Issue 06/23 15th February 2023
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
BAFRA ANNUAL CONVENTION – SAT 1ST & SUN 2ND APRIL 2023
Update
Please see below for latest registration figures. I have also added some information on our Guest Speaker.
Attendance Update
I am pleased to report that the number of people who have registered to attend this year’s Convention has now reached 70. Once Newsflash has been published I will send out the current list of members who have registered, to members. If you haven’t yet registered, please see below for details.
Guest of Honour/Main Speaker
Celebrated PAC-12 Official Francisco Villar will be the Guest of Honour and main speaker at this year’s Convention. He has been an official for 30 years, starting at high school level, and working through Junior College as an umpire, then on to the Mountain West Conference in 2008, again as umpire. He then worked in CFO West and Big XII until 2012, when he joined PAC-12, working as umpire, until 2020 when he was promoted to referee. During his career he has worked 13 post season bowl games, including the First Responders Bowl in 2022. Francisco also worked as umpire in the inaugural ‘return’ of the USFL, and will work as referee for the 2023 XFL season. He has been a clinician at various officiating camps, clinics, and academies since 2013, and enjoys working with and mentoring football officials who want to improve.
Location
The Convention will be held at Yarnfield Park Training & Conference Centre, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield, Staffordshire, ST15 0NL. Yarnfield Park is a leading Training and Conference centre in the heart of the UK. I would recommend that you look over the facility on their website where you can find details of the location and directions: https://www.yarnfieldpark.com.
Registration
You can now register to attend the Convention at the following link and book accommodation if required: 2023 BAFRA Convention
Administering the registration process and processing payments for accommodation is a time-consuming task given our high attendance figures. As such I would request you register and make your room payments as early as possible.
Accommodation
As mentioned above, we have again negotiated excellent rates for accommodation which are detailed below. The rates indicated are per room, per night and include all discounts and a full breakfast.
If you share with someone it will only cost you £25.00 per night
Remember, to take advantage of the above rates you must book your room via
Payment
Payment for Convention rooms are due by 12th March. Payment can be made either electronically or by cheque.
Cheques should be for the full amount, made payable to BAFRA Ltd and sent to:
Stuart Tabberer
30 Clover Ground
Bristol
BS9 4UH
If paying electronically, please ensure your payment reference is your full name and BAFRA number e.g., “Stuart Tabberer 348”:
Account Number: 10255350
Sort Code: 16-16-11
Bank Account Name: BAFRA LTD
It is appreciated that some people may wish to spread the cost and make multiple payments over the weeks leading up to 12th March. Please use the same instructions as above. If you wish to make multiple payments, then you must make the payments electronically and not by cheque.
Unfortunately, payment for the Convention cannot be taken from Game Fees. The administration work involved is far too time consuming and does not fit well with our electronic process of paying Games Fees by direct transfer to your bank account.
Friday Night
Most members who attend the convention arrive on a Friday night to save an early rise and travel on the Saturday morning. As such the above rates are available for both the Friday and Saturday nights. I would recommend booking your room as early as possible.
Finally
If you have any questions or queries around the convention, please drop an email to convention@bafra.info and we will get back to you as soon as possible
Ian Sneddon – Convention Delivery Team
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BAFRA LTD
The Annual General Meeting of BAFRA Limited will be held during the Convention at 5pm on Saturday 1st April 2023. It is open to all members. A full agenda will be circulated to members nearer the time.
Part of the AGM is to decide on the BAFRA Charity for 2023. Any BAFRA member can nominate a charity, if you wish to do so, please email me with your nomination.
In addition, the election of directors for the Company will take place at the AGM. Four posts are due for election this year:
In the case of three of the posts, Director of Finance, Recruitment and Director without Portfolio #2 the present incumbent has indicated that they will be seeking re-election.
As of 11pm on Tuesday 14th February the following nominations for these posts have been received:
Director of Finance
Director of Operations
Ollie Maskell #221 – Proposed by Roger Goodgroves #602 Seconded by Henry Richardson #25
Director of Recruitment
Director without Portfolio #2
I will provide a further list next week.
These positions are open to all qualified members and nomination forms have been circulated to all qualified members. If you have not received this please contact me.
The Directors encourage all qualified members to consider applying for one of the above four positions. If you are considering standing and would like more information about what is involved, please contact me or, if you prefer, another director for more details.
