Issue 9/20                                                                                11th March 2020

BAFRA Newsflash

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BAFRA ANNUAL CONVENTION – SAT 4th AND SUN 5th APRIL 2020

Week 8 Update

We have reached 111 members registered to attend the Convention. I am fairly sure this will be our best attendance – certainly the highest number I remember. Anyway, thanks for registering, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the weekend. This is a big reminder week – for anyone still to pay for accomodation we must receive payment by this Saturday (14th March), as we need to confirm numbers to Yarnfield. Please make sure that your payment has been made. If anyone is still interested to attend after the payment cut off date, you can still register to attend; but if you want accommodation, you would need to book that directly with Yarnfield, and pay their rates.    

Location

The Convention will be held at Yarnfield Park Training & Conference Centre, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield, Staffordshire, ST15 0NL.  Yarnfield Park is a leading training and conference centre in the heart of the UK.  I would recommend that you look over the facility on their website where you can also find details of the location and directions: www.yarnfieldpark.com.

Registration

Please note we have introduced a change to the registration process

You can now register to attend the Convention at the undernoted website and book accommodation if required:  www.bafraconvention.com

Administering the registration process and processing payments is a time-consuming task given our high attendance figures.  As such I would request that you register and make your room payments as early as possible.

Accommodation

In our efforts to make the Convention more accessible to everyone, this year we have again negotiated excellent rates for accommodation which are detailed below.  In addition, the BAFRA Board has agreed to provide some funding to keep down the costs. The rates indicated are per room, per night and include all discounts and a full breakfast.

Remember, to take advantage of the above rates you must book your room via www.bafraconvention.com


Payment

Payment for Convention rooms are due by 14th March. Payment can be made either electronically or by cheque.

It is appreciated that some people may wish to spread the cost and make multiple payments over the weeks leading up to14th March.  Please use the same instructions as above.  If you wish to make multiple payments, then you must make the payments electronically and not by cheque.

Unfortunately, payment for the Convention cannot be taken from Game Fees.  The administration work involved is far too time consuming and does not fit well with our electronic process of paying Games Fees by direct transfer to your bank account.

Friday Night

Again, like last year, many attendees stayed on the Friday night to save an early rise and travel on Saturday morning.  As such the above rates are available for both the Friday and Saturday nights. I would recommend booking your room as early as possible.

Ian Sneddon - Convention Delivery Team

AGM OF BAFRA LIMITED

The Annual General Meeting of BAFRA Limited will be held at 5:00pm on the Saturday of the Convention, 4th April. It is open to all members. A full agenda will be circulated to members by 14th March. If you have not received yours by then, please get in touch with me.

Part of the AGM is the election of directors for the Company. This year, four directors are standing down having completed their term of office: President, General Secretary, Director of Training and Director without Portfolio #1. Nominations received by the closing date were as follows:

President:

Davie Parsons #425; Nominated by Shawn Sombati #15; Seconded by Henry Richardson #25

General Secretary:

Richard Moger #472; Nominated by Roger Goodgroves #602; Seconded by Liam Wooton #478


Director of Training:

Amir Brooks #593; Nominated by Pete Thom #200; Seconded by Russell Newton #324

Alan Dobson #308; Nominated by James Ford-Bannister #479; Seconded by Liam MacDonald #565

James Ford-Bannister #479; Nominated by Keith Wickham #423; Seconded by Richard Moger #472

Ali May #42; Nominated by Michael Prentice #393; Seconded by Kenneth Glover #71

Director without Portfolio #1:

Pete Parsons #321; Nominated by Richard Moger #472; Seconded by Graham Hedges #219

All qualified members are entitled to vote in the elections for directors. Proxy forms will be sent to all qualified members by 14th March. If you have not received yours by this date, please let me know. If you wish to vote by proxy, your form should be sent to the Returning Officer (not to me). All details are on the form.

Paul Sutton – General Secretary

secretary@bafra.info

BAFRA CHARITY

Each year, members are invited to nominate the BAFRA Charity for the coming year. Any member may make a nomination and those members present on the Saturday of the Convention will have the opportunity to make the final choice.

