NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

New this week

Alexander Yeats

31

Highland Stags

TUF

3

With 8:12 remaining in the third quarter, #31 committed a second unsportsmanlike conduct foul when vociferously complaining about a no call.

23rd July v Inverclyde Goliaths

Previous weeks

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

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

Oliver Jones

73

Somerset Wyverns

FGT

4

With 13:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, #73 was fought an opponent.

16th July 2023 v Torbay Trojans

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

New this week

Aberdeen Roughnecks

90 yard field. Hole found near endzone but filled before kickoff.

Michael Prentice #393

Unknown

Birmingham Lions Academy (U16)

Well-marked out field on artificial surface. The second and third games had to be moved to the adjacent grass field due to the venue double booking the surface. This was again well-marked out and caused no considerable delay.

Kieran Smith #102

Unknown

Bristol Aztecs

Chain crew made available to officials less than ten minutes before kick off time.

Euan Paterson #165

23rd July 2023 v London Blitz

Chester Romans

No three-yard marks. Changing rooms were just big enough for two people and were not lockable - although tea and coffee were provided on arrival.

Krister Halvorsen #77

Unknown

Crewe Railroaders

Excellently marked field. Credit to both teams for a game played in good spirits.

Andrew Lovell #559

23rd July 2023 v Shropshire Revolution

Darlington Steam

100 yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No limit lines. Team areas incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines. All three game balls needed adjusting prior to kick off and were well used.

David Hewitt #607

23rd July 2023 v Halton Spartans

Hertfordshire Cheetahs (NWFL)

During the third game with 8:.29 remaining of the second half, the game was suspended for one hour due to a player injury. During this time a second pitch was made available by using a section of the 11v11 pitch with one sideline marked in cones to finish the game as the player could not be moved and the ambulance was expected up to four hours.

Lee Wood #517

Unknown

Highland Stags

90 yard well marked field.

Kenneth Glover #71

30th July 2023 v Dunfermline Kings

Kent Exiles

90 yard field. At 17:23, Kent Exiles #53 broke a leg. At 17:53, both Head Coaches and the referee agreed to abandon the game. There was 10:29 and running remaining in the fourth quarter.

Ben Gadsby #564

13th August 2023 v Cambridgeshire Cats

Kent Exiles (U19)

90 yard field.

Ben Gadsby #564

Unknown

Leicester Panthers

The Referee had been pre warned both by BAFRA and the home team that, following a road traffic accident, the M6 motorway was blocked at Preston and the East Kilbride Pirates bus was stuck in the resulting jam. The Pirates game day manager and six players had made their own way to the game and asked for the kick off to be delayed unitl the bus arrived, which was agreed to. As time went on, it was clear thet the road would not be reopening anytime soon, and as the bus was still two and a half hours from Leicester with the driver having to take a mandatory 45 minute break the Pirates game day manager conceded that the game was not going ahead as at the earliest opportunity the bus would turn around to head home.

Brian Yates #29

16th July 2023 v Edinburgh Wolves

Lincolnshire Bombers

90 yard grass field with ten yard end zones. No numbers or nine-yard marks. Ground was rock hard.

Robin Boyd #191

6th August 2023 v Shropshire Revolution

London Hornets

Coaching box marked two feet from sideline on both sides of field, players box around 8-9 feet from sideline so we informed both sets of coaches that the second line was their area. Three-yard marking marked at two yards at both ends. Inbounds short yard line extensions were too wide and one crossbar has a downward shape bend in the middle. Game kicked off at 15:00 as the medic was delayed in arriving to the venue. There were two injury suspensions that lasted longer than five minutes, the first was an injury to the game medic as the runner collided with them whilst they were in the team area treating another player and didn't see the oncoming hit. Both teams had a physio so they checked to ensure she was OK to continue and the game was suspended for ten minutes. The second suspension was around 25 minutes to stabilise a player with a suspected neck injury and for the rugby club to provide something suitable to use as a back-board for the medic/physios to safely move the injured player away from the field so the game could resume.

Phil Clarke #262

Unknown

Manchester Titans

Due to vandalism only one set of usable posts were available. With agreement of coaches all drives were directed towards the end with the serviceable posts.

Mike Cavanagh #465

23rd July 2023 v Leicester Panthers

Manchester Titans (U19)

Due to vandalism the previous evening, only one set of usable posts was present. With Agreement of Head Coaches game was declared and officiated as a no post game.

