BAFA are excited to announce a new annual awards scheme, BAFA Community Heroes, to recognise and celebrate the individuals and clubs who bring our values to life.
Across BAFA, we have incredible people who make a difference every single day. Volunteers, young leaders, officials, clubs and members of the Britball community live our values and help the sport grow. Much of this work happens quietly and without recognition, yet it is vital to the experience our members and their families have across the sport.
These awards are directly linked to BAFA’s organisational values, reinforcing the behaviours and culture we want to see across British American football and celebrating the individuals and clubs who bring our values to life:
We are Welcoming
We Collaborate
We are Ambitious
We Celebrate
We already celebrate excellence through our Coach of the Year Awards, the BAFA Hall of Fame and BAFRA’s annual officiating awards, and we are excited to add a new way to recognise the volunteers, club members and community contributors whose work sits outside of those categories.
The BAFA Community Heroes will include the following award categories:
The Welcoming Hero
Recognising individuals or clubs who make the game genuinely welcoming, safe and accessible for everyone, including people who may face barriers to participation.
The Collaboration Hero
Celebrating individuals or clubs who strengthen the sport by working together across clubs, regions or disciplines.
The Ambition Hero
Recognising those who drive improvement, bring forward new ideas or help their club or area of the game grow.
The Celebration Hero
Honouring the people who amplify the spirit of the sport — lifting others up and celebrating all the wins, big or small.
The Young People’s Hero
Reconising individual or clubs who go above and beyond to support, mentor and develop young people in the sport.
The Unsung Hero
Celebrating those whose contributions are vital but often go unnoticed; the kit man, the person who always steps in to run the chains, the game-day manager, or the parent who volunteers to do the club laundry. The small but mighty tasks that make our clubs tick.
The Club of the Year
Recognising a club that consistently demonstrates BAFA’s values and creates a positive impact for its community.
How will it work?
BAFA Community Heroes will be delivered through an open nomination process across the Britball community, using a short online form distributed via our social media channels and emailed directly to clubs and members.
The Club of the Year category will be nominated by a BAFA panel following consultation with the BAFA Competitions teams. Following the nomination period, a review panel will assess all submissions that meet the criteria.
Award winners will be announced via BAFA social media and invited to receive their recognition at Britbowl weekend or the Flag Finals weekend, with presentations featured on the event live stream. Where winners cannot attend, BAFA will look to arrange a local presentation.
Nominations for the 2026 BAFA Community Heroes will open soon! Keep an eye out on our website and social media for more.