NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

New this week

Cadan Brown

50

Cornwall Monarchs

TUF

3

With 1:45 remaining in the third quarter, after the play was over, #50 struck his opponent on the ground for which he received his first USC penalty. After seeing the penalty markers, he swore at the nearby officials, for which he received his second USC penalty.

30th July 2023 v Hereford Stampede

Jude Colvin

41

Edinburgh Napier Knights (U19)

TUF

2

The player received his first UC penalty in the first half of the second game by throwing his helmet to the ground on the field. He received his second UC in the second half of the same game for throwing the ball at an opponents head.

2nd July 2023 v Manchester Titans

Jake Yallop

54

Ipswich Cardinals

TUF

3

With 8:03 remaining in the third quarter, the player committed a UC foul. When returning to the sideline the player turned around to face the opposition bench and gave a clear and obvious rude gesture. When approached by an official the player commented that the gesture was "very much required". As significant time had passed since his first UC this was deemed as a second act.

23rd July 2023 v Sussex Thunder

Previous weeks

James Spindler

10

Chester Romas (U16)

FUC

1

This was an U16 tournament and the foul occurred with approximately 1:00 minute remaining in the first half. #10, having recovered a loose ball, got to his feet and was mistaken that the referee had awarded the ball to his opponent. He then loudly called the referee an insulating name (f**k you you c**t) before heading to his sideline where he loudly repeated his profanity drawing a second flag from the field judge.

First Game of 1st July Tournament

Joel Ohoue

93

Kent Exiles (U19)

FUC

3

With 6:13 remaining in the third quarter, #93 was observed pulling an opposing player to the ground from behind, after the play was concluded. With the player sat on the ground #93 proceeded to kick the player in the back

2nd July 2023 v London Warriors

Olumide (Moses) Adekoya

5

London Olympians

FUC

4

During a dead ball interval, while stood in close proximity, #5 repeated the phrase "That's it ref, after the game you've done for" four times, which was considered to be threatening the safety of an official.

2nd July 2023 v Norwich Devils

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

New this week

Birmingham Lions (NWFL)

Both head coaches agreed, prior to kick off, to shorten all four quarters to ten minutes. This was due to a misunderstanding between the teams in regards to the kickoff time - leaving insufficient time on the pitch booking for 12 minute quarters. Field markings were black on green artificial turf and difficult to see in many areas. Changing room provided was not sufficient in size for four officials to change and pre-game.

Emma Payne #236

Unknown

Edinburgh Napier Knights (U16)

Medical room given as changing room.

Michael Prentice #393

23rd July 2023 v Chorley Buccaneers

Hertfordshire Cheetahs

There were multiple changes of officials assistants during the game.

Peter Parsons #321

23rd July 2023 v South Wales Warriors

Highland Stags

One ball person found to be under 14 prior to match, game management swiftly replaced them.

Kenneth Glover #71

2nd July 2023 v Glasgow Tigers

Humber Warhawks

100 yard field with rugby posts, ten yard end zones. No nine-yard marks and field markings were very basic with only the central and outer short-yard line extension, which were very faint. The crew were provided with a lockable changing room, which was more than big enough for crew of four. Humber have said they are looking at a new venue, so may improve in the future. Otherwise an extremely well mannered game.

Dan Chandler #250

30th July 2023 v DC Presidents

Ipswich Cardinals

Before kick off, two divots had to be filled by game management. Changing rooms are not lockable with no private facilities.

Lee Wood #517

6th August 2023 v Colchester Gladiators

Leigh Miners

80 yard field marked in blue. Team areas marked to the 15-yard lines. Pylons at the hashmarks-extended were only present at one end. Halftime was extended due to lightning. One ball person was changed during the game.

Paul Todd #289

Unknown

London Blitz B

Since the last visit to Finsbury Park, the Blitz have done some work improving the facility. The hash marks were now in the correct place however, some of the yard-line extensions did not correlate with the sideline markings. The long grass out of bounds has been removed, divots and holes on the field have been filled in. There was an extra marking on the home time sideline for the coaches box which was three yards from the sideline. The three-yard marks at both ends of the field were at the two-yard line. The changing room provided was the gym equipment store and the crew were provided with a padlock and key to safely store bags.

Richard Moger #472

16th July 2023 v Essex Spartans

London Hornets

The inbounds markings were of variable width and not lined up with each other down the length of the field. They were also shifted relative to the goal posts, so one side was very close to a post and the other side was a long way out from it's post. Team area lines were marked too close to the sidelines. One crossbar was dented in the middle so it dipped slightly. A number of divots were filled with sand on the field to address potential trip hazards. Down box operator was changed at half time.

