Issue 22/24 23rd June 2024
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BAFRA Newsflash |
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BAFRA ELITE PANEL (BEP) 2024/25
The BAFRA Selection Committee is pleased to announce that the following officials have been selected to serve for the next year on the BAFRA Elite Programme (BEP):
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Please join with the Selection Committee and Directors in congratulating these officials on their appointment to the BAFRA Elite Programme.
Ollie Maskell - Director of Operations
DISCIPLINARY CASES
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NAME |
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TEAM |
CODE |
Q |
OFFENCE |
SUSPENDED |
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New this week |
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Kentarious Wynn |
29 |
Cambridgeshire Cats |
TGC |
4 |
With 13:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, #29 launched and hit an opposing player with forcible contact with the crown of his helmet. |
23rd June 2024 v Bristol Aztecs |
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Scott Smith |
93 |
Doncaster Mustangs |
TUF |
4 |
With 1:17 remaining in the second quarter, #93 received his first UC penalty for loudly swearing while walking away from the referee. With 5:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, #93 received his second UC penalty for kicking towards a prone opponent significantly after the play had ended. |
30th June 2024 v Darlington Steam & 14th July 2024 v Lincolnshire Bombers |
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Toby Breedon |
27 |
Sheffield Giants (U19) |
FGT |
2 |
With 9:29 remaining in the second quarter, #27 was engaged with an opponent and, after the whistle was blown, was told to disengage by the Referee. He then grabbed his opponent's facemask and dragged him forcibly to the ground, then dropped on top of him and began punching him repeatedly. |
21st July 2024 v Chester Romans (U19) |
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Previous weeks |
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Bow Alade |
97 |
Edinburgh Wolves |
FUC |
4 |
As players were un-piling, #97 was tangled with another player. As they got to their feet, they shouted and, twice, clearly and loudly swore at the Umpire. |
23rd June 2024 v Merseyside Nighthawks |
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Samuel Byrne |
50 |
Wembley Stallions (U16) |
FGT |
1 |
With 5:51 remaining in the first half of the second game of the tournament, against Rushmoor, after the play was over, #50 left his sideline and came onto the field to deliver a blow to the back of an opponent whom he believed had fouled a teammate of his. |
13th July 2024 - First Game of Next Tournament at London Blitz (U16) |
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GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
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HOME TEAM |
REPORT |
NEXT HOME GAME |
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New this week |
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Berkshire Renegades (U16) |
The game was played in Poole other than Berkshire. Scott Castle #626 |
Unknown |
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Chorley Buccaneers (U19) |
The game was forfeited by Chorley just before midnight on Saturday 15th June, due to a lack of players. The crew found out the game was cancelled on the morning of the fixture, 3.5 hours before the scheduled KO. As this was the first game of a doubleheader, the crew arrived later than first arranged and officiated game two of the doubleheader. Steve Hall #512 |
23rd June 2024 v North East Academy Giants |
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Cornwall Monarchs |
Game played on a 80-yard field. Julian Mallia #336 |
14th July 2024 v Berkshire Renegades |
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Glasgow Tigers |
Field markings were in blue with crooked sidelines and short yard line extensions. Team areas were marked with cones. The grass was very long, but some areas of the field had no grass, and the field was uneven in places. There was an 18-minute stoppage in the first quarter for a serious injury to a Clyde Valley player. Gordon Galloway #7 |
14th July 2024 v Inverclyde Goliaths |
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Lancashire Wolverines |
Well-marked 100-yard field. However, there were no team areas or coaching areas marked. Steve Hall #512 |
23rd June 2024 v Leigh Miners |
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Lincolnshire Bombers |
No nine-yard marks. An abundance of molehills have now made two areas of the field softer than ideal. Joel Pearson #405 |
23rd June 2024 v Gateshead Senators |
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London Blitz |
100-yard field with ten-yard end zones. Some short yard-line extensions were not evenly spaced. The coaching box and team area lines were marked too close to the sideline and between the 25-yard lines. The team areas were expanded to the 20-yard lines using cones. No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines. Peter Parsons #321 |
23rd June 2024 v London Warriors |
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London Blitz B |
