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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 16/16 |
21st April 2016 |
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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 16/16 |
21st April 2016 |
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2016 EXAM
This is now available in the member’s area of the website. The closing date is 7th May at 5:00pm. If you have any queries, a special e-mail address, exam2016@bafra.org has been set up and will remain live throughout the exam period. Alternatively, the rubric also contains phone numbers of Exam Committee members you can contact with your queries. Please do not send queries to answers2016@bafra.org this is for answer sheets only.
Can anyone who has sent a query to exam2016@bafra.org and has not received a reply yet, please re-send it. Just to clarify, for the purposes of the exam the Mechanics Manual to be used is the15th edition. Every member should have a copy, it can also be accessed from the members section on the BAFRA website.
As of 6:30pm Wed 20th, the following papers have been received:
Ronnie Gaffin, Cam Gibson, Muz Gibson, Anton Jarbol, Julian Mallia, Dave Norton, Brian Yates.
If anyone thinks their answer sheet should have been received by this time, can you re-send it to answers2016@bafra.org.
Les Connor – Chair of Examination Committee
ELITE TRAINING DAY
The next BAFRA Elite Training Day will be held at the Premier Inn, London Victoria on 29th May 2016. This is the Sunday of the Coaches Conference weekend so BAFRA will not be covering any games. All Elite Programme members are expected to attend and all BAFRA members are welcome too. Places will be limited so please register by emailing elite@bafra.org as soon as possible. The full address is The Premier Inn, 82-83 Eccleston Square (Off Gillingham Street, London, SW1V 1PS
Ben Griffiths & Pete Thom
FACEMASK RULE UPDATE
A number of players, coaches and officials have drawn to my attention an issue with one particular design of facemask. This has two double bars and one single bar below the eyes (see picture).
This design does not quite match any of those that is explicitly shown in the rulebook. Under the guidance we issued at the IFAF Europe clinic and the BAFRA Convention, any facemask with 5 bars below the eyes was considered illegal. IFAF has reviewed this because to most people this is not an "overbuilt" facemask. NCAA have also been consulted.
As a result, from now on, this particular design with two double bars and one single bar is to be considered LEGAL and players may use it. A similar design that has two double bars but no other bar is also LEGAL.
Dr Jim Briggs
rules@britishamericanfootball.org
CHANGE TO ASSIGNING YOUTH TOURNAMENTS
As I mentioned at the Convention recently, officials will now be paid for working Youth Tournaments (this will currently be a full game fee for up to two officials). It is therefore appropriate that we change how officials are assigned to these events on Arbiter. From May onwards if officials are shown available on Arbiter they may be assigned to such a tournament. However if any official does not want to be considered for any 5 on 5 events then just let us know at operations@bafra.org and we will not assign you although you are showing available on Arbiter. We do hope all officials will be willing to work one or two such events during the year. Travel costs are currently not met for these events but discussions are ongoing to change this. Please note that almost ALL Youth Tournaments are played on Saturdays.
April Tournaments will continue to be assigned via messages in Newsflash and to local officials in areas where Tournaments are scheduled. Here are the planned April tournaments for which officials are still required. Officials will be paid for working these events.