Andrew Murrell #608

2nd July 2023 v London Blitz B

London Warriors (NWFL)

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.

Andrew Murrell #608

Unknown

Portsmouth Destroyers

90 yard field. The officials have large changing room but it is not lockable, so belongings had to be kept in the car.

Viktor Janvari #63

Unknown

Sandwell Steelers

90 yard field marked black on green. Changing rooms lockable throughout game. Home club provided commentator for supporters.

Krister Halvorsen #77

23rd July 2023 v Northants Knights

Sheffield Giants (U16)

Officials had to change quickly and vacate the room so teams could change there. At the conclusion of the tournament two soccer teams were also using the room so the officials changed by their cars. The pitch markings were faint after not being re-marked, but they were just about visible once pylons and cones were added.

David Hewitt #607

Unknown

South Wales Warriors

The official's changing room was dusty and not lockable.

Amir Brooks #593

2nd July 2023 v Bristol Apache

Staffordshire Surge

Small changing rooms, not locked. Onsite overflow parking available but a long walk to club house.

Andrew Lovell #559

16th July 2023 v Leigh Miners

Wakefield District Raiders

Changing room half full of paint cans, so moved to a team changing room once vacated.

Joel Pearson #405

Unknown

Yorkshire Rams

Team areas were incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers.

David Hewitt #607

23rd July 2023 v Lancashire Wolverines

Outstanding items from previous weeks

Birmingham Bulls

90 yard field marked in red, but with hash marks in white. The length of yards was inconsistent in places.

Paul Todd #289

23rd July 2023 v Nottingham Caesars

Cambridgeshire Cats

Lines faint but visible. Game suspended for 58 minutes due to lightning.

Brian Yates #29

16th July 2023 v Bristol Aztecs

Clyde Valley Blackhawks

Game was delayed in kicking off as officials were travelling from first game of the doubleheader.

Kenneth Glover #71

6th August 2023 v Highland Stags

Crewe Railroaders

Both male and female changing rooms were small, and used as storage rooms. Game suspended with one minute left in second quarter as the medical team were fully occupied dealing with seriously ill Crewe squad member. Game resumed with agreement of both head coaches at start of second half. Game subsequently ended with score 38-0 and running clock, after another player was seriously injured, and a very long wait for medical treatment.

Andrew Lovell #559

2nd July 2023 v Leigh Miners

East Kent Mavericks

90 yard artificial field - all American Football markings recently repainted in blue, with Rugby markings in red, and other sport in yellow and white. Both goal lines are blue immediately followed with the red rugby line, midfield is blue with immediate white soccer line. Mavericks had provided numerous bottles of cold water in the officials changing room. Half time was extended to 25 minutes at request of both teams and all other breaks in the game [injury/timeouts/change of quarter] were slightly extended to allow both players and officials to take on fluids.

Phil Clarke #262

16th July 2023 v Sussex Thunder

East Kilbride Pirates

Field well marked but in blue and there were several sandy areas in the middle of the field.

Ian Sneddon #427

16th July 2023 v Manchester Titans

East Kilbride Pirates (U19)

Manchester arrived with 18 kitted 'players' but #1 worked the camera in the first half and sat on the sideline for the second half. It appeared that the team made the minimum number of players by kitting up someone who had no intention to play.

Ian Sneddon #427

16th July 2023 v Chorley Buccaneers

Edinburgh Napier Knights (U19)

Field markings were in blue and faint. Team areas marked with cones to the 25-yard lines but moved prior to kickoff.

Gordon Galloway #7

23rd July 2023 v Chorley Buccaneers

Edinburgh Wolves

Coaching boxes were set out with cones. Field markings were blue in colour but were a bit faded.

Gordon Galloway #7

13th August 2023 v East Kilbride Pirates

Glasgow Tigers

Team areas marked with cones and some of the lines were not at correct distances.

Kenneth Glover #71

30th July 2023 v Clyde Valley Blackhawks

Kent Exiles

90 yard field. No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines. Changing rooms not lockable.

Peter Parsons #321

2nd July 2023 v London Blitz

Kent Exiles (U19)

Play suspended for 18 mins in the fourth quarter with 08:30 remaining, due to Solent player having broken leg. 90 yard field. No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines. Changing rooms good size but not lockable.

Graham Smith #149

2nd July 2023 v London Warriors

Lancashire Wolverines

80 yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No team areas marked out but both teams kept to their required areas very well.