100-yard field with ten-yard end zones. Some short yard-line extensions were not evenly spaced. The coaching box and team area lines were marked too close to the sideline and between the 25-yard lines. The team areas were expanded to the 20-yard lines using cones. No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines. Peter Parsons #321 |
23rd June 2024 v London Olympians |
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London Olympians |
The field had been re-marked to 100 yards with ten-yard end zones. Unfortunately, the goals were then five yards deep in the end zone and immovable, so the goal lines were moved to the five-yard lines and the field was shortened to 90 yards. The field was marked in blue with other sports markings in white and yellow. No numbers, limit lines or coaching lines, and inbounds lines at incorrect depth (approximately 54 feet). Rugby markings were approximated for nine-yard marks and team area lines. Two changing rooms were provided; one was a good size for a crew of five and the other had private toilet and shower facilities but neither was lockable. Tim Ockendon #481 |
21st July 2024 v London Blitz B |
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Newcastle Vikings |
There were permanent soccer markings on the field, however the home team had painted this out in dark green. Plaudits to Newcastle on doing this, while fairly common to do elsewhere, Newcastle are the first UK team that I have seen do this. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No limit lines were marked, but there was a barrier at the edge of the field area. The Coaching line was marked, but the line at 12ft was not. Team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines. The light in the officials' toilet was not working and there was no natural light, other facilities were available. The changing room was not lockable. Ben Griffiths #228 |
4th August 2024 v Tamworth Phoenix |
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Rushmoor Knights (U19) |
Game was forfeited by the away team. The three-yard mark on one side of the field was marked two yards into the end zone Scott Castle #626 |
Unknown |
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Sandwell Steelers |
Changing rooms were not lockable. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 |
30th June 2024 v Staffordshire Surge |
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Sheffield Giants (U19) |
90-yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Several other sports markings were present in close proximity to the endzones. Team areas were missing but marked out using cones. David Hewitt #607 |
21st July 2024 v Chester Romans (U19) |
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South London Renegades (U19) |
The field had been re-marked to 100 yards with ten-yard end zones. Unfortunately, the goals were then five yards deep in the end zone and immovable, so the goal lines were moved to the five-yard lines and the field was shortened to 90 yards. The field was marked in blue with other sports markings in white and yellow. No numbers, limit lines or coaching lines, and inbounds lines at incorrect depth (approximately 54 feet). Rugby markings were approximated for nine-yard marks and team area lines. Two changing rooms were provided; one was a good size for a crew of five and the other had private toilet and shower facilities but neither was lockable. Tim Ockendon #481 |
21st July 2024 v London Blitz (U19) |
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Staffordshire Surge |
Very well marked our field. The only issue was that the line for the coaches’ box was only about four inches from the sideline. John Roberts #145 |
21st July 2024 v Sandwell Steelers |
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Tamworth Phoenix |
The changing room was not lockable and was full of drying Rugby shirts. There is not really enough seating for a crew of five. However, water and warm samosas were provided which was a plus. Keith Wickham #423 |
14th July 2024 v Edinburgh Wolves |
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Wembley Stallions |
No toilet or shower in the changing room. Dean Wright #553 |
30th June 2024 v Rushmoor Knights |
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Outstanding items from previous weeks |
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Berkshire Renegades |
A couple of holes were found in the field which were filled prior to kickoff by the groundsman. Scott Castle #626 |
30th June 2024 v Ipswich Cardinals |
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Birmingham Lions Academy (U19) |
Markings were slightly faint, which will be corrected for the next game. Krister Halvorsen #77 |
21st July 2024 v Nottingham Caesars |
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Bournemouth Bobcats |
90-yard field, slightly rutty in areas. Two changing rooms big enough for three officials each were provided, but these were otherwise adequate. One game ball malfunctioned during the pregame checking and, during the game, some balls were temporarily lost amongst nettles behind one of the goals. Oliver Maskell #221 |
30th June 2024 v Somerset Wyverns |
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Chester Romans |
Some field markings were faint or almost missing e.g. short yard extensions at the sideline. The field will need remarking before the next game at this venue. Very little space for the visiting team on the sideline. Coaches and player boxes marked with cones. Little space for HL to work. Changing rooms were not lockable and only really adequate for two (not six) officials. Mike Cavanagh #465 |
