Issue 6/24                                                                                21st February 2024

BAFRA Newsflash

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF BAFRA LTD

 

The Annual General Meeting of BAFRA Limited will be held during the Convention at 5pm on Saturday 6th April 2024. It is open to all members. A full agenda will be circulated to members nearer the time.

 

Part of the AGM is to decide on the BAFRA Charity for 2024. Any BAFRA member can nominate a charity, if you wish to do so, please contact me.

 

In addition, the election of directors for the Company will take place at the AGM. Four posts are due for election this year:

 

The present incumbent for each of these posts has indicated that they will be seeking re-election.

As of 9pm on Tuesday 20th February the following nominations for these posts have been received:

 

General Secretary  

 

Richard Moger #472 – Proposed by Paul Sutton #312 Seconded by Emma Payne #236

 

Director of Training 

 

James Ford Bannister #479 – Proposed by Amir Brooks #593 Seconded by Alan Christopher #599

 

Director without Portfolio #1 

 

Pete Parsons #479 – Proposed by Ollie Maskell #221 Seconded by Susannah Taylor #335

 

I will provide a further list next week.

 

These positions are open to all qualified members and nomination forms have been circulated to all qualified members. If you have not received this please contact me.

 

The Directors encourage all qualified members to consider applying for one of the above four positions. If you are considering standing and would like more information about what is involved, please contact me or, if you prefer, another director for more details.

 

Richard Moger – General Secretary 

secretary@bafra.info 

DISCIPLINARY CASES

NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

Previous weeks

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.

25th February 2024 v Leeds Beckett Carnegie.

Omid Zarei

9/

59

KCL Regents

ASS

2

When involved in a post-play fracas, with 2:26 remaining in the second quarter, #59 tried to free themself from #26. In the process of this, #59 first pushed the Umpire in the chest and then made a clubbing motion to try to loosen the grip of #26. This clubbing motion hit the umpire, who was trying to separate the two, on the arm. This was deemed to be an intentional act that contacted an official and as such was penalised under [9-2-4].

25th February 2024 v Exeter Demons

Fortune Okoh

97

Manchester Tyrants

TGD

2

With 2:04 remaining in the second quarter, after a pass had been thrown, #97 roughed the passer and delivered a forcible blow to the back of the passer’s helmet with his forearm. He was disqualified for Roughing the Passer with Targeting.

25th February 2024 v Stirling Clansmen

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.

24th February 2024 v Durham Saints and next game thereafter


GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

Outstanding items from previous weeks

Brighton Panthers

Two smaller changing rooms supplied, so the crew had to change separately. Field markings were very faint and difficult to see in places. Balls were presented well under legal pressure. The chain set broke during the game. One injury of just over five minutes after a blind-side block. During the game, a group of Brighton spectators were loudly shouting abusive remarks towards Sussex players. Game management was asked to make sure they were outside the limit lines/enclosure. Sportank were streaming the game but Brighton University had not been informed the stream was due to take place at their facility. They were also reminded that it is against the rules for the streaming provider to listen in to BAFRA radio communication.

Oliver Maskell #221

25th February 2024 v Surrey Stingers

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

25th February 2024 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes

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

25th February 2024 v KCL Regents

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

25th February 2024 v Warwick Wolves

Kent Falcons

Well marked 90-yard field in red with other sports markings in yellow, blue, and white. Team area perimeters were marked out with cones. Rugby lines approximated for team area lines & 9-yard marks. No numbers or limit lines. The game balls supplied were in good condition but below legal pressure.

Tim Ockendon #481

25th February 2024 v Oxford Lancers

Lancaster Bombers

Reasonably well-marked 80-yard field. All lines were in dark blue but quickly started to disappear due to the inclement weather. The goal posts were slightly behind the end line and, due to the pitch being marked out incorrectly for a training weekend, the three-yard mark was actually in the end zone, this was not used. Due to the constant rain during the game, one of the end zones became unplayable as there was standing water between the 5 and goal line that was deemed a hazard for the defence therefore with 1:40 remaining in the game, following a turnover on downs, as the game result was not in question and the leading team informed the crew they were going to kneel out the game, both Head Coaches agreed to shorten the remainder of the fourth quarter to 0:00.