Richard Moger – General Secretary
QUALIFIED - RYAN MASTERSON
Congratulations to Ryan Masterson on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Frank Thomson and all those who are helping with Ryan’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
QUALIFIED - ABE DAY
Congratulations to Abe Day on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Ollie Maskell and all those who are helping with Abe’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
QUALIFIED - SIMON DOBINSON
Congratulations to Simon Dobinson on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Susannah Taylor and all those who are helping with Simon’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
QUALIFIED - NORVAL SCOTT
Congratulations to Norval Scott on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Ollie Maskell and all those who are helping with Norval’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Hugo Lloyd-Williams | 61 | Cambridge Pythons | TGT | 3 | With 3:56 remaining in the third quarter #61 led with the crown of his helmet against an opposition ball carrier hitting him forcibly to the head. | Unknown *Mr Lloyd-Williams is due to serve his suspension in the next game he is registered to play in. This is either the next regular season game for the Cambridge Pythons or the first regular season game of a Senior/Junior team if he registers for a Senior/Junior team. | |
Amat Hamby | 15 | City Wolfpack | FUC | 4 | During the fourth quarter, after a try down, #15 was heard (by two officials) using language loudly towards an opposing player which was derogatory. | Unknown *Mr Hamby is due to serve his suspension in the next game he is registered to play in. This is either the next regular season game for the City Wolfpack or the first regular season game of a Senior/Junior team if he registers for a Senior/Junior team | |
Feranmi Okunlola | 14 | SGS Pride | TUF | 2 | Player committed two UC fouls. The first was for taunting an opponent after he had successfully tackled him. The second was for directing foul and abusive language towards an opponent. | 26th February 2023 v Durham Saints | |
Jax Crawford | 7 | UWE Bullets | FGT | 4 | After a play finished at the SGS sideline, a group of SGS and UWE players converged, some trying to help separate, and some joining in by grabbing opposing players' shirts. #7 was observed swinging his fist at a player who had hold of his shirt. | 26th February 2023 v Newcastle Raiders and next competitive game thereafter | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Thomas Harburn | 1 | Northumbria Mustangs | TUF | 4 | Player received his first UC forcibly removing a player from a pile during the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, after disagreeing with a call despite being explained to him by the calling official, ran across the field shouting obscenities The player then continued swearing about the officials after leaving the field. | 23th February 2023 v Leeds Gryphons | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Bath Killer Bees | Changing room is adequately sized for a crew of four/five and has its own toilet and showers, but is not lockable. Field is generally well marked out but there weren't any team areas on either side. Amir Brooks #593 Team areas painted too short and too far away from sideline. Changing room not lockable. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 26th February 2023 v Solent Redhawks |
Birmingham Lions | 90-yard field marked in very faded and hard to see black lines, especially under floodlights. No marked coaching or team areas. No limit lines. No numbers or nine-yard marks. Changing room not lockable and shared with officials from other sports. There were two changes of ball person on the home sideline in short succession. Peter Parsons #321 | Unknown |
Brunel Burners | Changing facilities are in the main Brunel Sports Park building, they are shared with officials from other sports so, whilst lockable, are not wholly secure. The field is a good ten minute walk away on a different road to where the University buildings are and isn't signposted. Field is slightly too wide, has no numbers or nine yard markings, and the inbounds hash marks are too wide. With 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, a player suffered a head injury that required an ambulance to be called. By mutual agreement of both head coaches the time remaining was adjusted to zero. Phil Clarke #262 | Unknown |
Chichester Spitfires | Several markings were missing on the field. Field was uneven. Game was suspended at half time when one team determined they didn't have enough players to continue. Both teams agreed to reduce the lengths of the third and fourth quarters to zero minutes. The game was completed with the score 34-0 to Brighton. Dean Wright #553 | Unknown |
City Wolfpack | 90-yard field with other sports markings. Changing rooms not lockable and shared with the gym. During the fourth quarter the game was suspended for 17 minutes to deal with an injured player. Lee Wood #517 | Unknown |
DMU Lions | No team areas or coaching boxes marked but used Rugby markings to approximate these. One ball supplied was too flat and had to be inflated. Officials assistants not provided until kick off time. DMU were charged with a game admin delay penalty as the game kicked off approx ten minutes late. After the coin toss, and as we were about to get ready to kick off, the DMU head coach stated "what about the card check?" and it was noted that this should have happened at least 15 minutes earlier. Brian Yates #29 | Unknown |
Edinburgh Predators | Team areas marked out with cones at 20-yard lines but missing for coaches area. Shawn Sombati #15 | Unknown |
Essex Blades | 90-yard field well marked, however blue lines under temporary floodlights were difficult to see in places. Changing rooms were not lockable. Graham Smith #149 | 26th February 2023 v Brunel Burners |
Heriot-Watt Wolverines | Team area lines missing. Cones used to mark out approximate area. Shawn Sombati #15 | 26th February 2023 v York Centurions |
