Issue 22/21 14th July 2021
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
ELITE TRAINING
I am delighted to confirm that NFL Referee Brad Rodgers has, again, agreed to present to our Elite Panel on Tuesday 3rd August and Monday 16th August via Zoom. The first session will be centred on aspects of the kicking game.
Sessions will be recorded and made available to all members shortly afterward.
Keith Wickham - BAFRA Elite Panel Coordinator
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE
Last week's newsflash (21/21) reported that Rory Gallagher of the Bournemouth Bobcats was disqualified from their game. However the disqualification has been cancelled after the calling official withdrew their report. The procedure for doing this is in BAFA Regulation 5.2.4 and is intended for use in rare cases when you see a video of the incident and realise you got it wrong. If that is ever the case, simply email me with the details, a copy of the video (or where to find it) and details of what the video shows and how that differs from your original report.
Ben Griffiths - BAFA Disciplinary Officer
discipline@britishamericanfootball.org
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Danny Townsend | 75 | South East Legion (U19) | TUF | 1 | With roughly nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, #75 received a second USC for taunting an opposition player away from the play. | 25th July 2021 v Thames Valley Tigers (U19) | |
Stuart Richards | 68 | Sussex Thunderbolts | FPF | 3 | With 4:05 remaining in the third quarter, offensive lineman #68 was observed to kick out at an opponent in a combative manner that had nothing to do with football. | 18th July 2021 v East Essex Sabres | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Paul Ross | 69 | Clyde Valley Blackhawks | FPF | 1 | The player was seen to headbutt an opponent after the play was over | 15th August 2021 v Dumfries Hunters | |
David Strachan | 46 | Inverclyde Goliaths | FPF | 2 | With approximately 4:30 left in the second quarter Mr Strachan was seen to headbutt and opponent. | 15th August 2021 v East Kilbride Pirates | |
Benjamin Collis | 1 | London Hornets | TUF | 4 | During the 4th quarter number 1 received a second unsportsmanlike penalty and was disqualified. | 18th July 2021 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs | |
Max Lee-Sang | 17 | Solent Thrashers | 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. | 18th July 2021 v Sussex Thunder | |
Nate Webb | 85 | South Wales Warriors | n/a | 1 | After the game Mr Webb was charged and found guilty of committing 3 seperate Flagrant Fouls during a game. | 25th July 2021 v Worcestershire Black Knights, 8th August 2021 v Birmingham Bulls & 15th August 2021 v Swindon Storm | |
Luke Terry | 63 | Sussex Thunder | FGT | 4 | With 13:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, after a tackle, #63 head butted his opponent whilst lying prone on top of them. | 18th July 2021 v Solent Thrashers | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Essex Spartans | The Essex Spartans roster includes a player whose photo in no way matches his appearance. The player did not participate in the game and has been reported to BAFA. Ben Gadsby #564 | 25th July 2021 v East Essex Sabres |
Hereford Stampede | Team areas were only three feet from the side-line. Game abandoned with 8:39 remaining in the fourth quarter due to an injured Birmingham player who couldn't be moved until the ambulance arrived.. Both coaches agreed to the ending of the game. Russell Newton #324 | 8th August 2021 v Bristol Aztecs |
Hertfordshire Cheetahs (U16) | Well marked fields, with a couple of ruts that were filled in to make the field safe. In the final round of the tournament both games were abandoned at the request of the head coaches at, or just before half time, on player safety grounds due to injuries and inability by a team to field a safe squad. This was agreed by all head coaches. Andrew Murrell #608 | Unknown |
Kent Exiles | The field was not marked accurately with different distances between 5 yard lines and on either side of the field. The team areas were marked with pre-covid distances. Keith Wickham #423 | 25th July 2021 v London Warriors |
Kent Exiles (U19) | The field was not marked accurately with different distances between 5 yard lines and on either side of the field. The team areas were marked with pre-covid distances. Keith Wickham #423 | 8th August 2021 v London Blitz (U19) |
London Hornets | NFL-width hash marks. One member of the chain crew and both ball persons changed at half time. Game suspended for 25 minutes to treat an injured player. Pete Thom #200 | 18th July 2021 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs |
