Issue 4/22 2nd February 2022
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
BAFRA FINANCE VACANCIES
I am seeking applications from the membership to expand the BAFRA Finance department by filling/creating positions within the Finance Team.
The roles available are:
Job Descriptions can be found here:
https://www.bafra.info/members/finance/index.php
The roles are critical in managing the flow of BAFRAs finances with the Deputy Director primarily managing BAFRAs expenses and the Director and Assistants managing the income and debtors. Time commitment is expected to be no more than 1-2 hours weekly and will be reduced if we are able to expand the size of the team. Those who are interested please email me at finance@bafra.info and I will set up a chat to discuss your involvement.
I would like to thank Roger Brown for his efforts and support over the last year, as he steps back from his DDoF role to focus on other matters.
Stuart Tabberer - Director of Finance
BAFRA OPERATIONS QUESTIONNAIRE
The BAFRA Operations team is considering how it can improve the quality of the assignment process and to assist with that we have introduced a form so we can get to know our officials better.
This is your opportunity to tell us more about your officiating preferences. Links to the form have been sent out to members via email. If you have not received the email, or have problems accessing it, please contact the operations team. Please can all active officials aim to complete this by Monday 7th February.
Roger Goodgroves - Director of Operations
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
This is an advance notice regarding the election to the BAFRA Limited Board of Directors which will take place at the AGM on Saturday 2nd April at the Convention.
Four posts are due for election this year:
In the case of all four posts, the present incumbents have indicated that they will be seeking re-election.
Formal notification and requests for nominations for all four posts will be circulated in mid-February in accordance with our Regulations. However, please consider if you would wish to stand for any of the four posts and feel free to contact me (or any other director) about what the posts entail so that you are in a position to make an informed decision when nominations open.
Richard Moger – General Secretary
QUALIFIED - Dan Cass
Congratulations to Dan Cass on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Roger Brown, Ollie Maskell, and all those who are helping with Dan’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
J Campling | HC | Canterbury Christ Church Chargers | TUF | 4 | During the third quarter, the HC received a UC penalty for an abusive tirade directed at the officials. With 5:16 remaining in fourth quarter, the HC received another UC penalty for another abusive tirade directed at the officials. | 6th February 2022 v Greenwich Mariners * As this was a disqualification of a non-player, this is a whole game day suspension as opposed to just a playing suspension. Mr Campling may not be present at the game site in any capacity. | |
Liam Coxon | 89 | Northumbria Mustangs | TUF | 3 | #89 used threatening and abusive language to an Edinburgh player. This behaviour continued on the next play when #89 insinuated he would "get" the Edinburgh player in the car park after the game. This outburst resulted in his second UC and subsequent disqualification from the game. | 13th February 2022 v Newcastle Raiders | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Milton Vita | 74 | Portsmouth Destroyers | FGT | 4 | With 4:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, as a big scuffle evolved, the officials observed two players throwing punches in the multi-player scuffle. | 6th February 2022 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Birmingham Lions | There was no suitable pre designated changing room so we used a public changing room to get into kit and then moved into the bar area to pregame. Keith Wickham #423 | Unknown |
Coventry University Jets | Well marked field with cones marking team areas. The three-yard marks are incorrectly marked at the 2.5-yard line. Brian Yates #29 | 13th February 2022 v Warwick Wolves |
Edinburgh Predators | Team area markings missing, rectified prior to kickoff with cones. Gordon Galloway #7 | 6th February 2022 v Newcastle Raiders |
Exeter Demons | Kickoff delayed by 1 hour 25 minutes due to the medic arriving late.. 90-yard field with seven-yard end zones. Marked with thin blue lines that clash with other sports markings in some areas. Euan Paterson #165 | 6th February 2022 v Bath Killer Bees |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes | Team areas marked out with cones and only to the 20-yard lines at each end. Joseph Foxon #473 | Unknown |
KCL Regents | Well marked 90-yard field shared with other sports. Changing rooms not private or lockable. One official's assistant changed at half time. Game abandoned with 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter at the request of the away team head coach, citing player safety. Ben Gadsby #564 | Unknown |
Leeds Beckett Carnegie | 80-yard field with ten-yard end zones. Used Rugby lines for the team areas. Robin Boyd #191 | 13th February 2022 v Leeds Gryphons |