Leeds Gryphons | 80-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Team areas were missing but marked out with cones.Other sports markings were present in close proximity to the endzone. David Hewitt #607 | 26th February 2023 v Edinburgh Predators |
Leicester Longhorns | NF-width hash marks. Coaches' boxes marked with cones. Pete Thom #200 | 26th February 2023 v Derby Braves |
Manchester Tyrants | No team areas, so they were marked with cones. No numbers Otherwise, a well marked out 100-yard field. Game suspended with 0:01 remaining in the fourth quarter for approximately five minutes as the floodlights were turned off. The lights returned and the final play was completed. John Roberts #145 | Unknown |
Newcastle Raiders | No limit lines, team areas, or coaching box marked. No numbers or nine-yard marks. Henry Richardson #25 | Unknown |
OBU Panthers | Played at Oxford Harlequins RFC. Field marked as 100-yards with five-yard end zones, so goal lines moved to five-yard lines and field length shortened to 90-yards. Field markings in white with other sport markings in blue. Field too wide and inbounds lines at incorrect depth. No team area markings, limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Kick-off delayed by 27 minutes due to late arrival of medical cover. Changing room not available prior to game so crew changed and conducted pre-game in bar area. Tim Ockendon #481 | Unknown |
Plymouth Blitz | 90-yard field. Markings were faint. Three-yard marks were crosses instead of a line. Very wobbly lines in some places. Plymouth played in dark blue and Gloucester in light blue. Richard Madge #485 | Unknown |
QMBL Vipers | Well marked 90-yard field in blue with other sport markings in white. No limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks and inbounds lines at incorrect depth. Home sideline team areas were marked with cones. No team area markings on visiting sideline. Good size lockable changing room but no private shower or toilet. Kickoff delayed by 58 minutes due to the late arrival of the designated medical person. Tim Ockendon #481 | Unknown |
Sheffield Hallam Warriors | The field is marked in red but has been recently redone, meaning the markings are fairly visible. There were white field markings closer than four feet to an end zone line. There were no team areas marked. Two changing rooms were provided each with space for only two persons, neither were lockable. With 9:50 remaining in the second quarter, the game was delayed for 40 minutes due to a serious injury to a Sheffield Sabres player. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 26th February 2023 v LJMU Fury |
Southampton Stags | Field missing team and coaching areas due to the restrictions of the cage. The game was suspended twice in the third quarter for a total of 30 minutes due to injuries. Oliver Maskell #221 | Unknown |
Sussex Saxons | 90-yard artificial field. Viktor Janvari #63 | Unknown |
Swansea Titans | Chain crew provided by the home team had an excellent performance Julian Mallia #336 | Unknown |
Warwick Wolves | No three-yard try mark. Brian Yates #29 | Unknown |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Leicester Longhorns | NFL-width hash marks and coaches’ boxes marked by cones. Game kicked off 30 minutes after advertised time due to a misunderstanding between teams about agreed kickoff time. Joel Pearson #405 | 23th February 2023 v Derby Braves |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: Late in the game, Team A are trailing by 4 points and they attempt an onside kick. The ball is kicked into the ground and rolls forward 9 yards to the A-44. A56 blocks B90 above the waist, from the front at the A-46 before the untouched ball is fallen on and recovered by A71 at the A-44 yard line.
|
Last week | Play: 4th & 3 at the B-43 yard line. There are 33 seconds remaining in the game, Team B have one timeout remaining. The game is being played with a Video Judge. Team A attempts a forward pass which is ruled complete at the B-39 yard line, with the ball carrier being tackled inbounds. The Team B Head Coach takes a timeout and requests that the play be reviewed as he believes the pass was incomplete. After review the Video Judge determines that the pass was not caught and should have been ruled incomplete, however he observes that Team B had 12 players on the field during the down. Ruling?
While undertaking a review of a particular aspect of a play, it is perfectly acceptable for other aspects to come under consideration. A review can consider any aspect of the play for which the game was stopped (M24.5.10). As the on-field ruling has been changed, Team B is not charged with a timeout and Team B’s Head Coach retains his privilege to request a review. (12-2-1-b-1) |
MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: Prior to the game, when visiting the home team Head Coach they inform the Referee and Umpire that if their team are to kick-off at the start of the game they will be attempting an onside kick. At the Coin toss the visiting team wins and elects to receive; should the crew move to onside kick positions?
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Last week | Game Situation: Team A, 4th and 30 at Midfield. Team A line up with two receivers on either side of the formation. Team B line up with 3 defensive linemen, all other defensive players are lined up near the line to gain. On a 7 man crew which official will key on the widest player on the press-box side of the formation at the snap? Answer: No Official should. The immediate action after the snap is phase A of pass play coverage as there is no likelihood of physical contact between the receiver and a defender, there is no need to key on the widest player in the formation. (M16.2.1) Once it is clear as to which area each receiver is running the officials should be in phase B of plass play coverage during which they cover receivers in their zone. (M16.2.2). |
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. |