Mike Cavanagh #465

Unknown

Merseyside Nighthawks

90-yard field at a multi-purpose venue with other markings in different colours. Inbounds markings were uneven in length and were marked on both sides of the field. The officials were provided a key to one changing room which was insufficient for the crew, although we had access to a second changing room for the rest of the crew to change.

Peter Roberts #87

Unknown

Northants Knights

Small two person changing room was available but all other facilities where good. Game suspended for 39 minutes for Neck injury in the third quarter with 3:03 remaining.

Martin Cockerill #345

30th July 2023 v Birmingham Bulls

Norwich Devils

An official suffered a concussion half way through the second Quarter so the crew worked as three for the rest of the game. A running clock started with three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Larry Rigby #269

23rd July 2023 v Wembley Stallions

Rushmoor Knights

Well marked 90-yard field in blue with other sport markings in white. No limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Changing room well appointed but not lockable.

Tim Ockendon #481

6th August 2023 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs

Rushmoor Knights (U19)

Well marked 90-yard field in blue with other sport markings in white. No limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Changing room well appointed but not lockable.

Tim Ockendon #481

Unknown

Scunthorpe Alphas (U19)

Well marked out field, including hash marks. One End Zone was very uneven and represented a real danger to health. As a result all drives were in the same direction. Both Scunthorpe and Chester started the tournament with too few players. As a result all games were played as scrimmages.

Robin Boyd #191

Unknown

Sheffield Giants

With 0:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, an injury occurred and it appeared that the medic would occupied for some time with this injured player, and thus unable to attend to any further injury. It was agreed with both head coaches to reduce the remaining time in the quarter to zero minutes.

Paul Todd #289

23rd July 2023 v Chester Romans

South Wales Warriors

The official's changing room is dusty, has no private shower or toilet, and is not lockable.

Amir Brooks #593

Unknown

Wakefield District Raiders

80 yard field but well marked throughout. Access to changing room delayed until 13:15 due to (non) master key. Changing room was lockable and secured.

Mike Cavanagh #465

Unknown

Wembley Stallions

There were multiple stoppages during the game to fix issues with the chain set.

Peter Parsons #321

Unknown

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

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

Hertfordshire Cheetahs

There were multiple changes of officials assistants during the game.

Peter Parsons #321

23rd July 2023 v South Wales Warriors

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

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

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 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 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 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

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

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

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

Scunthorpe Alphas

90 yard grass field with seven-yard end zones.

Robin Boyd #191

16th July 2023 v Northumberland Vikings

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

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

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

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

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: 4th and 1 at the B-40. QB A4 moves from shotgun for mation to under center and barks signals in an unsuccessful attempt to draw Team B offside. With 10 seconds remaining on the play clock, A4 backs away from the center and jogs toward the sideline being very

demonstrative with his arms and waiving to the bench. As A4 approaches the sideline, the ball is snapped directly to back A30 just before the play clock expires and A30 runs to the B-38 where he is tackled in bounds.

Ruling?

Last 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: Either Team A 1st and 10 at the B-26 and the score remains 21-0 or Team A Free Kick from Midfield and the score is 24-0.

Team A have the option of cancelling the score and have the penalty enforced from the previous spot or, as a Facemask Foul is a personal Foul, Team A may accept the score with the penalty enforced on the succeeding kickoff. (10-2-5-d).

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: Near the end of the first half, Team A have the ball it is 1st & Goal at the B-9, there are 18 seconds remaining in the period, Team A are out of timeouts. Team A attempt a pass play and A80 catches the ball at the B-3. The covering official rules that A80 is tackled at the B-½ yard line. The game clock reads 12 seconds remaining in the period when the play ends, Team A are unable to snap the ball before the period expires. The Referee declares the half over.

After reviewing a replay, the Video Judge believes that A-80 may have  scored a Touchdown.

Answer next issue…

Last week

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

Answer: M3.5.7.a

Three rules talk about "striking" an opponent.

• (Personal foul (Rule 9-1-2-a): Normally use this for action that occurs while the ball is live. Unless the action could cause catastrophic injury, don’t regard it as flagrant.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct (Rule 9-2-1-a-1-j): Normally use this for action that occurs in the aftermath of a play.
• Fighting (Rules 2-32-1 and 9-5-1): Normally reserve this for more serious, more severe, more prolonged action. It is unlikely that a single strike constitutes a fight. If in doubt, it is not fighting

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.