Issue 4/24 8th February 2024
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
BAFRA ANNUAL CONVENTION – SAT 6TH AND SUN 7TH APRIL 2024
Update
I am very happy to report that registrations to attend this year’s Convention have already broken the 50 mark, and currently stand at 53. Please remember that we publish attendance numbers only in Newsflash, but will advise names to BAFRA members separately, in order that you can check that we have received/actioned your registration application. Please remember that if you have registered very recently your name may not appear on the list until next week.
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: BAFRA 2024 Convention Registration See also QR Code at the bottom of this message.
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.
Remember, to take advantage of the above rates you must book your room via the above link.
Payment
Payment for Convention rooms is 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@bafra.info
QUALIFIED - RICHARD SEEGAR
Congratulations to Richard Seegar on completing all of the requirements necessary to become Qualified.
Thanks to Alan Christopher and all those who are helping with Richard’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
QUALIFIED - DANIEL HOLT
Congratulations to Daniel Holt on his return to BAFRA and completing all the requirements necessary to return to Qualified status.
Thanks to David Hewitt and all those who assisted with Dan’s return.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Dan Wickes | 32 | Birmingham Lions | TUF | 4 | #32 was observed to be within the SGS team area after a play. The Head Linesman asked the player why they had gone into the opposing team area well after the play was over. #32 responded with an expletive and was asked to moderate their language. At this point, the player swore at the official again and drew a first unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. With 2:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, #32 was penalised for a second unsportsmanlike act for abusive language toward an opponent. | Mr Wickes is suspended from the next Competitive game that he is registered to play in. That remains to be confirmed, but is anticipated to be Birmingham's first game in the play offs. | |
Samuel Altass | 50 | Cambridge Pythons | FGT | 2 | With 7:46 remaining in the second quarter the player was punched in the helmet well after the play. The player was taken away multiple times by his team but continued to chase after the player who punched him, threatening to kill him. | Unknown *Mr Altass is due to serve his suspension in the next game he is registered to play in. This is either the next playoff or regular season game for Cambridge Pythons for the first regular season game of a Senior/Junior team if he registers for a Senior/Junior team. | |
Grayson Heidary | 18 | Leeds Beckett Carnegie | FUC | 3 | With approximately 8:42 remaining in the third quarter, #29, unhappy with a decision that didn't go his way, loudly suggested that the Head Linesman was being paid by the away team and was disqualified. | ||
Olaite Okunlola | 66 | Nottingham Green | FGT | 2 | With 7:46 remaining in the second quarter, the player threw a punch at the helmet of an opponent well after the play was dead. This action caused a reaction from the opponent. | 11th February 2024 v Lincoln Colonials | |
Feranmi Okunlola | 14 | SGS Pride | TUF | 4 | #14 was observed by the Line Judge running into the Birmingham team area to get involved with Birmingham personnel; trying to provoke a reaction from them. #14 was not involved in the immediate play. Therefore the player was charged with his first unsportsmanlike conduct foul. With 0:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, during an officials’ timeout to administer an issue on the field/sideline, #14 loudly shouted "Don't let them tell you what to do" in a dissenting manner toward the officials. The comment was loud enough to be heard by all players and officials on the field and #14 was penalised for a second unsportsmanlike act. | 11th February 2024 v UWE Bullets and then Mr Okunlolais suspended from the next Competitive game that he is registered to play in. That remains to be confirmed, but is anticipated to be SGS’ first game in the play offs. | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Aberdeen University Bulls | There were no goalposts and both teams agreed to play with only two-point tries. Team areas marked with cones. Despite the score, the game was played in good spirits by both teams. Gordon Galloway #7 | Unknown |
Bath Killer Bees | Team areas not marked. Otherwise an excellently marked field. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 14th February 2024 v Exeter Demons |
Birmingham Lions | 90-yard field. Black markings, which were very faint in some places. Krister Halvorsen #77 | Unknown |
Brunel Burners | Team areas were marked to the 15-yard lines. The home team were not able to supply three game balls; so they supplied one and the visiting team supplied two. Andrew Murrell #608 | Unknown |
Coventry University Jets | Unable to access changing rooms at half time as no key-holder could be found. Krister Halvorsen #77 | Unknown |
Edge Hill Vikings | Well marked 90-yard pitch with all lines in blue. No three-yard marks. The changing room was not private or lockable but lockers were provided. Lee Taylor #183 | Unknown |
Edinburgh Mavericks | Lines are becoming very faded and particularly difficult to see under floodlights. No team areas but these were marked with cones | 11th February 2024 v Edinburgh Napier Knights |
Exeter Demons | Game played on an artificial field with markings for a variety of sports. Al major lines were marked in pink, end lines in white, and all yard-line extensions were in blue - short and narrow. Lockable and sizeable changing rooms within easy reach of field. End zones were only seven yards deep on a 90-yard field. Francis Bevan #474 | Unknown |
