and are open to both student and non-student teams and players.

www.facebook.com/bafawomenwww.twitter.com/bafawomen

www.britishamericanfootball.org

BRITISH AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

BAFA Women’s American Football 2014/15