Lee Taylor #183

25th February 2024 v Derby Braves

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

25th February 2024 v Birmingham Lions

Leeds Gryphons

80-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Team areas were missing but marked out with cones. Several other sports markings were present in close proximity to the end zones.

David Hewitt #607

24th February 2024 v Edinburgh Mavericks

Manchester Tyrants

The field was marked very faintly in a faded blue colour and was difficult to see at Kick-Off; becoming ever worse when the Sun became low and then were almost invisible under floodlights. The Team have been advised that they will need to mark the field in a more visible colour should they be hosting a playoff game. There were no team areas marked at all. The crew were not paid, so left 30 minutes after the end of the game.

Ben Griffiths #228

25th February 2024 v Stirling Clansmen

Nottingham Gold

Lines are getting quite faint at this point in the season. Another pitch is marked out in the same colour as the football markings. Coaches' boxes were too close to the sideline.

Joel Pearson #405

5th February 2024 v Portsmouth Destroyers

Nottingham Green

Lines are getting quite faint at this point in the season. Another pitch is marked out in the same colour as the football markings. Coaches' boxes were too close to the sideline. The home team had two players wearing #6 - it was spotted before kickoff and a spare jersey was found for one of them.

Joel Pearson #405

25th February 2024 v Sheffield Sabres

NTU Renegades

90 yard field marked as an 80-metre field. chains set to metres to avoid confusion. Kick-offs from 25-metre line. Try marks at the two-metre line. No team areas or coaches boxes. Short yard-line extensions ran into the end zone. One stoppage from repair to chain set.

Brian Yates #29

25th February 2024 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors

UCLan Rams

100-yard field well marked in blue, with other sports markings in contrasting colours. The three-yard mark was at the two-yard line.

Lee Taylor #183

25th February 2024 v Lincoln Colonials

UCL Emperors

While this game was at Imperial, it was considered a UCL home game. 90-yard field with markings that deteriorated as the game went on.

Darren Urben #438

25th February 2024 v Tarannau Aberystwyth

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this 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?

Last week

Play: 4th and 20 at the A-10 yard line. A strong wind is blowing from Team B’s Goal Line towards Team A’s Goal Line.

Team A line up in a scrimmage kick formation; A99 punts the ball and it goes high in the air. The ball travel forwards to approximately the Team A 15 yard line where it is blown backwards, while still in the air the ball crosses the sideline at the A-3, after being kicked, the ball first touches the gound behind Team A’s endline.


Ruling: 1st and Goal for Team B at the A-3 yard line.

The Ball belongs to Team B at the out of bounds spot. The out of bounds spot is the spot at which the ball crosses the sideline (4-2-3-c).

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: On a 5 man crew, Team A take a timeout. Both teams huddle near their respective sidelines. Team B is on the press-box sideline.

The Umpire informs the crew that the timeout is nearing its end and the wing officials on both sidelines encourage their respective teams to return to the field. Team A return to the field. The Line Judge has been reminding Team B that the timeout is expiring and they should return to the field, but they are still huddling around a Coach.

The timeout expires and the ball is declared ready for play. Team A are ready and in position for their next offensive play, Team B are not.

How should the officials react?


Answer next issue…

Last week

Game Situation: A34 is leaving the field as part of a substitution.  The player is 10 yards from his sideline when he removes his helmet, he then walks slowly into his team area.  Ruling?

Answer: M3.5.5.d  Players who unthinkingly remove their helmets on the field of play should not be penalised unless they are (i) directing anger or criticism at an opponent or an official; or (ii) celebrating. A player removing their helmet in the vicinity of the sideline just prior to entering the team area should be ignored.

CALENDAR

Date

Event

Contact for details

2024

6th April (Sat) 2024

BAFRA Ltd. AGM

secretary@bafra.info

6th-7th April (Sat-Sun) 2024

BAFRA Convention

secretary@bafra.info

11th May 2024

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

6th July 2024

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

9th November 2024

BAFRA Board Meeting

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.

Editor: Ben Griffiths - Email: newsflash@bafra.info

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