Find out about the new structure and how to apply for a role.
We’re making some changes to the structure and ways of working of the BAFA Rules Committee to make sure it’s more closely aligned to the way our sport is currently organised and to our ten-year vision. These changes are the result of a recent review led by Rules Chair Jim Briggs and current members of the Committee.
What is the BAFA Rules Committee?
The BAFA Rules Committee is in place to discuss and decide future changes or amendments to the administrative and playing rules that govern our sport. The Committee is also our liaison to IFAF on rules matters and is responsible for reviewing the effect of previous rules changes.
Why do we need to make changes?
Our sport is growing and the BAFA Rules Committee now covers an increasing breadth of activity. As well as both contact and flag football disciplines, the committee supports an expanding number of small-sided formats and age groups, as well as student football and new formats such as wheelchair football. In addition, the BAFA Rules Committee needs to align more closely to the number of different committees that govern our sport.
It’s also our aspiration that the membership of the committee should more closely reflect the membership of BAFA – both in terms of specialist knowledge across our different formats and age groups and equality and diversity.
What’s changing?
The number of people involved is increasing. As well as appointing members with broad experience, additional new members will be appointed to fill “gaps”, particularly relating to flag football and small-sided formats for both age-group and women’s football.
Some will serve on the overall BAFA Rules Committee and others on specialist working groups (SWGs) of 3-5 members per group, which will be supplemented by members of the BAFA Rules Committee. The SWGs will focus on:
- 11-a-side contact football (covering adult and student)
- Flag football (covering adult and age-group)
- Small-sided contact football (covering age-groups and women’s football)
- Wheelchair football (coming later)
Membership of the SWGs will be drawn from rules experts, such as BAFRA officials, as well as participants who are involved in that format of football, including coaches, players, and club management.
The BAFA Rules Committee will also be reviewing ways of working on rules related topics with the BUCS American football Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) and the newly appointed American football Coordinator.
Join the BAFA Rules Committee or a Specialist Working Group
As a result of these changes, we now have new volunteer vacancies for expert and participant member roles across both the BAFA Rules Committee and our new Specialist Working Groups.
To be selected as a member, the main criterion is to have knowledge and experience of British American Football, generally with current or previous experience of participating in at least one format. Our secondary criterion will be based around gender, ethnicity, and geographic diversity.
All BAFA Rules Committee and SWG business will be carried out via online correspondence and meetings, so there is no requirement for travel.
Applicants for all roles should apply, stating which of BAFRA, BAFCA or our flag or contact commissioners they want to be nominated by. Unnominated applicants may be eligible for any otherwise unfilled places.
To apply read the role profile below, and complete this application form no later than 9pm on Thursday 30 June 2022.
