Sports Activities

At the American College of Sofia, our athletic and extracurricular programs are essential to our mission of developing critical thinking, lifelong intellectual curiosity, leadership and collaboration among our multi-talented students. Our playing fields and athletic spaces are ideal locations for practicing our school’s essential values of integrity, responsibility and respect.

Our athletic program, anchored in our physical education classes, emphasizes a healthy sporting culture on campus, one that encourages students to participate in sports on a regular basis in order to develop an active, healthy lifestyle while experiencing the comradery of teamwork and the challenges and thrills of competition.

The particular sports and teams currently organized by ACS are volleyball, football, basketball, table tennis, and tennis. In addition, golf, ice-skating, swimming and cheerleading are available through the student clubs program.
We invite you to learn more about the sports initiatives at the American College of Sofia! 

Football (soccer) plays a vital role in contributing to the unique and dynamic spirit of The American College of Sofia. The school has boys and girls football teams, represented by players from 8th-10th grade (ACS II) and students from 11th and 12th grade (ACS I). Both boys and girls share their mutual passion for the sport and can often be seen vigorously chasing a ball on the school’s grassy pitch. The ACS community takes great pride in our football teams because we recognize that this sport fosters valuable qualities in our students such as discipline, responsibility and being a good team player.

The boys football teams are coached by former football professional player Adrian Gruev, with Valeri Banchev serving as assistant coach. The girls teams are coached by Veselina Tepeshanova and Jess Coates, who is also the captain of the National Sports Academy women squad. They hold practices every week to ensure that our students stay engaged and keep improving their abilities. The goal is to create a cohesive team with great spirit and to try to achieve the highest results possible.

Our teams participate in competitions and tournaments against other schools an in recent years, they have represented the College with pride at several prestigious international events. In 2024, the ACS Football team took part in the World School Games in Barcelona, showcasing excellent teamwork and sportsmanship on the global stage.

Traditionally, we sponsor the annual ACS Open which invites schools to our campus. In addition to the varsity football squads, the college encourages students to develop their competitive spirit during the annual ACS Intramural Football Championship.

Basketball is a fast-paced and physical sport requiring high cardiac endurance, quick movements, and excellent high-pressure decision making. It is one of a handful of sports that combines all the realms of athleticism into one, and requires an intense level of teamwork and sportsmanship to exhibit success. Despite what some people see and want to emulate in their favorite professional players, basketball is not an individual sport, and being able to work effectively as a team is the most important skill that young players can develop.

Basketball enjoys great popularity among the students at ACS, and there are currently four varsity-level basketball teams in the College: two for boys and two for girls. All teams are proud of their dedication and achievements.

Since the inception of the NALB Schools' League, the ACS basketball teams have proved to be highly competitive. In fact, the boys team has won the league championship twice. The ACS basketball teams have also participated in the WBAIS International Invitational Tournament where they have performed admirably.

Valeri Banchev and Mark McGivern coach the ACS basketball teams.

Volleyball first came to the reopened American College in Sofia in 1994, when dedicated and enthusiastic coach Raya Gigova met with ambitious students to create a volleyball team. The first volleyball team consisted of girls only, but soon boys also wanted to join the club. From these modest origins, the volleyball club has become one of the most popular sports at ACS. There are often tournaments against other schools in Sofia in which our school frequently earns prizes and medals. Exciting games and countless practices have developed strong team loyalties and memorable moments that linger in the ACS gym.

The athletes on our current girls volleyball team are distinguished by exceptional general physical qualities, psychological resilience, and enthusiasm. The boys have an unmatched competitive spirit, strong discipline, and great sportsmanship. They devote their time to training and competitions and at the same time excel in their academic duties at the College. The teams are cohesive and united. The captains of the teams are dedicated to their teams and in every way help and support all the players and the whole sports activity in general.

In addition to our varsity-level teams, ACS students enthusiastically participate in the annual intramural tournament. During the intramural competition, varsity-level and non-varsity players compete on mixed teams according to the rules of the tournament.

The Coaches

“I had professional experience, I came from an innovative school for my time. I wanted to start this amazing adventure and it continues to this day.”

Raya Gigova is the founder of the Volleyball teams at ACS and has been a dedicated coach at ACS since 1994.

