Following the Sports Landscape Review that took place in 2023-24, which was then followed by the implementation of the New Sports Framework (NSF) and the annual event review process in 2025-26, all of which have enabled us to adapt and improve parts of our competition offer. We have identified in collaboration with our members that it is the right time to consider change and developments to our league and knockout programme. Please find the detail below of what this will involve and how you can engage in the process.
Purpose
The League and Knockout Evolution 2026 (L&KE) is to ensure we successfully deliver on our 2030 strategy of providing exceptional sporting experiences to students, and ensure the BUCS programme meets the needs of the current and next generation of students and to continue to diversify our offer to enable further opportunity for a more diverse range of students. It should support you as members and your students in mitigating against some of your current and future challenges including financial, environmental sustainability and ever-changing student behaviours. Please refer to this paper for more detailed information on the project including the background, timeline, principles and aspirations.
League and Knockout Evolution 2026 - Modelling
This link takes you to a paper that details the initial proposed modelling that we would like you to read, digest and feedback on. Please remember that this is a point to start from, a framework to initiate discussion and it is not an exhaustive list of all possible approaches. Please consider the modelling in advance of attending a roadshow or webinar and bring your ideas, thoughts, challenges, suggestions as well as any associated risks and potential impacts to engage in discussion. The roadshows will be delivered in a format for us to listen and to probe, to ensure that we capture all your input.
How to engage
We are now inviting members to engage in this consultation and represent the view of both their university and the wider higher education sports sector (with a real focus on the future of university sport for all students). We politely request that you choose no more than two people to represent you at either of the roadshows listed below or the online webinar. We advise sending a senior staff member that can represent the overarching views of the university and the sector as well as being able to understand the impact on the league and knockout programme alongside a student sabbatical sports officer or equivalent that can represent the student voice. (Please note we cannot accommodate more than two per institution).
Please find details of the in-person roadshows below. You can attend the most suitable for you, it does not need to be in your region or nation. Please use the relevant link to register your attendance. Please do so as soon as possible and no later than five working days prior to each roadshow. We will send venue details and access information closer to the time to all who have registered.
- Western - Thursday 14 May, 1–4pm, Swansea University, Union House 405.
- South-Eastern - Wednesday 20 May, 12-3pm , University College London, UCL Bloomsbury Campus.
Midlands - Friday 22 May, 1-4pm , University of Warwick, Cryfield Pavillion. - Northern - Tuesday 26 May, 1–4pm, University of Leeds, The Edge.
- Scotland - Wednesday 27 May, 10am–1pm, University of Edinburgh, Charteris Land Room 5.04.
There will be an online webinar on Thursday 4 June at 10am-12pm for those that cannot attend in person. Please register here to attend this.
