The organisers behind the inaugural Union Jack Classic have launched a new development initiative aimed at strengthening British American football from the grassroots up, partnering with the British American Football Association, the Big 12 Conference, the University of Kansas and Arizona State University to deliver a series of coaching and officiating clinics across the UK.

The programme, announced ahead of the first-ever Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in September, will see Big 12 officiating staff host monthly Zoom clinics for BAFA referees, while coaches from Kansas and Arizona State provide direct access to NCAA Division I expertise for the British coaching community.

Organisers say the project is designed to ensure the impact of the Union Jack Classic extends far beyond a single game, helping raise standards across British American football as interest in the sport continues to grow. The first clinic, led by Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, reportedly drew more than 160 registered coaches from across the UK football landscape, underlining the appetite for higher-level technical education within the domestic game.

Union Jack Classic chairman and CEO Brian Dubiski said the long-term goal was to leave a meaningful legacy within British American football.

“We are committed to ensuring Union Jack Classic has a lasting impact on the growth of American football in the UK, by investing in the people who drive the game forward,” he said. “Working with BAFA, the Big 12 Conference and powerful programmes such as Kansas and Arizona State allows us to give coaches and officials direct access to elite expertise and support, helping strengthen standards across the UK.”

The clinics also form part of a broader international push by the Big 12 Conference as college football continues to expand its footprint outside the United States.

“The Big 12 is proud to expand its reach globally by supporting the growth of college football and the conference through all of the programming surrounding the Union Jack Classic,” Big 12 chief football officer Scott Draper commented. “These officiating and coaching clinics are tremendous opportunities to engage fans and build connections heading into Arizona State’s and Kansas’ game in September at Wembley Stadium.”

For BAFA, the initiative represents a rare opportunity for British coaches and officials to learn directly from major college football programmes without needing to travel overseas.

“This is a valuable opportunity for our coaching and officiating community to learn from some of the most experienced practitioners in the college game,” marketing chief Rory Macnair insisted. “The strong interest we’ve seen reflects the appetite across British American football to develop and continue raising standards.”

The Union Jack Classic itself will take place on Saturday 19th September, when the Kansas Jayhawks face the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first NCAA Division I college football game ever staged in the UK. The matchup, scheduled for Week 3 of the 2026 college football season, will bring the two Big 12 programmes to London as part of college football’s accelerating international expansion, following the NFL’s long-established success in the British market.

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold and Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham are both expected to play visible roles in the wider promotional build-up to the event, which organisers hope can establish a long-term annual college football presence in the UK.