14th July 2024 v Yorkshire Rams |
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Chester Romans (U19) |
The changing room was very small for a crew of five. No Team area was marked for the visiting team. Andrew Lovell #559 |
23rd June 2024 v Sandwell Steelers |
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Clyde Valley Blackhawks |
The coaches' boxes were too close to the sideline and marked out to 25-yard lines. Shawn Sombati #15 |
30th June 2024 v Glasgow Tigers |
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Colchester Gladiators |
Well marked field and good playing surface. Changing rooms not lockable but big enough for the crew. Plenty of water supplied during the game Graham Smith #149 |
30th June 2024 v Essex Tridents |
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Doncaster Mustangs |
Well-marked 90-yard field. Team areas were marked out between the 25-yard lines. The second half kick-off was delayed by approx. 55 minutes due to a thunderstorm that arrived as the first half was ending. David Hewitt #607 |
30th June 2024 v Darlington Steam |
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East Kilbride Pirates |
Blue lines used for the playing field that overlapped white rugby lines. Shawn Sombati #15 |
23rd June 2024 v Tamworth Phoenix |
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Edinburgh Napier Knights (U19) |
The field had recently been re-marked, some lines were not the straightest! Team areas were marked with cones. Gordon Galloway #7 |
13th July 2024 v East Kilbride Pirates |
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Edinburgh Wolves |
90- yard field. No limit lines or three-yard marks. Team areas were missing but marked out using cones. The lines were painted in yellow and very faint but the major issue was an athletics track, which was painted in bright white on the field. It comprised an oval running track that went over the sidelines and curved around just short of the goal lines and five sprinting lanes that ran diagonally from pylon to pylon across the field. It was extremely difficult to locate the football lines. There were also rugby markings in light blue. The field needs to be appropriately remarked prior to any future game. The away team made it clear that they would not have played the game had they not just travelled a significant distance to play. All three game balls needed inflating prior to use. Half-time was extended to 30 minutes as the changing facilities were a long walk from the field and several players needed to use the toilet. Both head coaches agreed with this. David Hewitt #607 |
23rd June 2024 v Merseyside Nighthawks |
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Gateshead Senators |
Endzones were uneven in length. The field is due to be remarked as several lines are faded and this should be rectified by the next home game. Ali May #42 |
21st July 2024 v Darlington Steam |
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Highland Stags |
The chains had to be repaired and lengthened slightly prior to kickoff. Field markings were faint and difficult to see, they will need re-marking prior to the next game at this venue. The ground was uneven. Gordon Galloway #7 |
23rd June 2024 v Glasgow Tigers |
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Humber Warhawks |
No nine-yard marks or three-yard marks. Joel Pearson #405 |
28th July 2024 v Yorkshire Rams |
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Kent Exiles |
Excellent gameday management and a well-marked 90-yard field, only missing nine-yard marks/field numbers. The changing room allocated to the officials was extremely spacious but not lockable. Crews should account for the 5+ minute walk to the field, the Exiles do have several gazebos up so drinks can be left behind the team area in the shade. Phil Clarke #262 |
30th June 2024 v London Blitz B |
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Leicester Panthers |
The field was marked in yellow and, other than the sidelines, somewhat faintly. Team areas were marked with cones. With 2:12 remaining in the third quarter, the game was suspended for 62 minutes to allow for treatment of an injured player and, once he was removed, for the teams to adequately warm up again. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 |
23rd June 2024 v Birmingham Bulls |
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Leigh Miners |
The field was marked as a 100-yard field, but with non-standard IFAF-yards (shorter than a standard IFAF-yard). The goalposts were slightly offset from the endline. Team areas were absent. Paul Todd #289 |
21st July 2024 v Lancashire Wolverines |
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London Blitz (U19) |
Much improved markings. The field surface has been worked on, but was still a little soft in places. Team areas were not marked to the 20-yard lines. No limit lines. One goalpost is tilted. The changing room has been cleaned and cleared out. It also now has a working toilet. Peter Parsons #321 |
14th July 2024 v South London Renegades |
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London Hornets |
The changing room was spacious but had no private shower and could not be locked. Keith Wickham #423 |
30th June 2024 v Oxford Saints |
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London Warriors |