Gloucester Gladiators | 100-yard field with markings in blue. End lines were marked with the posts slightly infield so the white Rugby line was used instead. Chain broke once during the game. Euan Paterson #165 | 11th February 2024 v Bath Spa Bulldogs |
Hull Sharks | NFL-width hash marks. Markings are becoming quite faint, especially under lights. Joel Pearson #405 | Unknown |
Kingston Cougars | Changing rooms were shared with soccer referees and not lockable. Had to wait for goal posts to be turned to face the field. Field was very boggy in places. Graham Smith #149 | Unknown |
Leeds Beckett Carnegie | 80-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Several other sports lines in close proximity to the endzones. Team areas were missing but marked out using cones. The chain crew plus one ball person were changed at half time, which caused a small delay to the second half kick off. The officials' changing room was way too small for a crew of six, but nothing else was available due to two ladies' rugby games taking place at the venue. David Hewitt #607 | Unknown |
Liverpool Raptors | 90-yard field marked in yellow with multiple wonky lines. One of the five-yard lines split into two and came back together near to the sidelines. Other sports markings were visible in contrasting colours. The crew were provided with a changing room that was too small, so this was only used to store kit and another room was available post-game. Lee Taylor #183 | Unknown |
Loughborough Students | Multiple issues. A game ball was changed as one ball became deflated during the game. No team or coaches area. The field will only just fitted inside playing enclosure, which was surrounded by a high chain link fence. Early in the first quarter, the game was suspended while game management moved around 30 spectators, who were standing inside the restricted area, to a safer location. At half-time, the visiting HC complained to the Referee about the behaviour of inebriated spectators who had gathered outside the playing enclosure behind the visiting team. The Referee advised that spectators are not subject to the rules and to take the issue up with game management. Loughborough University charges for parking. Andrew Lovell #559 | Unknown |
Portsmouth Destroyers | 90-yard field missing team/coach area markings and faded in places. Changing rooms were not lockable or private. The balls were under-inflated but otherwise in good condition. Oliver Maskell #221 | 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 three-yard marks at incorrect depth. Home team areas marked with cones. Away team area was unmarked. Good size lockable changing room but no private shower or toilet. Kick-off was delayed by 40 minutes due to the late arrival of the away team coach. Tim Ockendon #481 | Unknown |
Reading Knights | The team areas were marked to the 25-yard lines. The field was well-marked but deteriorated as the game progressed. There were a few holes before the game that were filled in five minutes before kick off Darren Urben #438 | Unknown |
Sheffield Hallam Warriors | Well-marked 90-yard field in orange with other sports markings in contrasting colours. Team areas were not marked but were delineated by cones. Perry Wayman #504 | 14th February 2024 v NTU Renegades |
Sussex Saxons | Team areas were not marked out at all. There was an observer from the Sussex Uni student union at the game. He introduced himself to the crew before the game, saying he was there to observe following reports of comments made between players and actions of fans at a fixture earlier in the season. There were no such issues at the game today. Dean Wright #553 | Unknown |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Bradford Bears | 90-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Lines were red and faded in some areas. All three game balls required inflation prior to the game. Team areas were missing but both teams kept to their areas reasonably well; with only a couple of indiscretions. The chains broke on two occasions causing brief pauses to the game. David Hewitt #607 | 11th February 2024 v Sheffield Sabres |
Brighton Panthers | 100-yard artificial field with dark blue American football markings that were not easily visible in the pouring rain. Viktor Janvari #63 | 11th February 2024 v Sussex Saxons |
Bristol Barracuda | The field was marked with black lines which have become faint and can be hard to see in places. Keith Wickham #423 | 11th February 2024 v Exeter Demons |
Cardiff Cobras | The lines and markings are very faint but Cardiff said they intend to repaint them before their next home game. Keith Wickham #423 | 11th February 2024 v Portsmouth Destroyers |
Derby Braves | No markings for coaching or team areas. Andrew Lovell #559 | 11th February 2024 v DMU Lions |
Essex Blades | Kick off was delayed by 30 minutes due to the Essex Head Coach and an assistant coach, both London based, not arriving at the venue by the scheduled kick-off time - due to train issues. Only two game balls were available at the beginning of the game. The third game ball was supplied at half-time. NFL-width hash marks. The chain crew were supplied late and changed at halftime. William Marriage #293 | 11th February 2024 UEA Pirates |
Glasgow University Tigers | Glasgow’s pitch has no goal posts but Glasgow provided one portable goal. Unfortunately, this was deemed unsafe and the game was played as a no-post game. Glasgow's medical cover failed to show up and all attempts to contact them failed. After a delay of 40 minutes, alternative cover was sourced and the game commenced. Henry Richardson #25 | 11th February 2024 v Aberdeen Bulls |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes | 90-yard recently relaid artificial field marked with NFL-width hash marks. No numbers or nine-yard marks. Coaching boxes and team areas were marked with cones. Changing rooms are too small even for a crew of four, but access to two was provided to give the crew enough space. Peter Parsons #321 | 11th February 2024 v Brunel Burners |
