Issue 14/22 13th April 2022
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
CONTRASTING JERSEY NUMBERS
Rule 1-4-5-c amended
We had a case last weekend where a team were appropriately penalised under Rule 1-4-5-c: the numbers on their jersey did not contrast with the main colour of their jersey. There has been a rule on this for at least 17 years but it has only just become an issue because the penalty was increased this season. The vast majority of teams have never breached this rule, but there are clearly one or two outliers that we are now discovering.
After discussions at a high level, we have decided to give teams with such jerseys an amnesty for this season. There is no benefit in penalising them for the same problem game after game. The penalty for a breach of Rule 1-4-5-c, therefore, becomes "REPORT", similar to other parts of Rule 1. No yardage penalties or charging timeouts should be applied.
BAFA is looking to set up a process by which teams in future must get their uniform designs approved in advance of the season.
Referees, if you see jerseys that infringe Rule 1-4-5-c, please alert the team to their problem and report it as a game management issue.
Any questions, please let me know.
Dr Jim Briggs - Chair, BAFA Rules Committee
rules@britishamericanfootball.org
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BAFRA LTD
The minutes of the Fifteenth Annual General Meeting of BAFRA can be found in the members’ area of the website here:
https://www.bafra.info/members/minutes/agm2022.pdf
Richard Moger – General Secretary
BAFRA AWARDS
At the BAFRA Convention the Annual Award winners were announced as part of the weekend. It is with great pleasure that I can announce the following:
The 2021 Alan Wilson Award which is awarded to the best up and coming Official in BAFRA was won by Dave Moore.
The 2021 Official of the Year Award was won by James Ford-Bannister.
Please join me in congratulating both the winners of these awards.
Richard Moger – General Secretary
2022 RULE BOOKS
All members should have received there 2022 Rule books by now, if you have not received one, and are expecting one, please contact me as a matter of urgency.
Richard Moger – General Secretary
QUALIFIED - SEAN WELSH
Congratulations to Sean Welsh on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Susannah Taylor and all those who are helping with Sean’s training.
James Ford-Bannister – Director of Training
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Kadeem Crabbe | 14 | London Olympians | TUF | 2 | With 0:11 remaining in the second quarter, #14 engaged in dead ball action, unrelated to game, with an opponent, for which both players were flagged by the Umpire for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. After being taken away by teammates, #14 was seen by the Referee to run some distance to join a pile, again in a manner unrelated to game action, which resulted in a second, unrelated, Unsportsmanlike Conduct flag being thrown by the Referee. | 17th April 2022 v Kent Exiles | |
Nathan Hargreaces | 58 | Torbay Trojans | FGT | 1 | With 5:38 remaining in the first quarter, #58 was witnessed to take a swipe at an opponent and make contact as he was getting up. | 17th April 2022 v Somerset Wyverns | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Luke Greenshields | 22 | Birmingham Bulls | TUF | 3 | After receiving his first UC in the first quarter, with 14:44 remaining in the third quarter, a flag was thrown for an illegal block in the back by #22. After review, the calling official rescinded the flag and, whilst explaining to the player the flag would be waved off, #22 swore at and insulted the official. | 24th April 2022 v Nottingham Caesars | |
Edward Dimuna | 17 | Bournemouth Bobcats | FGT & MIS | 3 | With 1:30 remaining in the third quarter, during a widespread melee, Mr. Dimuna was seen to punch an opponent multiple times. Later on in the game, Mr. Dimuna was asked to leave the facility by game management having loudly shouted abuse at the officials. | 17th April 2022 v Portsmouth Dreadnoughts and 1st May 2022 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs | |
Mark Quinn | 3 | DC Presidents | FPF | 3 | With approximately 9:28 remaining in the third quarter, #3 was seen to deliver a headbutt to an opponent. | 17th April 2022 v Knottingley Raiders | |
Liam Brown | 46 | Dunfermline Kings | TUF & MIS | 4 | Committed a second act of Misconduct by intentionally striking an Official with e Football. | 17th April 2022 v Clyde Valley Blackhawks | |
Sebaya Iyayi | 92 | East Essex Sabres | TGT | 3 | The opposition runner was in the grasp, and therefore defenceless, when number #92 made forcible contact with the runner with the crown of his helmet. | 17th April 2022 v East Kent Mavericks | |
Billy Sheard | 1 | Sheffield Giants U19 | TUF | 4 | With 1:36 left in fourth quarter, #1 was penalised for a first USC foul for dissent & foul language towards the LJ. When walking towards his team area, after the first flag was thrown, he then turned in the direction of the calling official and an opponent making a loud inappropriate comment which resulted in further USC foul being called. | 1st May 2022 v Nottingham Caesars U19 | |
Phil Wright | 84 | Staffordshire Surge | FPF | 3 | With 5:21 remaining in the third quarter, after Leicester had scored a touchdown, #84 charged into the back of a Leicester player then proceeded to confront another Leicester player whom he headbutted. | 1st May 2022 v Leigh Miners | |
Ahmed Mustafa | 70 | Swansea Titans | OTH | - | Failure to Pay Outstanding Fine | 27th April 2022 v Cardiff Cobras | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Chester Romans | Well marked 90-yard field in blue. No coaches or players boxes marked. The 20-yard lines were marked outside the playing area using cones and the teams were generally well disciplined with a couple of reminders from the Referee. The uprights on the posts are attached to soccer goals and are the correct distance apart but, with the netting in place, the Line Judge had to come around the nets to ensure he was seen following any kicks. During the third quarter, the game was suspended for a short time due to the presence of a drone, the pilot was identified as a member of the visiting team and a delay of game penalty was assessed due to this. It should be noted that the visiting teams sideline area is quite narrow to allow for players, coaches, and the chain crew to occupy the same space and Nottingham were excellent in allowing the crews to work in a smaller area Lee Taylor #183 | 24th April 2022 v Shropshire Revolution |