Faintly marked 90-yard field with eight-yard end zones in blue and other sports markings in yellow, white, and red. The field markings, although visible close-up, are harder to see at a distance. No numbers or limit lines and rugby markings approximated for nine-yard marks. The changing room is in the SU building but not lockable. The down box is of the NFL style "dial-a-down" and is broken, which meant it was difficult to show 1 and 2 clearly. One ball person was replaced at halftime. Andrew Murrell #608 |
14th July 2024 v London Blitz |
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London Warriors (NWFL) |
Field markings were blue on green and were fading. These will need to be re-marked at some point this season. There was one brief stoppage for a repair of the chains. Daniel Clarke #311 |
22nd June 2024 v Solent Thrashers |
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London Warriors (U19) |
Faintly marked 90-yard field with eight-yard end zones in blue and other sports markings in yellow, white, and red. The field markings, although visible close-up, are harder to see at a distance. No numbers or limit lines and rugby markings approximated for nine-yard marks. The changing room is in the SU building but not lockable. The down box is of the NFL style "dial-a-down" and is broken, which meant it was difficult to show 1 and 2 clearly. Andrew Murrell #608 |
14th July 2024 v Ipswich Cardinals |
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Manchester Titans |
80-yard field. Other sports markings present. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 |
21st July 2024 v Newcastle Vikings |
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Manchester Titans (NWFL) |
Freshly marked 80-yard field. The home team's jerseys were illegal due to non-contrasting numbers. Therefore the home team were penalised in accordance with Rule [1-4-5-c]. Steve Hall #512 |
3rd August 2024 v Teesside Steelers |
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Manchester Titans (U19) |
The field was well-marked but lines were becoming faded and difficult to see in bright sunlight. Multiple changes to officials' assistants. John Roberts #145 |
21st July 2024 v North East Giants (U19) |
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Merseyside Nighthawks |
No coaches or team areas were marked, but other lines were utilised for the team area. At one point, the game was reduced to one game ball whilst the other were retrieved from outside the ground. John Roberts #145 |
14th July 2024 v Newcastle Vikings |
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North East Giants (U19) |
No three-yard lines. Ali May #42 |
4th August 2024 v Manchester Titans |
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Norwich Devils |
With 5:47 remaining in the first quarter, a Norwich player sustained a back injury, which was deemed to require an emergency ambulance. The game was suspended for 1 hour 37 mins until this arrived. Brian Yates #29 |
23rd June 2024 v East Kent Mavericks |
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Nottingham Caesars |
The field markings were in red (along with some markings for other sports) and were extremely faint and very hard to see. The field will need re-marking before the next game at this venue. No limit lines. Coaching boxes and team areas were not marked all the way to the 20-yard lines and were too close to the field on both sides. Richard Whitby #136 |
14th July 2024 v Shropshire Revolution |
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Nottingham Caesars (U19) |
Coaching' boxes were too close to the sideline. Other markings were in a similar colour (red) to the gridiron markings. One stoppage for 12 minutes due to neck injury. Joel Pearson #405 |
14th July 2024 v Birmingham Lions |
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Ouse Valley Eagles |
Really well-marked 100-yard field. No numbers or limit lines and team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines. The changing room could not be locked but was sufficient for a crew of five. James Ford-Bannister #479 |
14th July 2024 v Colchester Gladiators |
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Sandwell Steelers |
The start of the game was delayed by around 15 minutes due to lightning.. Paul Todd #289 |
30th June 2024 v Staffordshire Surge |
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Scunthorpe Alphas |
No three-yard marks but an otherwise well-marked 90-yard field. The changing room was a disabled toilet but was furnished with chairs and a table containing sweet treats. Joel Pearson #405 |
30th June 2024 v Chester Romans |
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Sheffield Giants |
90-yard field marked in black with other sports markings present in a variety of different colours. There were no team or coaches areas but these were lined with cones and both teams managed to remain within their respective areas extremely well. Lee Taylor #183 |
21st July 2024 v Scunthorpe Alphas |
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Solent Thrashers |
Team areas were marked to the 25-yard lines. The ten-yard lines at both ends were marked in a different colour to the rest of the field and had faded badly. The changing room provided for a crew of six was suitable only for two or three officials. Oliver Maskell #221 |
14th July 2024 v Cambridgeshire Cats |
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Solent Thrashers (NWFL) |
