Issue 16/23 26th April 2023
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
QUALIFIED – JOHN WALKER
Congratulations to John Walker on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Paul Todd and all those who are helping with John’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
QUALIFIED – NIC BEVAN
Congratulations to Nic Bevan on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Jason Mead and all those who are helping with Nic’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
2023 RULE BOOKS/MECHANICS MANUALS
Further to my piece last week, I have sent out all the Rule Books/Mechanics Manuals to those members who requested one. If you have not received your copy yet, please let me know.
Richard Moger – General Secretary
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Gamuchirai Mukeredzi | 1 | Aberdeen Roughnecks | TGD | 2 | With 11:40 remaining in the second quarter, #1 made forcible contact to head & neck area to defenceless receiver. | 30th April 2023 v Highland Stags | |
Sam Illsley | 9 | Cornwall Monarchs | TGC | 4 | With 1:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, #9 led with crown of his helmet against a Portsmouth player. | 7th May 2023 v Hereford Stampede | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Gareth Thomas | 8 | South Wales Warriors | FGT | 1 | With 10:00 remaining in the first quarter, #8 was seen to throw a punch at an opponent during the act of tackling. The officials agreed that they did not see the act as an attempt to dislodge the ball and it was intentionally at the opponent's body. | 30th April 2023 v Bournemouth Bobcats | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Aberdeen Roughnecks | Lines faint due to tall grass. Shawn Sombati #15 | 30th April 2023 v Highland Stags |
Birmingham Lions (NWFL) | The field was marked as a 100 yard field initially without endzones. In order to fit the field between the goal posts, and allow for 10 yard endzones, it had to be reduced to a 90 yards with some short yard-line extensions extending into the endzones. The end line was in a different colour (white) to the rest of the markings (yellow). Emma Payne #236 | Unknown |
Cambridgeshire Cats | We were informed that the groundsman had not repainted the lines. Consequently, whilst the field makings were adequate, they were faint in some places. No difficulties were caused during the game. William Marriage #293 | 30th April 2023 v Solent Thrashers |
Cornwall Monarchs | 80 yard field. No nine-yard markings. Richard Madge #485 | 30th July 2023 v Hereford Stampede |
Edinburgh Napier Knights | Team and Coaches areas marked out with cones. Shawn Sombati #15 | Unknown |
Highland Stags | No limit lines. Henry Richardson #25 | 4th June 2023 v Inverclyde Goliaths |
Leigh Miners | 80 yard field. Team areas extend to the 15-yard lines. Goalposts at one end are slightly offset from the endline. Otherwise, well marked. Paul Todd #289 | 25th June 2023 v Shropshire Revolution |
London Blitz | 100 yard grass field marked in white. Numbers and team areas too small and coaching line and team area line on one side of the field were too close. Several main yard lines were not straight and short yard line extensions at the hash marks were not always one yard apart. Despite extensive repairs following the previous week's games, the field surface was uneven in places and deteriorated as the game progressed but never became hazardous. Good size changing room with lockable side room but no private shower or toilet. Tim Ockendon #481 | 14th May 2023 v Bristol Aztecs |
Merseyside Nighthawks | 90 yard field marked in yellow. There were a second set of short yard extensions on one side of the field at approximately NFHS width. There were a number of other sports markings in similar colour to the Football Markings. There were no numbers or nine-yard marks. Team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines and there were no Coaching Lines. Two changing rooms were provided for the officials, however they were only big enough for two people at a time so pre game was held in the adjacent closed bar area. Lee Taylor #183 | 14th May 2023 v Leicester Panthers |
Northumberland Vikings | Team/coaching areas were marked to the 25-yard lines. Ian Sneddon #427 | 18th June 2023 v Darlington Steam |
Peterborough Royals (NWFL) | Home team only supplied one leather game ball, a second was sourced from the away team. Joel Pearson #405 | Unknown |
Rushmoor Knights | Field painted with very thin blue lines, with a faint white running track cutting through the field in several places. Team areas were too close to the sideline and lines were not straight. The field was uneven in places and some trip hazards were filled in before the game. Chains were about a foot too short but were fixed prior to kickoff. One of the officials assistants was changed at half time. Changing rooms are not lockable and a long walk from the field. Rushmoor Knights are hopeful to be playing at a new venue for their next home game. Oliver Maskell #221 | 4th June 2023 v Oxford Saints |
