Issue 23/21 21st July 2021
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
NEW GAME REPORT FORMS - 5v5 & 7v7 TOURNAMENTS
The standard BAFRA Game Report form is designed for a single game between 2 teams, and therefore does not work well for the many 5v5 and 7v7 tournaments we now cover. As such, new Game Report Forms have been created specifically for these formats. The forms provide space for signatures of up to 4 Head Coaches and information for up to 2 crews. They can be downloaded from the Game Day Paperwork area in the Members Section of the website:
https://www.bafra.info/members/paperwork/paperwork.php
We are working on updating the online paperwork to reflect the structure of these new forms, but in the meantime, please use them at tournaments from now on.
Pete Parsons - Director without Portfolio #1
UPDATED RADIO COMMUNICATIONS GUIDES
Thanks to Roger Goodgroves and Pete Parsons, we have now added more models of radio to the guidance on radio communications that can be found at https://www.bafra.info/members/crewcomms/index.php.
To make things clearer, we've separated out the stuff that is specific to a particular model of radio from that which is general guidance.
If your radios are already working, you don't need to make any changes to them. The update is just to reflect new models.
If anyone has bought a model of radio not already listed (and got it to work successfully) please let us know so that we can share the information with other members.
Jim Briggs
LATEST BOARD MINUTES
The Board Minutes from the latest Board Meeting can be found in the Members’ Area of the website here:
https://www.bafra.info/members/minutes/eb20210717.pdf
Richard Moger – General Secretary
DISCIPLINARY CLARIFICATION
A query has recently been raised as to how suspensions and fines should be handled in the case of a multi-game same-day tournament. When a player is disqualified from a multi-game tournament they should serve their suspension in the next game their team plays. Under BAFA Regulations a player is not normally allowed to return to playing until they have paid the fine associated with the disqualification. However, if after serving a suspension their team still has remaining games to be played on the same day, this is not practical. Therefore the player should be permitted to play in any remaining games in that tournament. They may not play in any further games or tournaments until the fine is paid. For example; if a team is playing a 3 game tournament and a player is disqualified from their first game, the player should serve their suspension in game two, they may then play in game three. Thereafter they may not play in any future games until the fine is paid.
If a player has previously been disqualified from a game or committed any other fixed penalty offence in the last 12 months, their suspension may be longer than one game. As a reminder it is a team's responsibility to know which of their players are suspended and for how long, it is not the responsibility of BAFRA Officials to know or inform the team.
Ben Griffiths - BAFA Disciplinary Officer
discipline@britishamericanfootball.org
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Ryan Williams | 9 | DC Presidents | FPF | 2 | During the continuing action, after a tackle out of bounds, #9 was seen to kick an opponent whilst both were lying on the ground. | 1st August 2021 v Gateshead Senators | |
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 | |
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) | |
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 | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Chorley Buccaneers (U16) | Field well marked with pylons. Missing markers for the middle of the field and at 12 yards. Richard McEwen #206 | Unknown |
Chorley Buccaneers (U19) | 80 yard field with no team or coaching areas marked. Lee Taylor #183 | 12th September 2021 v Manchester Titans (U19) |
DC Presidents | No team areas marked out but we were able to use existing rugby markings for these. Game abandoned at halftime due to injury concerns for DC Presidents. Kenneth Glover #71 | 1st August 2021 v Gateshead Senators |
Doncaster Mustangs | This is a 90-yard Field with 7.5yd end zones, the lines are becoming faded and could do with a repaint soon. Excellent Game management. Changing room with sanitizers and plenty of water available. We had a 10 minute delay in the second quarter due to the Chains being heavily damaged. With some improvised repairs we were able to resume. Chris Jarvis #10 | 1st August 2021 v Leeds Bobcats |
Lancashire Wolverines | Lancashire had a new chain set since their first game, this was slightly too long but easily rectified by the officials. 80 yard field with no team or coaching areas marked. Lee Taylor #183 | 12th September 2021 v Merseyside Nighthawks |
London Blitz | Well marked 100-yard field in white missing numbers, 9-yard marks and team area markings. Main yard lines were all present but not always straight. Sideline hash-marks well spaced but hash-marks at inbounds lines were not always 1-yard apart. Goals too wide. Two areas of the field were repaired by Game Management prior to kickoff. Changing room had no facilities but was lockable. Both halves delayed due to lack of chain crew personnel. Tim Ockendon #481 | 1st August 2021 v London Olympians |