If you wish to make a nomination, please send me the details (ensuring the correct full name for the charity of your choice) to reach me by 5:00pm on Saturday 21st March 2020.

Paul Sutton – General Secretary

secretary@bafra.info

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING

The minutes of the BAFRA Board meeting held on 22nd February are now available in the members’ area of the website at: https://www.bafra.info/members/minutes/eb20200222.pdf

Paul Sutton – General Secretary

secretary@bafra.info


APPLICATIONS FOR BAFRA SELECTION COMMITTEE

Applications are invited from qualified BAFRA members who would like to work on this important committee. Its roles include the selection of officials for all UK Bowl Games, Officials Of The Year Awards as well as IFAF and Elite Panels. Terms of reference and full details of the roles and responsibilities are on the website in the Members' Handbook section 5 - Scheduling and Selection.

In accordance with the rules of this committee, two of the six places are vacated every year. As a result, two places will shortly be available. Please submit an Expression of Interest to me by no later than midnight on Sunday, 29th March 2020. If anyone is considering applying who has not served previously on a BAFRA Committee, you are welcome to contact me for an informal discussion about the role and requirements.

Roger Goodgroves - Director of Operations

operations@bafra.info

 

QUALIFIED

Congratulations to Lil Bush on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.

Thanks to Chris Jarvis and all those who are helping with Lil's training.

Pete Thom - Director of Training

training@bafra.info

 

DISCIPLINARY CASES

NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

New this week

Max Lee-Sang

17

Bournemouth Bobcats

TGT

3

With 1:24 remaining in the third quarter, #17 was seen to forcibly lead with the crown of his helmet into the head/neck area of an opponent.

15th Mar 2020 v Solent Redhawks

Previous weeks

Luke Boxall

22

Birmingham Lions

NOR

1

At the end of the first quarter, the Referee was informed that #22had a ripped jersey and was changing his shirt number to #43. As this was the end of the quarter, the away HC was immediately advised of this and the Referee proceeded to change the number on the roster form. It was then discovered that he did not appear on the roster under this or any other number. This was confirmed with both coaches.

15th Mar 2020 v Durham Saints

Louix Moakes

57

Solent Redhawks

TGT

4

With 5:39 left in the 4th quarter white number 57 targeted a defenceless opponent with a bling side block to the head and neck area.

15th Mar 2020 v Bournemouth Bobcats

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

New this week

Cardiff Cobras

Game played at Bristol Academy's venue (SGS Filton WISE). The field markings were complete but rather faint. One of the game balls presented to the officials could not be inflated to the correct pressure, thankfully a suitable replacement was found without delaying the game.

Amir Brooks #593

Unknown

Keele Crusaders

Field was marked well in yellow. Hash marks were longer than two feet. Team areas marked but coaches lines missing. No nine-yard marks. Chain set was fragile and broke on two occasions.

Jed Brookes-Lewis #395

Unknown

Leeds Gryphons

80-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas were missing but marked out with cones.

David Hewitt #607

15th March 2020 v Derby Braves

Southampton Stags

Well marked 90-yard field with eight-yard end zones. Faint markings in yellow with other sport markings in white, blue and red. No limit lines or numbers. Goals not in the plane of the end line and end line too close to the surrounding fence. Balls supplied in good condition but slightly under inflated. Two assistants changed at half-time.

Tim Ockendon #481

15th March 2020 v Cardiff Cobras

UCL Emperors

Markings were in yellow but very faded. No goals (at either end of the field), numbers, team areas or limit lines. Hash marks were connected to the sideline. One ball provided was underinflated. The chain crew was changed at half time. Official assistants were not forthcoming and kick-off was delayed by ten minutes as a result. Changing room was not big enough for a crew of five. The crew were not paid and should have been.

Henry Young #486

Unknown

York Centurions

90-yard field with faint red lines, some of which disintegrated during the game There were no team areas marked but this was rectified by cones.

Chris Jarvis #10

15th March 2020 v Glasgow Tigers

Outstanding items from previous weeks

Bristol Barracuda

Multiple stops during play to repair the chain occurred.

