Elite 5s is Back: Tournament 2 Hits Surrey Sports Park on April 18th
- Elite 5s
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
The first Elite 5s tournament rewrote the script on what British American football could look like on a single day. Now it's time to do it again, bigger, louder, and with even more on the line.
Elite 5s: NextGen lands at Surrey Sports Park on April 18th, bringing 144 of the best university-age players together across 8 teams in a pro bowl format. That's 13 games of full-contact, 5-a-side football packed into one day, and a £3,500 Moneyball prize pot waiting at the end of it.
The Schedule
The action runs all day with back-to-back games from late morning through to a primetime final under the lights:
11:30 — Game 1 & 2
12:30 — Game 3 & 4
13:45 — Game 5 & 6
14:45 — Game 7 & 8
16:00 — Game 9 & 10
17:00 — Game 11 & 12
18:00 — The Final
With food on site, proper bleacher seating, a fully stocked bar, and a DJ keeping the energy high all day, this is as close to a proper gameday atmosphere as you'll find in UK football.
How We Got Here
Elite 5s is the brainchild of three Britballers who first crossed paths at U19s regionals whilst coaching for the Southern Kings team: Jord Metcalf (London Warriors), Josh Proud (Thinking Football YouTube + London Warriors), and Will Sparke (Hertfordshire Cheetahs). Their mission? To get the best athletes available on field to duke it out for the grand prize.
By reimagining the traditional 11-a-side game and taking cues from the lesser-known U16s 5v5 format in the UK, Elite 5s has injected a fresh wave of excitement into the British American football scene, and tournament 1 proved the concept works.
Reaching out to Jord Metcalf for comment on why this event and format, he had the following to say:
"There's a lot of reasons we've decided to pursue this. From my own experience since starting with this sport in 2013 I've seen more blowouts than I care to recall, I've seen excellent players never have a shot at glory due to their distance from whichever "super team" is the clear-cut winner that season and I've seen a heap of the best players never step outside BUCS, the NFL Academy or spend their entire time in Europe before hanging it up.
Having been a part of the national program and spent time coaching the U19 regionals, I've seen pockets of talent in some of the places you'd least expect and, in this format, where we've removed any affiliation to existing BAFA senior sides and ensured anyone can be registered and insured to a brand new team for a single day, I think we've removed the barriers to enable some really competitive football. I'm not counting my chickens yet, but it looks like we're going to see some really fun matchups between BUCS scholars, EU imports and BAFA Seniors finest as well as some awesome hybrid teams of old teammates who get a chance to play together again."
What is 5v5: Redefining the Game
If you caught tournament 1, you already know how electric this format is. If you didn't, here's what to expect.
The 5v5 American football format is a condensed, high-octane version of the sport, designed to prioritise speed, strategy, and accessibility. Inspired by small-sided formats like Flag and Arena Football, the rules keep games fast, competitive, and fan-friendly.
Here's how it works and why it's different:
Bigger Plays, Bigger Scores
E5 is five-a-side football, but forget the strictly defined positions you're used to. The biggest change? Every offensive lineman is an eligible receiver, including the centre. A big man rumbling downfield with the ball isn't a fluke, it's a core part of a dynamic, well-run offence.
Fast-Paced is an Understatement
Games feature two 15-minute halves with a running clock (stopping only in the final two minutes of each half). The field? A compact 60 yards by 35 yards. Teams start on their own 5-yard line, with 4 downs to reach midfield and another 4 downs to score.
Win with Your Arm
Quarterbacks aren't allowed to cross the line of scrimmage unless they've handed the ball off. Expect wild scrambles, quick decisions, and big-time throws. This format forces QBs to win the game through the air.
No Special Teams
It's exactly what it sounds like, no kicks, no punts, no returns. Turn the ball over via a pick or fumble? The other team starts from where the play ended. Turn it over on downs? They take over at their own 5-yard line.
Run the Ball, Until You Can't
5-a-side football comes with quirks, like the No Run Zone. Once you're within 5 yards of the endzone, it's passing plays only. Managing your drives with that in mind? That's where coaching and strategy come into play.
Expect Touchdowns... Lots of Them
Scoring follows standard rules, 6 points for a touchdown. But after that, you've got options:
Go for 1 point from the 5-yard line (edge of the No Run Zone)
Go for 2 points from the 10-yard line
Flexibility is King (or Queen)
With rosters capped at 18 players, squad-building becomes tactical. Stack your team with speed? Bulk up with power? Find hybrids who can do it all? The choice is yours. Elite 5s follows BAFA's Open Championship model, ensuring there's a role for everyone.
Get Your Tickets
Tournament 2 is shaping up to be something special. Whether you're a player, a scout, or just a fan of hard-hitting football, Surrey Sports Park on April 18th is the place to be.
Comments