London Blitz B | Well marked 100-yard field in white - missing numbers and 9-yard marks. Team areas marked with cones. Main yard lines were all present but not always straight. Sideline hashmarks well spaced but hashmarks at inbounds lines were not always 1-yard apart. Goals too wide. Changing room had no facilities but was lockable. Second half delayed due to lack of chain crew personnel. Tim Ockendon #481 | 8th August 2021 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs |
London Blitz (U19) | Well marked 100-yard field in white - missing numbers, nine-yard marks, and team area markings. Main yard lines were all present but not always straight. Sideline hashmarks well spaced but hashmarks at inbounds lines were not always 1-yard apart. Goals too wide. Two areas of the field were repaired by Game Management prior to kickoff. Changing room had no facilities but was lockable. Both halves delayed due to lack of chain crew personnel. Tim Ockendon #481 | 1st August 2021 v South London Renegades (U19) |
Sheffield Giants (U16) | Well marked 5v5 field with markings for both five yards from Goal Line and 12 yards from Goal Line. On one side the field slopes from around mid-field to the corner of the endzone. Perry Wayman #504 | Unknown |
Shropshire Revolution | Multiple divets in the field. Andrew Lovell #559 | 8th August 2021 v Sandwell Steelers |
Solent Thrashers | No nine-yard marks, no PAT lines, and goals overhang end zones by about a yard. Oliver Maskell #221 | 1st August 2021 v Sussex Thunder |
Somerset Wyverns | Changing rooms were only suitable for two officials to change socially-distanced. NFL width hash marks but this should be resolved for the next home game. Field is numbered but tops of numbers are significantly more than nine yards from the sideline. Coaching box line marked 12 feet from sideline. Euan Paterson #165 | 8th August 2021 v Cornwall Monarchs |
Torbay Trojans | 90 Yard grass field, well marked out. Crew were well looked after with access to a large Air Conditioned room for pregame as well as having drinks and hot food provided post game! Francis Bevan #474 | 25th July 2021 v Somerset Wyverns |
Yorkshire Assassins (U19) | Short delay to kick off whilst awaiting the medic. Liam Wooton #478 | 12th September 2021 v Sheffield Giants (U19) |
Yorkshire Rams | Well marked field. Changing room is small for a crew of five. Liam Wooton #478 | 12th September 2021 v Knottingley Raiders |
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 |
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 |
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 calling of the game. Russell Newton #324 | 8th August 2021 v Bristol Aztecs |
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) |
Humber Warhawks | The venue is not the stadium you’ll notice as you arrive. The changing rooms are a distance from the car park, beyond the field, and were the home teams storage facility. Field was generally well marked Liam Wooton #478 | 25th July 2021 v Sheffield Giants |
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) |
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 |
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 |
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) |
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: Team A, 1st & 10 at half-way. There is 0:50 remaining in the 4th quarter. Neither team has any timeouts remaining and the score is A14 – B14. A1 takes the shotgun snap and throws a swing pass to Running Back A20. A20 catches the pass at the A-48 and runs to the B-43 where he is tackled inbounds with 0:40 remaining on the clock. Right Tackle A77 is injured on the play.
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Last 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?
Note that the ball or the ball carrier touching a pylon merely extends the plane of the goal line (Rule 8-2-1-a) - it does not move it. So the ball still needs to cross the plane to score a touchdown and it needs to do this before the ball is dead. |
MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: Late in the first half, with the clock running, Team A take a timeout. After the Timeout is granted, they immediately indicate they are ready to resume play and line up in formation. When the timeout is granted Team B huddle near their sideline. Team A state that as it’s “their” timeout, so they shouldn’t have to wait for the defense to be ready. Should the Referee declare the ball ready for play immediately?
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Last week | Game Situation: When should the uncatchable pass signal (S17) be used? Answer: It should be used when contact that would have been pass interference occurs on a pass that is uncatchable (M11.4.12, M12.4.13, M13.4.11, M14.4.13, M15.4.12). It should not be used when the pass was uncatchble but any contact was not pass interference. |
Date | Event | Contact for details |
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. |