Colin Edwards #76

15th Mar 2020 v UCL Emperors

Durham Saints

100-yard field with other sports lines of various colours. No three-yard marks. Team areas were missing but marked out with cones.

David Hewitt #607

15th Mar 2020 v Birmingham Lions

Manchester Tyrants

80-yard field. Officials' changing room door had to be propped open with a brick as officials were warned that if it slammed shut they would be locked in.

Tim Vickers #129

15th Mar 2020 v Liverpool Raptors

UWE Bullets

During the first quarter, one member of the officiating crew suffered an injury. The rest of the game was played with a four-man crew. The whole chain crew and one ball person were changed just before the end of half time. This resulted in the second half being delayed whilst the new assistants were briefed.

Amir Brooks #593

15th Mar 2020 v Stirling Clansmen

END ZONE

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: 2nd & 8 at the B-15 yard line. With under a minute remaining in the 2nd quarter the clock is running. A77 commits a False Start, charging into B61. B61 slugs A77 in response. The clock is stopped with 7 seconds left in the period and neither team has any timeouts remaining.


Ruling?

Last week

Play: 4th & 2 at the B-32. The score is A 30 – B 35 and the clock is running with 0:58 remaining in the 4th quarter. Team A lines up in a regular scrimmage formation. B99 is tight to the neutral zone and lined up just to the left of the center but still inside the right guard. B99, trying to time the snap, takes a hard step towards the center.  The right guard reacts coming out of his three point stance. The clock is now at 0:52 when this is shut down. What is the status of the clock?


Ruling:  Team A’s Ball 1st & 10 at the B-27 game clock will start on the snap. B99 is lined up tight to the neutral zone and any time a defensive player is initially lined up tight to the neutral zone and moves forward and there isn’t any question as to whether or not he was in the neutral zone and the appropriate offensive player moves, then we shut the play down and penalize the defense. B99 commits a foul for Defensive Offside, resulting in a first down for Team A. Team A is behind in the score, and therefore will opt to have the clock go on the snap (3-4-3). Team A will refuse the 10 second subtraction potential as well given the score in the game.

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: During the game Team A take a timeout. Both Teams huddle near their respective side lines. On a 5 man crew what should each official do during the timeout.


Answer next issue…

Last week

Game Situation: After a forward pass has been thrown, how much time should the umpire spend continuing to observe the action in the vicinity of the line of scrimmage before turning to assist deep and wing officials with the pass?


Answer: An umpire should turn to observe the pass immediately when a forward pass is thrown.  Once the pass has been thrown, holding and other technical fouls by the linemen will not normally affect the play, and the Referee should pick up any personal fouls. (M10.4.c.1)

CALENDAR

Date

Event

Contact for details

2020

24th March (Tues)

BUCS Premier Bowl (University of Nottingham)

operations@bafra.info

24th March (Tues)

BUCS Division 1 Final (University of Nottingham)

operations@bafra.info

4th - 5th April (Sat-Sun)

BAFRA Convention

convention@bafra.info

4th April (Sat)

BAFRA Ltd. AGM

secretary@bafra.info

16th May (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

18h July (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

5th September (Sat)

BAFA NL Division 2 South Final (Tilsey Park Stadium)

operations@bafra.info

5th September (Sat)

Junior Britbowl (Tilsey Park Stadium)

operations@bafra.info

6th September (Sun)

BAFA NL Division 2 North Final (Halton Stadium)

operations@bafra.info

12th September (Sat)

BAFA NL Division 1 Final (New River Stadium)

operations@bafra.info

12th September (Sat)

Britbowl (New River Stadium)

operations@bafra.info

14th November (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

BAFRA Directors

President

David Parsons

president@bafra.info

General Secretary

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.info

Finance

Roger Brown

finance@bafra.info

Operations

Roger Goodgroves

operations@bafra.info

Recruitment

Ollie Maskell

recruitment@bafra.info

Training

Pete Thom

training@bafra.info

Director without Portfolio #1

Peter Parsons

dwp1@bafra.info

Director without Portfolio #2

Steve Tonkinson

dwp2@bafra.info

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.info.

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

Editor: Ben Griffiths - Email: newsflash@bafra.info

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