David Hewitt #607

30th July 2023 v Yorkshire Rams

Leeds Chargers (NWFL)

Field well marked, only thing to note was that the nine-yard marks were missing. This was the first game in a double header. A high scoring game meant it was longer then anticipated and had a knock on effect for the second game with the medic needing to leave at about 18:00.

Richard McEwen #206

22nd July 2023 v Edinburgh Wolves

Leicester Panthers

The dedicated officials’ changing room is small, but the crew were able to use one of the main changing rooms once the teams were on the field. Field marked in yellow and somewhat faint but usable. No team areas.

Jed Brookes-Lewis #395

2nd July 2023 v East Kilbride Pirates

London Blitz

100 yard field with markings in white and yellow. Most markings were too thin and very faint - worsened by the prior fixture in the double header.. The goal line at the Bowles end had been marked twice. Both sets of hash marks in the middle of the field were marked at uneven depth with one set mostly too wide and the other mostly too narrow. The short yard-line extensions were also not evenly spaced. The coaching box and team areas were marked with cones. There were no limit lines. The field was very dry and hard, with many barren dusty craters. There was one brief change of ball person. With 11:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, the resumption of play was delayed for approximately 5 minutes to treat a head injury to a London Blitz Player. There was no allocated changing room suitable for seven officials so the meeting room was commandeered and equipment was locked in the office.

James Ford-Bannister #479

13th August 2023 v Solent Thrashers

London Blitz (U19)

Some lines needed painting, which was done before kick off. Officials changing room was dirty with no private facilities. Game day persons provided very late and changed multiple times. Field surface was ok, but grass uneven in length - last 20 yard of the field was significantly longer than rest and large bald patches. Short yard line extension were marked differently on each side of the field.

Lee Wood #517

16th July 2023 v Solent Seahawks

London Hornets

90 yard field and long grass. Three-yard marks were marked at the two-yard lines.

Dean Wright #553

25th June 2023 v Wembley Stallions

London Olympians

90 yard artificial field with blue American Football markings.

Viktor Janvari #63

30th July 2023 v London Hornets

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.

Game was delayed starting by twenty minutes due to the over-running prior game, that had started late due to issues at the venue. Stakes at both ends of the chains are obviously bent.

James Ford-Bannister #479

16th July 2023 v London Blitz

Manchester Titans

80 yard field. Team areas incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Several other sports markings were present across the field and were in close proximity to the endzones.

David Hewitt #607

2nd July 2023 v Edinburgh Wolves

Manchester Titans (U19)

80 yard field. Team areas incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Several other sports markings were present across the field and were in close proximity to the endzones. The HC of Manchester noted that East Kilbride pirates #45, Georgie Pickford, had played 24 hours earlier in a women's game. He questioned whether she was allowed to play again only 24 hours later and wanted this fact recorded in the incident report.

David Hewitt #607

2nd July 2023 v Edinburgh Napier Knights

Merseyside Nighthawks

Field marked in yellow but very clear. Team areas marked between 25-yard lines with no coaching box line.

Jed Brookes-Lewis #395

2nd July 2023 v Tamworth Phoenix

Northants Knights

Away team supplied match balls as home team had new match balls that were yet to be treated.

Joel Pearson #405

2nd July 2023 v Sandwell Steelers

Northumberland VIkings

After the halftime interval, both team's Head coaches jointly informed the crew they were aware they would have to abandon the game with the score at 50-0, as Darlington had sustained injuries to several linemen and did not have suitable healthy players to fill these roles safely.

Ali May #42

6th August 2023 v Yorkshire Rams

Nottingham Caesars

Coaches boxes marked too close to sideline.

Joel Pearson #405

16th July 2023 v Chester Romans

Norwich Devils

Chain had to be repaired twice during the game.

Brian Yates #29

2nd July 2023 v London Olympians

Ouse Valley Eagles

Both teams were wearing dark coloured jerseys (Black and Dark Blue). However, as they had noticeably different coloured numbers combined with being different coloured dark jerseys, it was decided that they were suitably distinguishable for the game to proceed.

Andrew Murrell #608

30th July 2023 v Portsmouth Dreadnoughts

Rushmoor Knights

There are white running track lines which run onto the field but as the field is marked in blue it is manageable.

Keith Wickham #423

2nd July 2023 v Bournemouth Bobcats

Sandwell Steelers

Field marked in black and quite faint.

Jed Brookes-Lewis #395

25th June 2023 v Birmingham Bulls

Scunthorpe Alphas

90 yard grass field with seven-yard end zones.

Robin Boyd #191

16th July 2023 v Northumberland Vikings

Sheffield Giants

Field marked in black but visibility was good. No team areas. One game ball was lost after being kicked into a dense wooded area on a try.

