How to Qualify and Play College American Football in the UK this 2023

The popularity of American football in the UK is increasing. There are an estimated 14.3 Million American football fans in the UK and Ireland. This number is significant enough to say that American football has already penetrated the European continent.

Due to its increasing popularity, many universities in the UK have already offered American football as a sport students can join while studying for their degree. Thousands of students are already competing weekly for more than 80 different university teams.

So, if you plan to join American football as your college sport, you must know how to qualify for a university team.

You Must Have A Passion For Playing American Football

Since American football is a foreign sport, the number one thing you must have to qualify for the British Universities and Colleges Sport or BUCS this 2023 is to have a passion for the sport. Whatever sport you want to join, you must be passionate to be able to perform your best.

For instance, if you have been watching the NCAAF or even the NFL, you will notice how the players give their all to the sport. Their passion makes them a good player, which benefits their teams.

Even if you're still playing college sports, you must play like a professional American football player. In the United States, the NCAAF is a famous college football event. Despite juggling sports and studying, the players still have enough energy and enthusiasm for playing. It's one of the reasons why FanDuel College football odds for each team are close to each other.

So, if you think you'll have a hard time balancing your studies and playing American football, you might want to think twice about joining your college American football team.

You Must Be An Eligible Student

To be eligible to join the BUCS, you must be a registered student in the institution you plan to represent. Each institution has specific criteria for choosing a player for their team. For example, the University of Brighton requires you to be a registered student at their university with 60 or more credits a year.

This student includes master's and Ph.D. students in their institution. It's highly recommended that you inquire about your institution's sports department's eligibility for joining your university's American football team.

You Must Pay The Fees

Another thing that you need to do to be eligible to play college American football is to pay for the Athletic Union Membership or the club membership. The fee for joining the BUCS club depends on the club and the kind of sports you are joining.

The membership amount will also depend on the equipment for the particular sport you're joining.

You Must Pass The Anti-Doping Test

All students who join a college American football club in the UK must undergo an anti-doping test following the anti-doping regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire or International University Sports Federation (FISU), UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), and the sport's international and national governing bodies. A student suspended for breaking an anti-doping regulation cannot compete in FISU events.

Why You Must Join The American Football Team

There are a lot of benefits you will acquire if you join an American college football team. Aside from getting the opportunity to hone your American football skills, you will also get the chance to join a close-knit group of people who are all extremely passionate about the same sport that you are passionate about.

Moreover, you'll also get to learn Sportsmanship, which helps you respect others better and learn self-control. This skill will be beneficial for you even when you’re not competing. Learning sportsmanship can also help you with how you socialize.

In addition to that, joining a sports team in college will earn you an athletic scholarship, depending on the institution you represent. You will also meet new friends, have time off from academic responsibilities, and free yourself from stress.

Playing on an American football team from your university will allow you to become physically fit while gaining all the other benefits mentioned above. Since playing college American football hones your skill in the sport, you'll also gain relevant experience in the sport, increasing your chance of qualifying for the many Professional American Football Clubs in the UK.

You have to understand that the talent level of the top university leagues is exceptionally high. If you become a player for one of the university clubs in the UK, you'll get to work with professional, well-experienced, and position-specific coaches.

If you are good, you'll make a name for yourself in the sport, and a professional team will surely notice you and maybe offer you a contract to play for them

Final Words

If you love American football and think you can qualify to join your university's official team, you should go for it. Start by considering the requirements above and comply with them so that you will enjoy your time in college and reap the benefits of joining a sporting team.