Issue 43/23 3rd November 2023
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
PROOFREADING & CHECKING THE RULEBOOK
Production is underway for the 2024 edition of the rulebook. Most NCAA changes have been incorporated, the IFAF rule change process is in progress, and the BAFA Rules Committee is about to ponder our national variations. I aim to get the IFAF rulebook out before Christmas, with the BAFA rulebook finished in the New Year.
If you would be willing to proofread and check some sections, please let me know. The more people who volunteer, the less each person needs to do. You don't have to be a rules expert to do this. However, it is a good way to learn the rules at a very detailed level, so even rookie officials would be able to do it. Full instructions are provided.
To volunteer, please email me at rules@britishamericanfootball.org.
Jim Briggs – Chair, BAFA Rules Committee
rules@britishamericanfootball.org
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Ben Coulthard | 38 | City Wolfpack | FPF | 2 | #38 committed a Dead Ball Flagrant Personal Foul against an opponent. | 5th November 2023 v Imperial Immortals | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
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. | 5th November 2023 v Lincoln Colonials | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Bangor Muddogs | Well marked 90 yard field. No team areas. Officials changing rooms were very small. Crew of four split into two rooms. With 9:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, the time remaining was reduced to 0:00 by mutual agreement of both Head coaches due to the number of injuries to the Bangor Squad. Steve Hall #512 | 19th November 2023 v UCLan Rams |
Brighton Panthers | 100 yard artificial field with dark blue football marks. Viktor Janvari #63 | 3rd December 2023 v OBU Panthers |
Brunel Burners | Field was marked with NFL-width hashmarks and the team area areas extended to the 15-yard lines. Otherwise well marked, particularly considering the recent wet conditions. Andrew Murrell #608 | 10th December 2023 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
City Wolfpack | 15 yards of short yard line extensions at the side line and hash marks had to be repainted. Field marked in red paint. Several holes filled before kick off. Changing rooms not lockable. Changing rooms are not in the East London RC but next door in Memorial Field. Graham Smith #149 | 26th November 2023 v Canterbury Christ Church Chargers |
Coventry University Jets | Game played at Warwick's Home Field at Cryfield Pavilion (which is understood to be where Coventry will be playing all home games this year). No three-yard marks. A minutes silence was held before kick off in memory of Richard Prattley, which was impeccably observed by both teams. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 12th November 2023 v NTU Renegades |
Essex Blades | No team area markings. NFL-width hash marks. Alisha Darkins #573 | 19th November 2023 v QMBL Vipers |
Glasgow Tigers | There were no suitable goal posts but both teams agreed to play without them. Ian Sneddon #427 | 12th November 2023 v Edinburgh Napier Knights |
LJMU Fury | Well marked 90 yard field. No team areas. Officials changing rooms were very small. Crew of four split into two rooms. Steve Hall #512 | 5th November 2023 v Manchester Tyrants |
Loughborough Students | Team areas missing but other sports markings were approximately where they should be, so these were used as a guide. Brian Yates #29 | 26th November 2023 v Nottingham Gold |
Manchester Tyrants | 100 yard field marked in dark blue. Numbers & limit lines were present and team areas were marked out with cones. The original medic booked by the home team was not present at kickoff; so an alternate medic was sourced by the home team - who assured us they had the relevant qualifications. At half time, the crew were notified that the alternate medic was in fact not sufficiently qualified and a second alternate medic was sourced which delayed the start of the second half by 30 minutes. Chain crew were very poor and the ball persons were changed three times over the course of the game. Andrew Swift #403 | 12th November 2023 v Leeds Gryphons |
MMU Eagles | On arrival, there was one set of short yard line extensions - located in the centre of the field. The home team were able to obtain paint to rectify this before the scheduled kickoff time. The field is marked as 80 yards in red. Team areas were absent. Paul Todd #289 | 19th November 2023 v LJMU Fury |
NTU Renegades | Thanks to both teams for having a minutes silence in memory of Richard Prattley. On arrival, a 90 yard field with hash marks into end zones that were five yards deep. Field shortened to 80 yards with ten-yard end zones. Changing room very small for crew of five. Andrew Lovell #559 | 5th November 2023 v Warwick Wolves |
QMBL Vipers | Well marked 90-yard field in blue with other sport markings in white. No limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Team areas marked with cones. Good size lockable changing room but no private shower or toilet. Multiple changes of chain crew and ball persons at half time. Tim Ockendon #481 | 10th December 2023 v Kent Falcons |
Southampton Stags | 90 yard field. Hash marks the wrong side of the inbound markings. Oliver Maskell #221 | 5th November vs Exeter Demons |
York Centurions | 100 IFAF-yard field. Ten-yard end zones. No team area markings. Robin Boyd #191 | 12th November 2023 v Bradford Bears |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Cardiff Cobras | Field markings are in yellow and can be quite difficult to see depending on the angle of the sun. The swan-neck goalposts are situated some five yards behind each end line - due to this distance, padding is not required (an exception to rule [1-2-5-e]). The chain set is in a poor state of repair. Amir Brooks #593 | 19th November v UWE Bullets |
Newcastle Raiders | Lines were painted red with other non-football lines in other colours. No coaches or team areas marked out. Changing room shared with officials from another sports game being played. Game was suspended in second quarter with 0:52 remaining, due to an injury of an official. Both coaches agreed to start haftime interval and then resume 2Q after break. 3Q kickoff took place immediately after end of 2Q.Big thank you to both team's medical personnel for care given to injured official. Shawn Sombati #15 | 26th November v Durham Saints |
Portsmouth Destroyers | Portsmouth played this game on the artificial field at Langstone for the first time. One ball was changed as it lost pressure during the game. There was a stoppage of around five minutes as the medic left the area without notice to help an injured player into a car - they were quickly found and returned to the field. Oliver Maskell #221 | 12th November v Cardiff Cobras |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: 4th & 15 and the A-25. Team A line up to punt, Punter A11 punts the ball, and the then B-98 runs into the punter; returner B33 catches the ball at the B-30 and advances to the B-35.
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Last week | Play: Team A score a Touchdown, to take the lead 6-0. On the Try, A12 drops back to pass and throws the ball forward where it is intercepted in Team B’s endzone by B39. B39 attempts to advance the ball out of the endzone, however he is tackled in the endzone. During B39’s run B72, held A89 in the endzone.
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: How many different lateral positions should the ball be spotted at? How are they denoted?
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Last week | Game Situation: Mid-way through the 2nd quarter and during a timeout, the Head Linesman notices that the head coach of the team on his sideline is standing 5 yards on the field talking to his players. The coaches on the other side of the field are remaining in their coaching area during the timeout. Answer: It is prohibited for coaches to be outside of their team area on the field during the game (9-2-1-b-1). However, during a timeout coaches that come on to the field, remain within 9 yards of the sideline and don't draw attention to themselves should not normally be regarded as a problem (M3.8.7). As the timeout comes to an end though, the official should consider reminding the coach to remain in his team area, since this will likely avoid potential conflicts with the coaches of the other team during timeouts later in the game. If a coach does cause any commotion, then he should be asked to return to his team area. |
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. |