Rushmoor Knights (U19) | Field marked with white lines, across a white-lined running track. Additionally the endline and sidelines in the endzone were marked with cones only. Some ruts in the field were levelled off, and a bird that had met an unfortunate end in the night was also removed. Changing rooms were not available after the game, and most of the school gates had been locked, meaning a long walk back to the cars. Oliver Maskell #221 | 31st July 2021 (U19) |
Scunthorpe Alphas | Team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines but extended to the 10-yard lines with cones. The game balls were all under inflated and required pumping up. The game day organisation and experience was excellent for a team new to the league. Changing facilities were very good and the game was played in front of a crowd of 300 people, with food vans, and bouncy castles for the kids. David Hewitt #607 | 18th July 2021 v South Lincolnshire Lightning |
Tamworth Phoenix (U16) | Field well marked in blue, no 9-yard marks. Alternative, older balls (fulfilling all rule requirements), were used for field goals at one end of the field due to the close proximity of trees and a hedge. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | Unknown |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Bournemouth Bobcats | No nine yard marks. Oliver Maskell #221 | 8th August 2021 v Solent Thrashers |
Bristol Aztecs | One sideline had a double red line rather than a single line. Stephen Egan #466 | 15th August 2021 v Worcestershire Black Knights |
Chorley Buccaneers (U19) | 80-yard field with 8-yard end zones. Team areas marked with cones and spectators area marked with pylons. Lee Taylor #183 | 18th July 2021 v Sheffield Giants (U19) |
Cornwall Monarchs | 80-yard field. Small changing room. One suspension, of around ten minutes, for two injured players on the same play. Richard Madge #485 | 1st August 2021 v Bristol Apache |
Crewe Railroaders | First time that this new venue has been used. Local Council marked the field as being 100 yards long, despite only being 80 yards. Kick off was delayed by 25 minutes, as height restrictions meant ambulance could access the field, and local council hadn't left keys to remove height restriction. Game suspended when a dog ran on to the pitch, Dog was not associated with either team. Andrew Lovell #559 | 25th July 2021 v Leicester Falcons |
DC Presidents | Game played at Maiden Castle, well marked field, missing coaches and team areas & 3-yard marks. Liam Wooton #478 | 18th July 2021 v Northumberland Vikings |
Gateshead Senators | Goal posts were strongly tilted on one side. Shawn Sombati #15 | 18th July 2021 v Darlington Steam |
Hertfordshire Cheetahs | The changing room is only adequate for 3 officials. Pete Thom #200 | 25th July 2021 v London Hornets |
Hertfordshire Cheetahs (U19) | The changing room is only adequate for 3 officials. Chain crew changed before the game began Pete Thom #200 | 22nd August 2021 v South East Legion (U19) |
Knottingley Raiders | There were no nine-yard marks or numbers. The try-down mark was on the 2-yard line at both ends. The teams areas had been marked correctly for a non-COVID affected game (i.e. between the 25 yards lines, with the coaching line at 6 feet and the players line at 12 feet). The start of the game was delayed for two reasons. Firstly a visiting team player injured his leg during warm-ups and it was not until 45 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time that he was moved from the field of play. Secondly the booked medical cover did not turn up and replacement medical cover had to be sought. The game kicked off 85 minutes late; with the mutual agreement of both Head Coaches the game was reduced to 10 minute quarters. Ben Griffiths #228 | 15th August 2021 v Yorkshire Rams |
Lancashire Wolverines | On arrival it was noted that the chain set was only nine yards in length, this was quickly rectified by the home team. There were no team areas or coaches boxes marked. Lee Taylor #183 | 18th July 2021 v Halton Spartans |
Leicester Falcons | At the two minute warning, a Shropshire player collapsed in the end zone and the game was suspended for an hour and ten minutes. With mutual agreement the half time break was taken at that point on the understanding that we would play out the last two minutes and go straight into the third quarter. As the delay progressed, we were made aware of a large storm front and could hear peals of thunder in the distance. As we were getting ready to resume, I spoke to the coaching staff of both teams and explained the lightning protocol. I advised that if we were to observe lightning, we would have a further prolonged and indeterminate delay after the injury delay and it would be impractical to continue the game, meaning that it would be abandoned. Both teams' staff agreed. As we were lining up for the second half kick off, a lightning strike was observed some way off but with the storm heading our way. The game was abandoned. Brian Yates #29 | 28th August 2021 v Tamworth Phoenix |
