Issue 39/21 11th November 2021
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
IFAF FLAG FOOTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
It’s taken a while due to the pandemic however international football is once again returning to our calendar of events. The above championships will take place in Jerusalem, Israel from the 6th to 8th December with teams from all over the world participating.
I am delighted to announce that BAFRA officials will once again play an important role at this tournament. British officials are very highly regarded on the international front in both contact and non-contact formats. It is a rare occurrence when we do not have officials selected to attend these types of events and many have also been assigned the gold medal games
Such is our credibility within world flag football we have 2 of our members attending the games in a senior position. On behalf of the BAFRA Board I would like to congratulate Martin Cockerill and Jed Brookes-Lewis on their selection
Martin has been appointed by IFAF as Tournament Director, his principal duties include managing all fixtures, groups and teams, working with the Local Organising Committee to provide the best event and experience for players and manage any issues that may arise in relation to the event
Jed has been appointed by IFAF as the Supervisor of Officials. This is a critical role that requires good people management skills, especially in the areas of Officials performance and liaising with team representatives. Jed will be responsible for many aspects such as providing guidance and feedback to Officials, selecting crews for finals, ensuring consistency in mechanics and rules application and liaising with technical committees
Please join me in congratulating Martin and Jed on their assignments and wish them every success in Jerusalem.
Davie Parsons - BAFRA President
FINANCE MATTERS - PREM BUCS GAME FEES
Just a reminder that there is no separate “Premier” classification for BUCS games, as is true for the Senior Season. All games are charged at the £255 rate with standard crew size of four. You can always find this information in the Annex to the Terms & Conditions.
Stuart Tabberer - Director of Finance
QUALIFIED - GAURAV GOGNA
Congratulations to Gaurav Gogna on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Henry Young and all those who are helping with Gaurav's training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Aji Awodein | 26 | Liverpool Raptors | FPF | 2 | After a change of possession, #26 was observed to initiate a flagrant blindside block. The action was around 30 yards behind the return and had a clear intent to punish. | 21st November 2021 v Lancaster Bombers | |
Tyrese Peters | 51 | Kent Falcons | FPF | 3 | #51 Tyrese Peters of Kent Falcons in the 3rd quarter. #51 on a fake PAT attempt ran 6-7 yards back towards his own end zone to make a violent impact on a player when the scrambling holder had already passed him. #51 then proceeded to celebrate over the player (who was injured) and I decided to eject #51 as the hit was flagrant. | 14th November 2021 v Greewich Mariners | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
James Simpson | n/a | NTU Renegades | REM | Ball person from the home team under rule 9-2-7 for using abusive language towards an opposition player. | 14th November 2021 v Loughborough * As this was a disqualification of a non-player, this is a whole game day suspension. | ||
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Birmingham Lions | The lines were marked in black and, with the floodlights, could be difficult to see from a distance. Keith Wickham #423 | 4th December 2021 v UWE Bullets |
Brunel Burners | The field was marked with NFL-width hash marks. Keith Wickham #423 | 14th November 2021 v Imperial Immortals |
Cardiff Cobras | Kickoff was delayed by five minutes due to the game balls being under-inflated. Amir Brooks #593 | 28th November 2021 v Birmingham Lions |
Exeter Demons | Game was played on 4G on main campus - field marked with narrow black lines for all AF markings (other field markings were more prominent) this made the inbounds short yard line extensions difficult to identify at times. End zones were of shallow depth, seven-yards, but otherwise a good field to officiate on. Francis Bevan #474 | 21st November 2021 v SGS College Pride |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes | Field marked in faded yellow lines with other sports field markings in other colours. Team areas and coaching boxes marked with cones. Portsmouth played the game under protest as they alleged that no Hertfordshire players were registered with BUCS Play and therefore uninsured. Brian Yates #29 | 14th November 2021 v Sussex Saxons |
KCL Regents | Well marked 90-yard field in blue with other sport markings in yellow, white & red. No numbers but rugby markings approximated for nine-yard marks. Team area markings at pre-COVID distances. One stake was completely broken and was temporarily repaired by Game Management by lashing another pole to it. One member of the chain crew had to be replaced in the third quarter resulting in a game management delay whilst the replacement was trained. Tim Ockendon #481 | 21st November 2021 v City Wolfpack |