Jed Brookes-Lewis #395

2nd July 2023 v Birmingham Bulls

Shropshire Revolution

Field lines in white, which is the same colour as athletics field markings. Brief stoppage to fill in divot left by shot-put remnants. Water breaks taken at a couple of opportunities due to heat.

Krister Halvorsen #77

30th July 2023 v Crewe Railroaders

Solent Seahawks (U19)

Coaching boxes and team areas marked to the 25-yard lines. The crossbar and uprights of the goal posts overhang the end zone by one yard.

Andrew Murrell #608

23rd July 2023 v Ipswich Cardinals

Solent Thrashers

Coaching boxes and team areas marked to the 25-yard lines. The crossbar and uprights of the goal posts overhang the end zone by one yard.

Andrew Murrell #608

23rd July 2023 v Kent Exiles

Somerset Wyverns

100 yard well marked field.

Richard Madge #485

23rd July 2023 v Portsmouth Dreadnoughts

South London Renegades (U19)

Game delayed by eight minutes due to late card checks by both teams. Field adequate but no nine-yard marks. Changing rooms not lockable.

Liam MacDonald #565

16th July 2023 v Kent Exiles

Sussex Thunder

Chains broke multiple times. Double markings in some areas of the field. Changing rooms not lockable and dirty.

Roger Brown #469

23rd July 2023 v Ipswich Cardinals

Tamworth Phoenix

Field markings are in red and very faint. The changing room was not lockable.

Amir Brooks #593

15th July 2023 v Edinburgh Wolves

Torbay Trojans

90-yard field. Some parts of the field were patchy and slightly uneven. One change of ballperson at half time.

Richard Madge #485

16th July 2023 v Somerset Wyverns

Wembley Stallions

WIth 6:52 remaining in the second quarter, the game was suspended for 20 minutes to deal with a serious injury to a player. One of the members of the chain crew changed at half time.

Peter Parsons #321

2nd July 2023 v Essex Spartans

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: 4th & 10 at the B-26. Team A attempt a Field Goal which is successful. During the play defensive lineman B93 grabbed and twisted the facemask of Offensive Lineman A68. There are 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The score is 21-0.

Ruling?

Last week

Play: The Game is being played at a sports field surrounded by a wire mesh fence.

1st and 10 at Midfield. There is movement by the offensive and defensive lines after discussion A69 is penalised for a False Start, in reaction to hearing he has been penalised A69 makes a disparaging remark towards the Umpire, he is penalised for a Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Conduct and disqualified. He leaves the playing field and positions himself outside the wire mesh fence. After benign requested by the officials; game management asks A69 to leave sight of the field.

A69 shouts that he is outside the field of play and can stand where he likes, A69 then makes another disparaging remark towards the officials.

Ruling: 1st and 45 at the B-15. Even after disqualification A69 remains a person subject to the rules. Team A should be penalised for three separate fouls, the False Start (5 Yards), A69’s disqualifying foul (15 yards) and A69’s Unsportsmanlike Act after benign disqualified. A69’s actions should be reported to BAFA for potential further action.

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: Three separate rules refer to "striking" an opponent: how do we decide which foul to call?

Answer next issue…

Last week

Game Situation: The opening kick-off of the game results in a Touchback, on the ensuing play from scrimmage Team A complete a pass for 9 yards. Team A substitute their Wide Receivers to bring in extra Running Backs, Team B make matching Substitutes. The Umpire moves towards the snapper and instructs him not to snap the ball. The Quarterback calls out the cadence and the snapper, snaps the ball.

Answer: As this is a first offence suit the play down and issue Team A with a warning, for any subsequent instances by the same team, they should be penalised for Delay of Game (M3.4.1.e).

Date

Event

Contact for details

2023

22nd July 2023

Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

11th November 2023

Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

2024

6th April (Sat) 2024

BAFRA Ltd. AGM

secretary@bafra.info

6th-7th April (Sat-Sun) 2024

BAFRA Convention

secretary@bafra.info

BAFRA Directors

President

David Parsons

president@bafra.info

General Secretary

Richard Moger

secretary@bafra.info

Finance

Stuart Tabberer

finance@bafra.info

Operations

Oliver Maskell

operations@bafra.info

Recruitment

Susannah Taylor

recruitment@bafra.info

Training

James Ford-Bannister

training@bafra.info

Director without Portfolio #1

Peter Parsons

dwp1@bafra.info

Director without Portfolio #2

Steve Tonkinson

dwp2@bafra.info

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.