Lincolnshire Bombers | Game suspended for 45 minutes due to thunderstorm. Joseph Foxon #473 | 1st August 2021 v Scunthorpe Alphas |
London Blitz B | Changing rooms are currently being rebuilt and we had some issues locking our valuables as the changing room was not lockable. Viktor Janvari #63 | 18th July 2021 v Wembley Stallions |
Merseyside Nighthawks | With 7:00 remaining in the third quarter, the officials stopped the game due to lightning. After a 75 minute delay the game was restarted and, with the agreement of both coaches, the final seven minutes were played and the fourth quarter shortened to 10 minutes. Lee Taylor #183 | 18th July 2021 v Manchester Titans |
Sheffield Giants | No changing facilities were available due to covid restrictions so players and officials had to travel in uniform. The game was abandoned at half time with the agreement of both coaches due to a huge and extremely violent thunderstorm. The score at the time was 20-6 to Sheffield. David Hewitt #607 | 18th July 2021 v Leeds Bobcats |
Sheffield Giants (U19) | Due to covid restrictions there were no changing facilities at the venue. It meant players and officials had to travel in uniform. Otherwise, everything was excellent. David Hewitt #607 | 1st August 2021 v Yorkshire Academy Assassins (U19) |
South London Renegades (U19) | Poorly marked 90-yard field in blue with other sport markings in white and red. One end zone 9 yards and the other 7 yards. Line breadth less than half regulation size. No sideline hashmarks and those at inbounds lines were too long and never 1 yard apart. No team area markings, limit lines, numbers or 9-yard marks. Goals too wide with posts too short. Tim Ockendon #481 | 25th July 2021 v Kent Exiles (U19) |
Staffordshire Surge | Several divets in the field filled before kick-off. Andrew Lovell #559 | 25th July 2021 v Shropshire Revolution |
Sussex Thunder | One of the game balls provided had to be returned due to the incorrect pressure. Team replaced the ball on request. Chain broke a couple of times during the game. Other than these small incidents all was well. David Knight #135 | 25th July 2021 v Bournemouth Bobcats |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: A goal-line pylon is lying diagonally inbounds, with its base still partially in its normal position. The ball carrier dives towards it and the ball touches the nearest point of the pylon (which is about 12 inches short of the goal line) before the player flies over the pylon and first touches the ground in the end zone. Ruling?
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Last week | Play: On arrival at the venue, both Head Coaches approach the officials and state that they have agreed to not implement the running clock rule if the score margin is greater than 34 points. Ruling?
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: When should the uncatchable pass signal (S17) be used?
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Last week | Game Situation: Team A 3rd & 5 at Midfield. Tight End A83 is lined up to the left of the formation. Defensive End B91 lines up immediately opposite A83 Team A attempt a sweep to the right hand side of the field. A83 charges takes one step forward and attempts to block B91. A83 is out of position and blocks B91 in the back. Running back A25 gains 6 yards before he is pushed out of bounds at the B-44 yard line. Answer: This foul should not be called as it does not affect the result of the play. Before calling a Block in the Back foul, you should apply the same conditions as you would apply for holding. This foul is not conspicuous and does not affect the play. (M3.3.5.a, M3.3.1.a.ii & M3.2.2.b). |
Date | Event | Contact for details |
17th July (Sat) | BAFRA Board Meeting | |
2nd - 3rd April (Sat-Sun) | BAFRA Convention | |
BAFRA Directors | |||||
President | David Parsons | General Secretary | Richard Moger | ||
Finance | Stuart Tabberer | Operations | Roger Goodgroves | ||
Recruitment | Kieran Smith | Training | James Ford-Bannister | ||
Director without Portfolio #1 | Peter Parsons | Director without Portfolio #2 | Steve Tonkinson | ||
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. |