Manchester Tyrants | On arrival at the venue, the team had just started marking the pitch, which, at best, could be described as undulating and had completed one side line and both end lines with cans of spray paint. The referee paced out the distance between the goal posts and estimated this was 100-yards so there was enough room for an 80-yard field with two ten-yard end zones, this was communicated to the team who were still marking the side line and waiting for additional spray paint. It very quickly became clear that a 13:30 kickoff was not going to be possible so, with the agreement of both head coaches, this was pushed back as it was agreed to start as soon as the markings were completed (as long as time allowed it). The changing room does not lock and is shared with officials from other sports. Bags were stored in cars. On returning to the field, the crew spotted that the midfield line was marked as the 50-yard line and somehow the team had managed to fit a 100-yard pitch into 80-yards, so the officials paced out the markings. One end zone was 11 yards and the other 9.5 yards. The main lines were approximately eight yards apart, the short yard line extension lines varied in distance, from a little over a yard to as short as about six inches. The chains were shortened to match the distance between two of the main lines but the decision was made not to check this against a different pairing as the officials were not sure they would be the same distance apart. Although it was not the best marked pitch, the game eventually kicked off at 14:20 with the quarters shortened to ten minutes due to no floodlights and sunset being less than three hours before sunset (3-2-1). No coaches or players boxes were marked. Lee Taylor #183 | 6th February 2022 v LJMU Fury |
Oxford Brookes Panthers | Coaching boxes and team areas were marked out using rugby markings, the numbers and some temporary markings placed on the ground. Peter Parsons #321 | Unknown |
Oxford Lancers | Coaching boxes and team areas were marked out using rugby markings, the numbers and some temporary markings placed on the ground. Peter Parsons #321 | 12th February 2022 v OBU Panthers |
Solent Redhawks | Kick off was delayed by ten minutes due to the late arrival of the away team. 100-yard field marked in yellow. Goal posts overhang a small part of the endzone. The chains broke once and a ball person was changed at half time. Richard Moger #472 | Unknown |
Staffordshire Stallions | Field marked in pink, with rugby markings in white. Andrew Lovell #559 | 13th February 2022 v Nottingham Green |
Sussex Saxons | 90-yard artificial turf field marked in blue. Inbound short yard line extensions were faded or missing on first inspection. The team agreed to remark these, as the ground staff were not available, and did an excellent job. The end lines are too close to the playing enclosure fence so existing white markings approximately two yards into the marked end zones were used. Team areas marked with cones. One game ball was worn. James Ford-Bannister #479 | Unknown |
Warwick Wolves | Lines marked in blue, which were faint, and under lights the hash marks became difficult to see. Team areas marked with cones. Brian Yates #29 | Unknown |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Glasgow University Tigers | Short yard line extensions are faded and coaching areas not marked per COVID instructions. Ian Sneddon #427 | Unknown |
Gloucester Gladiators | 80-yard field marked with NFL-width hash marks. Team areas not marked to COVID regulations. Kieran Smith #102 | Unknown |
Imperial Immortals | Well marked 90-yard field in white. No numbers, nine-yard marks, team area markings or limit lines and inbounds lines marked at incorrect depth (36 feet). Tim Ockendon #481 | 6th February 2022 v Essex Blades |
Keele Crusaders | Lines were a bit faint due to the heavy condition of the field. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 13th February 2022 v DMU Lions |
Lancaster Bombers | On arrival it was noted that each end zone was only five-yards long, so the pitch was shortened to 80-yards to give ten-yard end zones. One of the five-yard lines (now goal line) was also missing, although this was rectified prior to kickoff. Mid way through the second quarter, during a penalty enforcement, the umpire spotted that the distance from midfield to each subsequent five-yard line was not the full five yards as there were only three short yard line extension, this made the field 78 yards in length. Lee Taylor #183 | 6th February 2022 v Edge Hill Vikings |
Leeds Gryphons | 80-yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas were not marked but this was rectified by the use of other sports markings and cones. The changing room was only large enough for three officials at best. There were two changes of ball persons during the game. David Hewitt #607 | 6th February 2022 v Durham Saints |
Leicester Longhorns | The field is marked with NFL-width hash marks rather than the standard BAFA NCAA-width. Team areas marked with cones. Home team jerseys were various styles and shades of green. Brian Yates #29 | Unknown |
Northumbria Mustangs | Field markings faint and no coaches area. This was rectified by placing cones down to the ten-yard lines. Gordon Galloway #7 | Unknown |