Leeds Gryphons | 80-yard field. The inbound hash marks mentioned in last week’s game report had been repainted but in the same position, which was narrower even than NFL hashes. Having spoken with the groundsman he has agreed to change this during the Christmas break. There were no coaches or players boxes marked and cones were used in place of these Lee Taylor #183 | 14th November 2021 v Stirling Clansmen |
Leicester Longhorns | The booked medic for the game never arrived. After an hour of attempts by the home team to get in touch with them and source alternate cover, the game was abandoned in line with rules 13-1-1 and 13-7-a-3. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 5th December 2021 v Coventry Jets |
RHUL Bears | Kick off was delayed by 15 minutes due to the medic arriving late. The original chain crew were all changed before the game due to concerns about their attitude and how they would perform. Three-yard marks were marked in the wrong place (four-yard line) and other hash marks were slightly out of alignment. Game management filled four trip hazards in the field before kick off.. Oliver Maskell #221 | 21st November 2021 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
Sheffield Hallam Warriors | 80-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks or numbers. No coaching boxes or player areas but use of other sports lines plus team discipline sorted out any problems. Two sets of midfield hashes were present, unfortunately one set was NFL-width and the other were too wide to be NCAA. Field markings were faint and had to compete with several other sports markings. David Hewitt #607 | 21st November 2021 v LJMU Fury |
Solent Redhawks | Crossbar overhangs the field by approximately two-yards. David Knight #135 | 28th November 2021 v UWE Pellets |
Stirling Clansmen | Although the short yard extension lines were marked, they were faded so the officials sometimes had to rely on the pylons behind the goals for ball position. Ian Sneddon #427 | 21st November 2021 v Leeds Beckett |
Surrey Stingers | On arrival at the ground we were told by the staff there that the pitch was not narked and in any event the groundsman had declared it as waterlogged. Keith Wickham #423 | 6th February 2022 v Sussex Saxons |
Warwick Wolves | Very limited free parking on site. Parking fees must be paid electronically via Warwick website. Paid for parking is a lengthy walk from the venue. Multiple different colour lines on the field for different sports. Prior to kick off soccer goals had to be moved to ensure clear of the field. Andrew Lovell #559 | 21st November 2021 v Leicester Longhorns |
York Centurions | 100-yard grass field marked in Red, which was very difficult to see and identify the inbounds short yard line extensions marks. There were no team or coaching areas marked, this was rectified with cones prior to the game. The away team believed they did not have to supply a playing roster sheet as they had registered all players via BUCS, however it was pointed out that BAFA regulations 5.1 override this and a roster was produced prior to kick off. Chris Jarvis #10 | 21st November 2021 v Northumbria Mustangs |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Bath Spa Bulldogs | Initially, five-yard lines were not marked. The home team were able to rectify this before kick off. The inbounds short yard line extensions were far too close to each other. No three-yard or nine-yard marks. Down box stake broke, chain crew were replaced at half time after they failed to stop cheering their own team, which antagonised the opposition. Stephen Egan #466 | 21st November 2021 v Worcester Royals |
City Wolfpack | 90-yard field. NFL-width hash marks. Short yard line extensions were marked in metres but main lines in yards. End zones were only seven yards deep. Lee Wood #517 | 30th January 2021 v UEL Phoenix |
Durham Saints | No three-yard marks. Coaching boxes weren't marked up to the ten-yard lines. David Hewitt #607 | 5th December 2021 v Stirling Clansmen |
Edinburgh Predators | Crew was informed of no changing facilities prior to the game, but on arrival were given changing rooms. Game was played in good spirit and the attitude from both teams was exemplary. Gordon Galloway #7 | 28th November 2021 v York Centurions |
Glasgow Tigers | The inbounds and sideline short yard line extensions did not match. Distance between the 45-yard and 50-yard lines on each side was about 4.5 yards. Shawn Sombati #15 | 14th November 2021 v Aberdeen Bulls |
Leeds Beckett Carnegie | Field was marked as a 90-yard field with goal posts on the goal line, so it was shortened to 80-yards to make the goal posts on the end line. Inbounds short yard-line extensions were very faint and will need remarking before the next game at this venue. The hash marks were at an even narrower width than even NFL hash marks. No numbers or nine-yards marks. The home team played in black and the visiting team in Green. In daylight, the two colours could be differentiated, however under floodlights it became more difficult to tell the teams aparts at times. The changing room only had seating for two people and was not large enough for a crew of four. The changing room was not lockable. Ben Griffiths #228 | 14th November 2021 v Durham Saints |