Team areas marked to 25-yard lines. Lines at ten yards different to the rest of the field. Goals overhang endzones slightly. Oliver Maskell #221 |
20th July 2024 v Birmingham Lions |
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South Wales Warriors |
No nine-yard marks. Inbounds and sideline short yard-line extensions were too thin (about two inches thick), although the spacing problems from the last game appear to have been remedied. One game ball was replaced after it was lost in a neighbouring car park following a PAT. Amir Brooks #593 |
30th June 2024 v Hereford Stampede |
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Sussex Thunder |
Changing rooms were dirty and had a leak. Scott Castle #626 |
23rd June 2024 v Essex Tridents |
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Tamworth Phoenix (U19) |
Excellently marked artificial field. Team Areas were marked incorrectly to the 15-yard lines. Missing nine-yard marks. Otherwise, there were no problems with the game balls, stadium clocks (if present), the changing facilities, the medical facilities, the chains, or the officials' assistants. Stuart Tabberer #348 |
14th July 2024 v Northants Knights |
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Teesside Steelers (NWFL) |
The field had been marked as 85 yards with the distance between some "five-yard" lines being marked with 5 short yard-line extensions and measuring six yards. The field was shortened to 80 yards and played in one direction to accommodate this. Ali May #42 |
20th July 2024 v Peterborough Royals |
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Wakefield District Raiders |
80-yard field, which had a significant slope from one sideline to the other. There were no numbers or nine-yard marks. It was a grass field, which varied from extremely short and barren grass to some areas where the grass was over six inches long. There were a significant amount of dandelions, daisies and other wildflowers growing on the field. The field was extremely bumpy and uneven, though none of the bumps constituted a trip hazard. There were no limit lines. The team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines. The changing room provided for the officials was large enough for one person and home to spiders. The crew located another changing room that was not being used. The changing rooms were not lockable. The shower provided was unclean and stopped working completely when anyone flushed the toilet. Prior to the game, it was observed that the numerals on the back of most Wakefield Jerseys were only approximately five inches high. The Head Coach was advised of the problem and asked if he had alternate Jerseys. He stated he did not, that he was aware of the problem, and advised that new Jerseys had been ordered. The requisite penalties were applied during the game. Ben Griffiths #228 |
23rd June 2024 v Darlington Steam |
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Yorkshire Rams |
No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines. David Hewitt #607 |
23rd June 2024 v Sheffield Giants |
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PLAY OF THE WEEK: |
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New this week |
Play: 4th & 3 at the B-43 yard line. There are 33 seconds remaining in the game, Team B have one timeout remaining. The game is being played with a Video Judge. Team A attempts a forward pass which is ruled complete at the B-39 yard line, with the ball carrier being tackled inbounds. The Team B Head Coach takes a timeout and requests that the play be reviewed as he believes the pass was incomplete. After review the Video Judge determines that the pass was not caught and should have been ruled incomplete, however he observes that Team B had 12 players on the field during the down. Ruling?
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Last week |
Play: Try Down from the B-3 yard line, there is 10 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter. Team A score a (1 point) Field Goal on the Try, during the down Team B line up a defensive lineman within the frame of the body of the snapper.
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MECHANICS: |
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New this week |
Game Situation: On a 4th and 20 from the A-30, Team A attempt to punt the ball. The punt is blocked and goes into the team A backfield clearly towards the Press Box side. On an 7 man crew how should the officials react?
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Last week |
Game Situation: In a game that is being broadcast live, when may a media timeout be taken? Answer: A Media Timeout may only be taken in the following situations.
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Date |
Event |
Contact for details |
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BAFRA Directors |
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President |
David Parsons |
General Secretary |
Richard Moger |
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Finance |
Stuart Tabberer |
Operations |
Oliver Maskell |
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Recruitment |
Susannah Taylor |
Training |
James Ford-Bannister |
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Director without Portfolio #1 |
Peter Parsons |
Director without Portfolio #2 |
Steve Tonkinson |
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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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