KCL Regents | Due to the early start of the game, the changing rooms were not available until ~60 minutes before the originally scheduled kick-off. Daniel Clarke #311 | 11th February 2024 v QMBL Vipers |
Leeds Gryphons | 80-yard field with no numbers, three-yard marks, or nine-yard marks. Field marked in yellow which is faded in places - especially the goal lines and inbounds short yard-line extensions. Other sports markings present in yellow, blue, and white - be mindful there is a solid, very visible, yellow line running behind the End Line which should not be confused for the actual End Line. The changing room was too small for a crew of five, although it had lockers and a shower. The room was lockable, but the crew weren’t permitted to keep the key, so most elected to lock bags in cars. Delay of five minutes to the start of the second half as the medical cover was still dealing with an injury in the physio room from the first half. Michael Hansford #594 | 11th February 2024 v Hull Sharks |
Leicester Longhorns | NFL-width narrow hash marks, but cones were used to approximate the correct width. Three-yard marks at the two-yard line. Team areas marked with cones Brian Yates #29 | 11th February 2024 v NTU Renegades |
LJMU Fury | Team areas were absent and the field markings were faint in places. Otherwise, a well-marked 90-yard field. Paul Todd #289 | 11th February 2024 v Liverpool Raptors |
Newcastle Raiders | This was game two of a doubleheader. Despite the score, the game was well-contested by both teams. There was a ten-minute delay due to a player injury, thankfully he walked off the field under his own steam. Gordon Galloway #7 | 14th February 2024 v Loughborough Students |
Northumbria Mustangs | Team areas marked with cones. Field markings were in red but comfortably visible. The chain crew were slow and did not respond to instructions well. Gordon Galloway #7 | 11th February 2024 v Sunderland Spartans |
Nottingham Green | Field markings in red and faded. Other sports markings were located very close to the line. The team areas were too close to the sideline. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 11th February 2024 v Lincoln Colonials |
Oxford Lancers | Game was played at Tilsley Park due to a frozen pitch at the normal venue. Due to the late change of venue, the field had not been remarked so the lines were very faint and became difficult to see under the floodlights in the second half. The game was played in high wind with the addition of heavy rain in the second half. Yard markers needed to be weighed down so were moved a safe distance away from the field. One change to the chain crew at half time. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 11th February 2024 v Royal Holloway Bears |
Plymouth Blitz | NFL-width hash marks. The three-yard marks were at the two-yard line. The 9-yard marks were in red and very small. Otherwise, the field markings were good. Very good changing facilities for officials. Dave Moore #92 | 11th February 2024 v Worcester Royals |
Southampton Stags | 90-yard field. A handful of stoppages of around five minutes for injuries. One change to the chain crew at half-time. Oliver Maskell #221 | 11th February 2024 v Bournemouth Bobcats |
UCLan Rams | 100-yard field marked out in blue paint with other non-football markings in other colours. No team or coaching areas were marked out on either side. The officials marked out the home team area with cones in the short time afforded. Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes with the agreement of both Head Coaches due to a scheduling error. Half-time was called with approximately 0:15 remaining in the second quarter due to a serious injury to an Edge Hill player. The second half was delayed by approximately 20 minutes for treatment and for the player to be taken to hospital. All the crew wish the player a full and speedy recovery. Peter Roberts #87 | 11th February 2024 v Lancaster Bombers |
Warwick Wolves | Faded blue markings on an artificial surface, which were very difficult to see. At one goal line the line was painted over/blended into another sport line which made it very difficult to judge the goal line. The jerseys were black for one team and dark green for the other, with white numbers and black pants. In worse light or weather, this would have been a very difficult game to officiate with the similarities in kit. Emma Payne #236 | 11th February 2024 v Coventry Jets |
York St John Jaguars | 90-yard field. No three-yard marks. Several of the game balls required inflation prior to use, with one having to be re-inflated during the game. NFL-width hash marks. David Hewitt #607 | 11th February 2024 v York Centurions |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: Team A Kick Off from their own 35 yard line. Immediately after the kick B99 blocks the kicker at the A-36. B-88 subsequently catches the ball at the B-10 and advances to the B-25 where he is tackled.
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Last week | Play: Team A are trailing 28-21 with 0:49 remaining in the 4th quarter. Team A attempt an onside kick form the A-35. B1 muffs the ball at the A-42 and the ball rolls toward the side line, where A5 muffs the ball at the A-46. A8 then attempts to recover the ball at the A-43 and he controls the ball laying on B8 near the sideline and he then rolls directly out of bounds at the A-43 without touching the ground (0:42). During the kick A8 blocked B8 below the waist at the A-42
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: The game is being live broadcast. It is 6C crew. It is the end of the first quarter, which official is responsible for communicating with the TV liaison person to ensure the 2nd quarter can begin.
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Last week | Game Situation: What are the 3 categories of Offensive Holding? Answer: M3.3.1.b
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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. |