Saturday 23rd April
Newquay
Hamilton
Sheffield
Saturday 30th April
Birmingham
Hertfordshire
London Blitz
Please contact operations@bafra.org if you are able to cover one of these Tournaments
Richard Vernon
AGM
The minutes from the BAFRA Limited AGM are now available in the member’s area of the website at:
http://www.bafra.org/members/minutes/agm2016.pdf
Paul Sutton
SEVERN TRAINING EVENT
The Severn branch of BAFRA are arranging a training day on May 28th which is the coaches conference weekend. We will be examining rules and mechanics using scenarios from the exam and a number of set topics. The event will be held at the university of bath sports training village starting at 10.30. The event is open to any BAFRA member. If anyone would like to register please contact me at steve.egan@btinternet.com
Steve Egan
DISCIPLINARY CASES
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NAME |
# |
TEAM |
CODE |
Q |
OFFENCE |
SUSPENDED |
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New this week |
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Rob James |
56 |
Hastings Conquerers |
FGT |
2 |
Head-butted an opponent. |
24/04/16 v Maidstone Pumas |
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Roland Williams |
5 |
Sussex Thunder |
TGT |
4 |
Launched himself at an opponent who was already being held by several other players. |
01/05/16 v Kent Exiles |
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Tomas Tyczynski |
22 |
Doncaster Mustangs |
TGT |
1 |
The player led with the crown of his helmet into the helmet of an engaged opponent. |
01/05/16 v Birmingham Bulls |
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James Benson |
53 |
Lincolnshire Bombers |
FPF |
3 |
Head-butted on opponent. |
15/05/16 v Shropshire Revolution |
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Steven Egbury |
35 |
Humber Warhawks |
TUF |
1 |
First taunted the sideline, then after being flagged turned back and gesticulated with his hands. |
01/05/16 v Shropshire Revolution |
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Lee Moir |
15 |
Crewe Railroaders |
FPF |
2 |
Hit an opponent with the flat of his hand, contacting the helmet. |
Pending Appeal |
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Ross Dixon |
63 |
Yorkshire Rams |
FPF |
4 |
Kicked an opponent after the play. |
01/05/16 v West Coast Trojans |
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Previous weeks |
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Miles Hillier |
28 |
Bristol Apache |
FPF |
4 |
Two players faced up to each other after an Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul by a Torbay player number. #28 of Bristol Apache was seen to shove the opponent and then throw a punch. |
24/04/16 v Oxford Saints |
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GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
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HOME TEAM |
REPORT |
NEXT HOME GAME |
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New this week |
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London Olympians |
Well marked 100-yard field with very faint other sport markings in blue. Numbers at correct depth but too large and too widely spaced. Hashmarks and inbounds lines not always 1 yard apart and inbounds lines faded considerably as the game progressed. No limit lines and coaching line too close to sideline and not parallel to it so another sport line was used. Two trip hazards in one end zone were repaired by game management prior to kickoff. Problems finding officials' assistants lead to delays starting both halves. Tim Ockendon #481 |
01/05/16 v South Wales Warriors |
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Doncaster Mustangs |
100 yard field with blue markings. A Miller #124 |
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Wembley Stallions |
100 yard field with rugby goalposts. The surface was a bit deep in some parts of the field because of rain. Game manager introduced herself with the game balls 1,5 hours before kickoff and was very helpful all day. Chain crew was a bit erratic sometimes. Viktor Janvari #63 |
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Gloucester Gladiators |
80 yard field, which was also around 5 yards too wide in total. No team areas, nine-yard marks, or 3-yard PAT marks. Sideline hashmarks were incomplete. Amir Brooks #593 |
Unknown |
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London Blitz B |
Lines quite faint; Some main lines had been painted twice, one at a considerable angle. Field quite muddy with swamp present at 45 yard line of extremely dark mud about 6 - 9 inches deep in places. Changing rooms for both teams and officials not available due to groundsman failing to turn up until 11:40 for a 12:00 kick off. Kick off was suspended until 12:45 which meant game finished after Blitz A v Farnham was supposed to have started. Phil Clarke #262 |
01/05/16 v London Hornets |
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UEL Titans |
Played at Hackney Marshes which is not UEL's usual home venue. Upon arrival the groundsman had refused to mark the field to specification. As this was a Varsity game and having consulted both Head Coaches it was agreed to play with what we had. The chains being definite at all times. Lee Mills #70 |
Unknown |
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Bournemouth Bobcats |
There were no numbers or 9 yard marks on the field. One of the balls provided was found to not hold its pressure during the 1st quarter. An alternative could not be sourced so we continued with the other two. Euan Paterson #165 |
08/05/16 v Hastings Conquerers |
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Swansea Titans |
