NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

New this week – none

Previous weeks – none

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

New this week

Westminster Dragons

The crew was not notified of a change of venue. Four of the 5 crew arrived at the venue in good time to find that nobody was there. We contacted Operations and were able to discover the actual venue, East London Rugby Club, which is the likely future location of Westminster's home games. The Referee was being forced to travel to the game by rail replacement bus. He was unable to travel to the new venue in any kind of reasonable time, and the game was officiated by a crew of 4. The game kicked off an hour late after the crew made their way to the new venue. The field currently in use at East London RFC is not either of the three rugby pitches. (Crews should still change in the rugby club changing area.) It is a re-purposed soccer field located behind the five-a-side cage. It is 80 yards with soccer goalposts, which were appropriately padded. It was marked on the morning of the game to a creditably high standard. No team areas, and one sideline was slightly uneven. One of the end zones was considerably larger than the other, although both were of legal size. Both head coaches agreed to play all downs in the direction of the larger end zone and to play without field goals. The home team provided only two footballs. Chain crew extremely slow. The Westminster head coach told us that the team will be significantly revising its game management procedures before its next home game.

Alan Dobson #308

24/01/16 v LSBU Spartans

ARU Rhinos

Short yard lines painted yellow and difficult to see over time.

John Giffin #598

08/11/15 v Oxford Lancers

Northumbria Mustangs

NFL style hash marks, game delayed for 25 minutes with 33 seconds remaining in the game due to the floodlights going off.

Liam Wooton #478

15/11/15 v Lancaster Bombers

Stirling Clansmen

Home team was asked to control behaviour of some spectators that were directing abusive comments towards players of opposing team. After speaking to Home team this matter was taken care of and there were no further issues. Flood lights were used and one corner of the field, mainly in the corner of the end zone was a bit dim.

Shawn Sombati #15

15/11/15 v Durham Saints

UCLan Rams

90 yard field which was well marked, no coaches or players boxes marked but both teams were very well disciplined on their respective sidelines

Lee Taylor #183

29/11/15 v Sheffield Sabres

Sussex Saxons

Game Kicked Off 20 minutes late because the medical cover did not arrive on time. Early in the 3^rd quarter Kent complained that a Sussex player was not approved prior to the game because he turned up after the KO. This was Sussex #42, the player was on the roster supplied to the officials prior to the game. Information for future crews - do not follow the post code information on your sat nav - it will take you to the incorrect place (farm in the middle of nowhere) once you turn off of the motorway continue straight and you will enter the university grounds

David Knight #135

15/11/15 v Cambridge Pythons

Bristol Academy Pride

Upon speaking to the designated medical person, the officials discovered that the person in question was a first aider. Although she had once been a physio, her license had since lapsed. It was explained to the home team head coach and game manager that the game could not proceed under these circumstances. The coach replied that the medical person had been used to cover previous games without question. Furthermore, he believed he had been informed by BAFA that the medical requirements for a game weren't necessary for pre-seasons friendlies. He also stated that because his team was not a member of BAFA, the same criteria applied. The game did not proceed.

Mike LeFevre #341

Unknown

Teeside Cougars

On arrival the 80 yard field had to be reduced by 10 yards as one endzone was too close to the perimeter fence. The red markings were a bit wonky in places and the the infield hash marks were not always 1 yard apart. There were no goal posts at either end and the following lines were missing: 3 yard marks, 9 yard marks, team or coaching areas which were marked out with cones prior to KO. The changing room allocated to the officials was the excess exercise machine room which was big enough for 4 officials and chairs were provided, however there were no private showers of coat hooks. Other crews please note that this “new” venue may or may not be used for Teesside future games, it will be advisable to contact the team prior to check.

Chris Jarvis #10

22/11/15 v Heriot Watt

Solent Redhawks

Due to a clash with a soccer match at the facility, teams and officials had to change in the rugby club adjacent to Test Park. Those rooms were dirty and of poor standard. However, the usual facilities are excellent and subsequent games will offer those as normal.

Simon Ryan #408

22/11/15 v Royal Holloway Bears

NTU Renegades

Field was marked as metres. Game management state that it will be rectified by next home game.

Brian Yates #29

29/11/15 v Worcester Royals

Outstanding items from previous weeks

Leeds Celtics

Coaches/Team areas marked with cones, No 9 yard marks. The pitch was sloped significantly in places, as well as being very bumpy, especially at the 'top of the hill'.

Liam Wooton #478

08/11/15 v MMU Eagles

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: A's ball, 4th and goal, on B's 18. The score is A14-B20. QB A12 throws a legal forward pass to airborne A88 who, while still airborne, bats the ball forward toward B's goal line. A84 catches the ball on B's 3 and crosses B's goal line with the ball.
Ruling?

Last week

Play: 4th and 4 on the Team B 10 yard line, Team A attempt a field goal. During the attempt, which is good, B90 charges forwards and roughs holder A5. What are team A's penalty enforcement options?

Ruling: To accept points on a successful field goal, Team A must decline penalties for Team B live-ball fouls. By accepting the penalty for a Team B live-ball foul, Team A elects to cancel the score and have the penalty enforced at the previous spot. In this case Team A can either accept the points, or take the ball at Team B's 5 yard line, 1st and goal. There is no option to accept the score and enforce the penalty on the subsequent kick off. 10-2-5-d

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: Name 4 game situations in which it is reasonable for none of the officials on the crew to be looking at the position of the ball. Note that these are all stated in one location in the Mechanics Manual.
Answer next issue...

Last week

Play: On punt play covered by a 5 man crew, which official(s) must know if the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage by knowing what the ball first touched beyond the neutral zone?
Answer: M-11-7-a-1. The Head Linesman has sole responsibility for ruling on if the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage on a punt play of this kind. This is the Head Linesman's top priority during the play.

Date

Event

Contact for details

2015

November 7^th (Sat)

Opal Series Round 2

November 14^th (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.org

November 21^st (Sat)

Opal Series Round 3

December 5^th (Sat)

Opal Series Final

February 16^th (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.org

April 2^nd and 3^rd

BAFRA Annual Convention

president@bafra.org

May 7^th (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.org

July 23^rd (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.org

19^th November (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.org

BAFRA Directors

President

David Parsons

president@bafra.org

General Secretary

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.org

Finance

Chalies Dean Young

finance@bafra.org

Operations

Richard Vernon

operations@bafra.org

Recruitment

Kevin Stanton

recruitment@bafra.org

Training

Pete Thom

training@bafra.org

Director without Portfolio #1

Martin Cockerill

dwp1@bafra.org

Director without Portfolio #2

Steve Tonkinson

dwp2@bafra.org

The opinions expressed in this Newsflash are those of the contributors, and not necessarily of BAFRA or its Directors.

All Incident Reports to be submitted via www.bafra.org.

Deadline for articles submitted by email (newsflash@bafra.org) is midnight Tuesday.