Valeri Banchev is a professional volleyball trainer and a national champion in Bulgaria for 2020 vice champion 2021, 2025. Mr. Banchev has been working in the College since 2014, and during that time, the boys volleyball team has earned four golds for ACS.

Mark McGivern was born in Glenrothes, Fife, a small town on the east coast of Scotland. He grew up playing football, and would have been a professional football player today if it weren’t for the Scottish weather. One typically rainy school day he decided to get out of the rain and try a different sport - 15 years later he found himself standing on a volleyball court in London competing for Great Britain in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Turns out rain in Scotland wasn’t a bad thing after all.

Tennis is one of the most frequently chosen sports among our students in the American College in Sofia. The tennis club has a long story in the College dating back to 1931 when a small group of enthusiastic students created it. Throughout the years, many ACS students have chosen to focus professionally on the sport after graduating from the College. Such students have turned into fine tennis players and have become recognized tennis players in the country and abroad, for instance Class of 1997 alumni Stanka Ilkova and Milko Todorov.

The tennis club has become an inseparable part of ACS traditions. Supported by devoted coaches, our students gather every week to practice and learn new techniques. The many competitions the school organizes and participates in offer opportunities for our tennis players to prove their great potential.

To ensure that all of our students can experience this great sport, the tennis club at ACS offers practices in three levels: beginners, intermediate, and advanced. We have two indoors and one outdoor tennis court, revamped in the summer of 2025. The most advanced of our students participate in various tournaments with other schools, including the French, German, Spanish and Italian schools and the 35th High School.

Stefka Papazova, a graduate of National Sports Academy (NSA) with a degree in sports pedagogy and a second degree in tennis coaching, is the coach of the advanced tennis team. In 1992, she was invited to lead the college’s tennis activities. Ms. Papazova makes sure her students always have the best opportunities to further develop their strengths in tennis and find the best places to show them.

Dancho Stoychev is the tennis coach for the beginners and the intermediate players.

Table Tennis is one of the most engaging and fast-paced sports at the American College of Sofia. It develops quick reflexes, precision, focus, and strategic thinking, while also encouraging teamwork and sportsmanship. Students of all levels — from beginners to advanced players — are welcome to join and improve their skills in a friendly and competitive environment.

The ACS Table Tennis Club practices regularly in the school’s well-equipped indoor facilities. Throughout the year, players participate in both internal and interschool tournaments, such as the annual ACS Open Table Tennis Championship, where our students have consistently earned top places and demonstrated impressive technique and determination.

Over the years, the ACS Table Tennis teams have also participated in the City Interschool Championship, where they have proudly achieved numerous podium finishes and earned recognition for their sportsmanship and skill.

Under the guidance of Coach Michael McGrath, the program continues to grow, offering students valuable opportunities to develop their athletic abilities and to represent ACS with pride. The team’s enthusiasm and competitive spirit make table tennis one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic sports at the College.

The Golf Club at ACS presents a wonderful opportunity to try something new: A sport that is not widespread in Bulgaria. Surrounded by new friends, students learn more about golf - terminology, rules, dress code, manners, and last but not least - how to hit a golf ball!

The Golf Club was created some years ago by an initiative from ACS students under the guidance of Ms. Stefka Papazova. Every year the club participates in the Arts Fest where club members play chipping and putting and demonstrate how an “aristocratic game” can be fun and easy to play. The club also goes to the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” in Studentski grad where club members are able to practice on a larger area of up to 210 meters. There they play full swing, and as a result, the members can enjoy the magic of golf. The instructor of the Academy, Mr. Todor Aleksiev, offers excellent advice to the members in order to improve their game.

During regular meetings of the Golf Club, club members play chipping on the college field behind the academic buildings. When the conditions are not appropriate to play outside, students practice their putting in the Fitness Center, make creative presentations about golf and examine the different types of shots in greater detail. When the spring comes, the Golf Club returns to the NSA.

The ACS Cheerleading team, led by Veselina Tepeshanova, is an essential part of the College’s athletic community. They bring energy, enthusiasm, and spirit to every major sporting event, supporting our teams both on and off campus. Their dedication and positivity make them an inseparable part of ACS sports life, inspiring athletes and fans alike.

Get a feel here.