Colchester Gladiators | Changing room is not lockable. Field markings were faint and faded as the game progressed. Andrew Murrell #608 | 24th April 2022 v Ipswich Cardinals |
Derby Braves | Kickoff delayed by 30 minutes due to prior rugby game over-running. Field well marked in black, however nine-yard marks were missing. No teams areas, however, other sports markings could be utilised. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | Unknown |
Gateshead Senators | Well marked but uneven9 0-yard field with team area marked correctly to the 20-yard lines. Goalposts were moveable soccer posts with extensions. Gordon Galloway #7 | 1st May 2022 v DC Presidents |
Humber Warhawks | Well marked 100-yard field with the team areas still marked to the 25-yard lines. Changing room was a single disabled changing room with a toilet and shower. The team's equipment building was available as a second option. Robin Boyd #191 | 22nd May 2022 v Doncaster Mustangs |
Inverclyde Goliaths | Start of the game was delayed by ten minutes whilst the team arranged for suitable gameday medical cover as the original provision did not meet minimum criteria. Team areas marked to 25 rather than 20-yard lines. Kenneth Glover #71 | 17th April 2022 v Lancashire Wolverines |
London Blitz | Field surface was uneven and bumpy in places. Short yard line extensions at the hash marks were unevenly spaced and mostly less than 24” long. No limit lines. Finsbury Park is still closed to parking, so parking in the nearby streets is required. Peter Parsons #321 | 1st May 2022 v London Warriors |
London Blitz B | Field surface was uneven and bumpy in places. Short yard line extensions at the hash marks were unevenly spaced and mostly less than 24” long. No limit lines. Finsbury Park is still closed to parking, so parking in the nearby streets is required. Peter Parsons #321 | 24th April 2022 v London Hornets |
London Warriors | Well marked 90-yard field with eight-yard end zones in blue and other sport markings in red, yellow & white. No numbers and Rugby markings approximated for nine-yard marks. Changing rooms were well appointed but not private and not lockable. One of the stakes securing the chain was in poor condition and this was repaired by the crew prior to kickoff. One ballperson changed at half time. Tim Ockendon #481 | 24th April 2022 v Bristol Aztecs |
Rushmoor Knights | 90-yard field marked in white. The field was marked over an athletics track that is used by the school (where the team plays), which was also marked in white. This made it difficult distinguishing the sideline from the running track. Gameday management stated that they will remark the field markings in a different colour for future home games, but for the game to take place they agreed to put out cones on every 5 yard line to help players and officials distinguish the markings on the field. Changing rooms are found within the school but are not lockable and the toilets are in a different part of the school from the changing rooms. The internal school gates were left open throughout which allowed the crew to leave the field via the direct route rather than having to walk around the school. Richard Moger #472 | 1st May 2022 v Portsmouth Dreadnoughts |
Sandwell Steelers | No immediate access to changing rooms, which were populated by rugby clubs playing in an earlier tournament. Sandwell assured us that this will not happen again. Brian Yates #29 | 15th May 2022 v Edinburgh Wolves |
Shropshire Revolution | Field markings were faint but visible. There were a number of athletics markings on the field, also marked in white, as well as holes that had been repaired with sand. Goalposts overhang the endzone by around a yard and a half. No team areas marked on the away sideline. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 17th April 2022 v Leicester Falcons |
South Wales Warriors | Officials were given the stadium medical suite to change in, which wasn't locked on the day (but has been in the past), and has no private toilet or shower. Chain crew were noticeably slow, although no major errors were made. Ball boys were changed at half time. Amir Brooks #593 | 17th April 2022 v Rushmoor Knights |
Sussex Thunder | Supplied balls had to be inflated to meet the requirements. End lines are too close to the fence and therefore, as usual at this venue, the Soccer goal line was used as the end line. Team areas marked with cones. There has been a recent issue with the markings on this field. However, after discussions earlier in the week with the team, all faint markings had been painted and the response of the home team to this issue should be applauded as the field is now marked to an acceptable standard. Visiting Team's jersey's did not meet the requirements of 1-4-5-c, the process of the penalty enforcement for this was explained to the visiting team Head Coach prior to the game. David Knight #135 | 15th May 2022 v Essex Spartans |
Torbay Trojans | 90-yard field. Nine-yard markings only on one side of the field. Richard Madge #485 | 15th May 2022 v Bristol Apache |
University All Stars | Coaches boxes and team areas marked with cones. Field marked in IFAF yards. Brian Yates #29 | Unknown |
Yorkshire Academy Assassins | There were no nine-yard marks or numbers. There were no Team areas marked. The inbounds lines were of NFL-width not NCAA/IFAF-width. There were no three-yard marks. Ben Griffiths #228 | 29th May 2022 v Sheffield Giants |
Yorkshire Rams | There were no nine-yard marks or numbers. There were no Team areas marked, however, after the preceding junior game, a white line had been drawn approximately 14 to 16 feet from the sideline which both teams used as the Players line in the team area. The inbounds lines were of NFL-width not NCAA/IFAF-width. There were no three-yard marks. Ben Griffiths #228 | 29th May 2022 v Inverclyde Goliaths |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Endzone will return when the BAFRA Exam Period is over.
Date | Event | Contact for details |
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. |