Varsity game played at Sketty Lane. The field was generally well marked out but had no 9 yard marks. With 4 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter, the game was suspended for around 20 minutes to treat an injured player. Amir Brooks #593 |
Unknown |
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London Warriors |
90-yard field reasonably well marked, but had some rugby markings also in white. No 9-yard marks or numbers. No coaching boxes or team areas marked. Field surface somewhat uneven. Balls not new or nearly new and only provided 10 minutes before kickoff. We are not certain that the changing rooms were locked, but they probably were. Note that due to low headroom, part of the officials' changing room is only accessible to short officials. Home team changing room was a conventional one, but visiting team changing room was a tent. One of the ball boys was poor. Game management did not introduce themselves to the officials, which led to some difficulties in sourcing chain crew and ball boys and in securing the changing rooms, though we were still able to kickoff on schedule. Running clock for entire second half. Jim Briggs #31 |
01/05/16 v Farnham Knights |
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Sandwell Steelers |
Goals located approximately two yards behind end line. Game management excellent. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 |
01/05/16 v Peterborough Saxons |
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Aberdeen Roughnecks |
Team areas marked between 35 yard lines, but game management adjusted to the correct size with cones Ian Sneddon #427 |
01/05/16 v Carlisle Sentinels |
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London Blitz |
Lines very faint. At midfield there is an area of mud but we avoided it throughout the game Brian Yates #29 |
08/05/16 v South Wales Warriors |
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Outstanding items from previous weeks |
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Yorkshire Rams |
No limit lines. Dan Holt #371 |
22/05/16 v Manchester Titans |
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Bristol Apache |
Field is excellently marked. Unfortunately in a very dark faint colour. Impossible to see markings when looking across the field. Balls provided were old and struggled to maintain legal pressure. Stuart Tabberer #348 |
24/04/16 v Oxford Saints |
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East Kent Mavericks |
Well marked 90-yard 4G field in blue with other sport markings in white and yellow. No numbers or 9-yard marks and coaching line too close to sideline. Game balls supplied were all under inflated and both of the stakes securing the chain broke towards the end of the game but game management were able to affect repairs. Changing room good but not lockable. Tim Ockendon #481 |
24/04/16 v Portsmouth Dreadnaughts |
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Crewe Railroaders |
Markings for soccer pitch visible in same colour as football field, inaccurate markings from 10 Yard to Goal Line in one direction of the field. Mike Cavanagh #465 |
15/05/16 v Chester Romans |
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Chester Romans |
Marks were painted bright red with the exception of the endline which was white. White rugby markings also on field. Aminul Hasan #534 |
01/05/16 v Halton Spartans |
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London Hornets |
Game played at London Hornets' new home ground at Mill Hill RFC, Champions Way. Team areas between 25-yard lines, but no coaching line. Game stopped twice, briefly, to repair the chain set. Field quite soft and bumpy. One bare patch in the middle of the halfway line that had been covered over with extremely soft soil. Footing here was difficult, but not a trip hazard. No private shower or toilet. Changing room just about big enough for 4 officials, but does contain two washing machines. Car parking space is very limited; would recommend that if officials drive, they arrive at least 1hr 45min before kickoff, and be careful not to park anywhere that they might get blocked in by other cars. Alan Dobson #308 |
24/04/16 v Essex Spartans |
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Oxford Saints |
Nine yard marks were marked near the hashmarks. No numbers on the field. Changing room was too small for a five man crew and not enough seats for all officials. Mike LeFevre #341 |
03/07/16 v Bristol Apache |
Play of the week will return after the BAFRA exam period.
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Date |
Event |
Contact for details |
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2016 |
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May 7th (Sat) |
BAFRA Board Meeting |
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July 23rd (Sat) |
BAFRA Board Meeting |
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August 27th (Sat) |
Britbowl |
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19th November (Sat) |
BAFRA Board Meeting |
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BAFRA Directors |
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President |
David Parsons |
General Secretary |
Paul Sutton |
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Finance |
Chalies Dean Young |
Operations |
Richard Vernon |
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Recruitment |
Kevin Stanton |
Training |
Pete Thom |
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Director without Portfolio #1 |
Peter Parsons |
Director without Portfolio #2 |
Steve Tonkinson |
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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. |
Editor: Dean Wright - Email: newsflash@bafra.org