Scunthorpe Alphas | Very well marked 90 yard field. Team areas incorrectly marked out between the 23-yard lines. All three game balls needed adjusting prior to kick off but otherwise another great effort from Scunthorpe. David Hewitt #607 | 28th May 2023 v Lancashire Wolverines |
Scunthorpe Alphas (U16) | Well marked field, correctly sized. Field contained no mark at the two-yard line, and an unneeded mark at the 12-yard line. Robin Boyd #191 | Unknown |
Somerset Wyverns | Changing rooms rather small particularly for a crew of five. Julian Mallia #336 | 18th June 2023 v Cornwall Monarchs |
Sussex Thunder | Game was suspended due to weather (Lightning) at 16:50. Extremely heavy rain and hail fell for 20 minutes. Upon returning to the field for an inspection several large areas of standing water were observed. With light rain continuing to fall, efforts to improve the surface were unsuccessful. The Referee deemed the waterlogged surface to be hazardous, and the game was abandoned with 15 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter at 17:30. The score was Sussex 8 - Colchester 20 at the time of the abandonment. Changing room was small, dirty and damp. Chain set broke twice and the down indicator broke once. Dean Wright #553 | 28th May 2023 v East Kent Mavericks |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Bournemouth Bobcats | Changing rooms dirty, poorly lit, and not secure to keep possessions. The field surface at Slades Farm is very uneven and several holes had to be filled in before the game. Oliver Maskell #221 | 30th April 2023 v South Wales Warriors |
DC Presidents | No three-yard lines and NFL-width hash marks. Player and coaches boxes for both sidelines were marked with cones. Game balls were fresh out of their bags and hence all three required inflation. Changing room was snug for a crew of four, larger crews may need to request a different room. The away team ended up supplying two officials assistants. Ali May #42 | 7th May 203 v Humber Warhawks |
Dunfermline Kings | Team areas marked to 25-yard lines. Ian Sneddon #427 | 14th May 2023 v Highland Stags |
Edinburgh Wolves | No team or coaching box marked, cones were used. No limit line. Henry Richardson #25 | 21st May 2023 v Tamworth Phoenix |
Hereford Stampede | Officials are given two changing rooms, both of which are barely big enough for three officials. Hereford's gameday management was excellent, and they provided the officials with isotonic drinks and Jaffa Cakes. Field markings are in blue and appear to be in IFAF yards. Amir Brooks #593 | 7th May 2023 v Ouse Valley Eagles |
London Blitz | Due to heavy rain on previous days, the field surface was very soft in places down the centre of the field. The home team had done a good job of draining surface water which had been there the day before and using sand and soil to even out the surface where needed, and did so again after the first game of the double header. Some of the lines were feint and, due to the soft field surface cutting up, had become increasingly difficult to see in the first game. This became more so as the game went on. The short yard line extensions were not always one yard apart. Coaching boxes and team areas were marked with cones. The chain set was brand new and the box came apart in the middle at one point. The crew was given the big meeting room in which to change and, although it was not lockable, were given a separate, lockable room in which to store bags. Peter Parsons #321 | 14th May 2023 v Bristol Aztecs |
London Warriors | Well marked 90-yard field with eight-yard end zones in blue with other sport markings in yellow, white, and red. No numbers or limit lines and rugby markings approximated for nine-yard marks. Changing rooms not lockable. There was a change in down box operator and ball person at half time. There was an injury delay of approximately eight minutes late in the second quarter. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 30th April 2023 v Kent Exiles |
Northants Knights | With 7:42 remaining in the fourth quarter and a score of 14-8 to the Knights, a Knights player collapsed and required emergency medical treatment. All parties agreed it was no longer appropriate to continue. Joel Pearson #405 | 21st May 2023 v Chester Romans |
Wakefield District Raiders | 80 yard well marked field with ten yard enzones. Grass Rugby pitch was in good condition. Robin Boyd #191 | 28th May 2023 v Humber Warhawks |
Yorkshire Rams | Reasonably well marked field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Team areas were incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines. The chain set broke on three occasions requiring a hold up of the game. All three game balls required adjustment prior to kick off. David Hewitt #607 | 4th June 2023 v Northumberland Vikings |
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 | Oliver Maskell | ||
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. |