Manchester Tyrants | When officials arrived at the venue, the reception desk staff advised that the game would not be going ahead as the field had not been booked and goal posts were not erected. The manager of the venue subsequently spoke to the home team, and it was eventually confirmed that the booking had been made so they were able to use the field, but the goal posts would not be put up. On further inspection, it was noticed that the lines on the field were very faint. You could see them when you were stood on top of them but when you looked across the field, in either direction, they were invisible. There was an attempt to paint the field, but the venue did not give the home team the opportunity to do this. With player safety in mind, the game could not be officiated safely given the nature of the field markings. The Coaches were advised, and the official’s left the ground. Richard McEwen #206 | 14th November 2021 v Hallam Warriors |
QMBL Vipers | Well marked 90-yard field in blue. No numbers, nine-yard marks, or limit lines and team areas marked with cones. Dog excrement on the field was removed by Game Management prior to kickoff. Changing room had no private shower or toilet but was otherwise well appointed and lockable. One ball person was provided by the visiting team. Tim Ockendon #481 | 12th December 2021 v Essex Blades |
Reading Knights | The game was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch two and half hours before the kickoff time. Official’s had set off prior to abandonment. Richard Moger #472 | 28th November 2021 v SGS College Pride |
Sheffield Sabres | No team areas were marked, although teams were disciplined in using other sports markings. No numbers or nine-yard marks. Markings were all in black but clearly contrasted with the field. Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to the late arrival of both teams. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 28th November 2021 v Manchester Tyrants |
Sussex Saxons | The blue lines used on the field have faded considerably since the summer, and were sometimes very difficult to see whilst on-field. End line was marked too close to the perimeter fence so another sports line was used. Team areas marked with cones. The changing rooms provided to officials were inadequate so the crew changed in the away team room after they had vacated. Oliver Maskell #221 | 21st November 2021 v Surrey Stingers |
Swansea Titans | Officials had to change in a public changing room due to the usual officials’ changing room being used for a women's soccer match. The public changing room was not lockable but did have lockers available for use. The field was generally well marked out, although the lines were a bit faint. The inbounds and sideline short yard-line extensions were too short - a few inches instead of the regulation 2 feet. Amir Brooks #593 | 14th November 2021 v Cardiff Cobras |
UCLan Rams | 100-yard field with no numbers, nine-yard marks, or team areas marked out. Kickoff was delayed by 15 mins due to previous use of the venue. Both teams warmed up on alternative fields but the away side were slow to migrate to the main field and did not have a roster for the officials upon arrival. Andrew Swift #403 | 23rd January 2021 v Edge Hill Vikings |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: 2nd & 8 at Team’s B 40-yard line. 1:56 remains in the second quarter. A66 snaps the ball high to quarterback A10 who has to jump to control the snap. Whilst still airborne at Team B’s 45-yard line, A10 pitches the ball forwards to A88 who has run across the front of A10. A88 runs wide to the right and runs out of bounds at Team B’s 30-yard line. During A88’s run, B24 blocks A73 below the waist 6 yards beyond the neutral zone. What is the next down and distance. When will the clock start?
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Last week | Play: Team A kick off to start the game. B88 makes a fair catch at Team B’s 12-yard line. A30 was offside at the kick. If Team B wish to keep the ball where will the next snap take place?
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: 1st and 10 at the A40, team A run an option play. While under pressure at the A35 quarterback A3 throws a backwards pass to A20, who muffs the ball at the A30. The ball then bounces on the ground and goes out of bounds at the A32. How should the covering officials make use bean bags to indicate spots of interest in this play?
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Last week | Game Situation: There is 30 seconds left in the game and the clock is running, both Teams have one timeout remaining. Team A commits a False Start. As this is a potential 10 second run-off; what actions should the Wing officials on a 4 man crew take? Answer: The Wing Official on the Non-Offending Team’s sideline (Team B) should speak to the Head Coach on their side of the field and check if they want the 10 second run-off enforced. The Wing Official on the Offending Team’s sideline (Team A) should speak to the Head Coach on their side of the field and check if they want to use a timeout to prevent the 10 second runoff, should Team B elect to have the run-off enforced. M19.3.5.c |
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 | Susannah Taylor | 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. |