Nottingham Gold | Field marked in red but clearly visible. Team areas marked to the 25-yard lines and too close to sideline. Hash and inbound marks were too short. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 6th February 2022 v Stirling Clansmen |
Nottingham Green | Coaches boxes are marked too close even on pre-COVID distances. Multiple substitutions of chain crew throughout the game. Joel Pearson #405 | Unknown |
Portsmouth Destroyers | The 90-yard field was very muddy and soft, but playable. Markings were in blue. With 3:34 remaining, #68 from Sussex suffered a suspected injury to his neck area and an ambulance was called to the field. Both head coaches agreed to end the game with the score being 12-0 for Portsmouth. Viktor Janvari #63 | 6th February 2022 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
RHUL Bears | 100-yard field, with clear blue markings. Team areas were not marked out to the ten-yard lines, the three-yard marks were in the wrong position (the four-yard line) and other yard line extensions marks were slightly out of alignment. A member of the chain crew was changed at half time. Richard Moger #472 | 13th February 2022 v Sussex Saxons |
Sheffield Sabres | 90-yard field with ten-yard end zones. 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. Robin Boyd #191 | 13th February 2022 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors |
Southampton Stags | 90-yard field, the field markings are faint but visible. In the fourth quarter the Head Linesman injured himself and was replaced by the Centre Judge.. Viktor Janvari #63 | 6th February 2022 v Reading Knights |
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 |
Stirling Clansmen | Team boxes were not marked out to the current COVID modifications. Cones used where needed. Blue lines used for football. Shawn Sombati #15 | 13th February 2022 v Durham Saints |
Tarranau Aberystwyth | Medical provision had not been arranged prior to the game by the home team, so kick off was delayed whilst waiting for them to arrive. Officials changing rooms weren't lockable. Emma Payne #236 | Unknown |
UEA Pirates | Football markings in white, other game markings in blue. Team areas are marked to pre-COVID size. Changing room was not lockable and small for a crew of five. Lee Wood #517 | 6th February 2022 v Birmingham Lions |
UH Sharks | 90-yard field with ten-yard end zones. Chain crew identified ten minutes prior to kick-off and were inexperienced. Robin Boyd #191 | 6th February 2022 v York Centurions |
UWE Pellets | One ball person was changed at half time. Amir Brooks #593 | 6th February 2022 v Bath Spa Bulldogs |
UWS Pyros | Officials had no appointed changing area. This meant changing beside the players before leaving with belongings to allow players to change. Gordon Galloway #7 | 6th February 2022 v Glasgow University Tigers |
York Centurions | Game did not go ahead due to the ground staff saying the pitch was waterlogged. This was emailed to the Referee after the crew had set off, this was not seen until the Referee had arrived at the venue and the rest of the crew were in transit. Chris Jarvis #10 | 13th February 2022 v Edinburgh Predators |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: Team A, 4th and 10 at the B-45. A1’s punt is above the Team B goal line and is batted back into the field of play by Team A. B32 picks up the loose ball at the B-3 where A55 tackles him by the facemask.v
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Last week | Play: 3rd & 10 at Team A's 4-yard line. A25 carries the ball to Team A's 2-yard line and fumbles the ball which is recovered by B13 at Team A's 6-yard line. B13 then fumbles the ball at Team A's 3-yard line and the ball rolls into Team A's end zone and across Team A's end line. When will the game clock next start?
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: Upon arrival at the ground, the officials note that there are only goal posts at one end of the field. How should the game proceed?
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Last week | Game Situation: 1st and 10 on the A40. Quarterback A3 throws a legal forward pass to A88 on the B-45. A88 rises to catch the ball and falls to the ground holding the ball. On a 4 man crew, the only official with a view of the catch is the Linejudge. As A88 comes to the ground the Linejudge can see that the player has possession of the ball until he hits the ground. The ball then disappears from the Linejudge's view as A88 contacts the ground heavily. A88 then gets up and is holding the ball. Ruling? Answer: Although officials must make use of positive knowledge, there will always be situations when there is doubt over a call. If there is doubt over whether the ball touched the ground during a catch, then the ball is ruled to have not touched the ground (M6.1.2) In this case the Linejudge should seek input from the other officials, though if all their views are blocked must make use of 'in doubt' principles. Since all the conditions of a legal catch have been met in this instance, the Linejudge should award the catch. A's ball, 1st and 10 on the B45. This situation highlights the importance of the Umpire and wing officials all having a view on a catch on a 4 man crew. |
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. |
