Issue 24/24                                                                                4th July 2024

BAFRA Newsflash

💻 http://www.bafra.info       @BAFRAOfficial

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QUALIFIED -  JOHN COOPER

Congratulations to John Cooper on completing all the requirements to become Qualified.

Thanks to Dave Black and everyone helping with John’s training.

James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training

training@bafra.info

DISCIPLINARY CASES

NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

Previous weeks

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.

14th July 2024 v Lincolnshire Bombers

Samet Bilgin

52

East Kent Mavericks

FGT

1

With 3 mins 07 seconds left in the 1st quarter, the player was blocking an opponent. The players separated and #52's opponent was returning to his huddle. Without provocation #52 ran towards and  then threw a punch at the opposing player..

14th July 2024 v Kent Exiles

Anthony Baffoe

81

Leigh Miners

TUF

4

In the fourth quarter, #81 verbally abused an official after a play was over. Later in the fourth quarter, with 00:45 remaining in the game, #81 was upset at a late hit, which was penalised, and directed a vary loud tirade of abuse at the officials. This was penalisd as a second Unsportsmanlike conduct foul.

21st July 2024 v Lancashire Wolverines and next game thereafter (likely 1st game of 2025 season)

Aina Adeniran

55

London Warriors (NWFL)

FGT

4

With 1:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, after the play was over, #55 was seen to engage with the opposing #77 and multiple attempted blows and kicks were exchanged.

20th July 2024 v Leeds Chargers

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)

Victoria Mackenzie

77

Solent Thrashers (NWFL)

FGT

4

With 1:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, after the play was over, #77 was seen to engage with the opposing #55 and multiple attempted blows and kicks were exchanged.

20th July 2024 v Birmingham Lions

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)

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

New this week

Berkshire Renegades

The changing rooms provided are too small for a crew of four to hold a meaningful pregame conference, so the crew moved into a team's changing room once the players went out to the field. The ball boys and chain crew were not available until just before kickoff, as it had been planned to use the youth team players but they were not available. The field is one of the best marked out in Britball and plaudits should be given to the Berkshire Groundsman.

Keith Wickham #423

Unknown

Bournemouth Bobcats

Both teams were wearing red jerseys, but the bright red of Bournemouth was distinguishable from the maroon of Somerset. With 9:00 remaining in the second quarter, #24 of Bournemouth suffered a serious fracture of the leg. The game was suspended for around 45 minutes whilst the player was treated and awaiting the arrival of an ambulance.

Steve Egan #466

Unknown

Clyde Valley Blackhawks

Very well-marked 100-yard field with team areas marked to the 25-yard lines. The last 4 minutes were played with a crew of three as the referee was injured.

Gordon Galloway #7

Unknown

Doncaster Mustangs

90-yard field. No limit lines. Team areas were incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines.

David Hewitt #607

14th July 2024 v Lincolnshire Bombers

Inverclyde Goliaths

Clearly marked field but team areas marked to 25-yard lines.

Ian Sneddon #427

Unknown

Kent Exiles

90-yard field with ten-yard end zones. Very well marked in white missing only limit lines, numbers, and nine-yard marks. A good-sized changing room lacked a private shower and toilet and was not lockable.

Tim Ockendon #481

14th July 2024 v East Kent Mavericks

Leeds Chargers (NWFL)

No limit lines. No nine-yard marks or numbers. The game day medical cover was delayed getting to the ground but, fortunately, a suitably qualified person was able to step in until the medic arrived. It meant no delay to kick-off.

David Hewitt #607

20th July 2024 v London Warriors

Leicester Panthers

On the final play of the first quarter, a Leicester player suffered a major medical emergency. The game was subsequently abandoned.

Brian Yates #29

Unknown

London Hornets

90-yard field. The numbers were too small and the team areas were too small but extended with cones. The changing rooms were not lockable.

Lee Wood #517

Unknown

Newcastle Shield Maidens (NWFL)

Cones used to mark one sideline and no centre line.

Kenneth Glover #71

27th July 2024 v Caledonia Chaos

Peterborough Royals (NWFL)

No nine-yard markings, no coaches’ areas, or team boxes. The chains were nine yards when presented but the HL managed to adjust them to an acceptable length.

Gerry Mellough #79

3rd August 2024 v Solent Thrashers

Plymouth Vanguard

80-yard field with 7.5-yard end zones. Nine-yard marks at ten yards and NFL-width hash marks, so cones were used to mark correct positions. Extra changing facilities had been arranged for officials.

Dave Moore #92

Unknown

Scunthorpe Alphas

The end lines were a little skewed due to the alignment of the posts. The changing room is a disabled toilet but furnished with refreshments.

Joel Pearson #405

14th July 2024 v Humber Warhawks

South Wales Warriors

One sideline was noticeably crooked in one of the end zones. Some inbounds markings were unevenly spaced. No nine-yard marks.

Amir Brooks #593

Unknown

Wembley Stallions

Well-marked 100-yard field. The changing room had no private toilet or working shower. The game had to be paused at half-time for an additional 30 minutes as the ambulance took a player to hospital at the start of the half-time interval.

Darren Urben #438

21st July 2024 v Oxford Saints

Yorkshire Rams

Well-marked 100-yard grass field. No coaches' areas or team areas were marked and no three-yard marks were present.

Steve Hall #512

Unknown

Outstanding items from previous weeks

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

Bristol Aztecs

Fields markings are a faint yellow with thin lines, making them hard to see from certain angles. Some of the yard lines (both inbounds and sideline) were short and irregularly spaced. No coaching/team areas were marked.

Amir Brooks #593

13th July 2024 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs

Chester Romans

Team areas were absent, but were marked using cones. Otherwise, a well-marked 90-yard field.

Paul Todd #289

14th July 2024 v Yorkshire Rams

Cornwall Monarchs

Game played on a 80-yard field.

Julian Mallia #336

14th July 2024 v Berkshire Renegades

East Kilbride Pirates

No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines. No Team area marked.

Henry Richardson #25

14th July 2024 v Manchester Titans

East Kilbride Pirates (U19)

No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines. No Team area marked.

Henry Richardson #25

4th August 2024 v Chorley Buccaneers

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

Edinburgh Wolves

The field was marked out in mostly red lines but the end lines were very faint white. Game Management should be reminded in advance, prior to the next game, if it has been repainted. The field also had white athletics markings across the pitch but the red lines used for the game were solid and visible. Team/player area marked out in cones. The excellent chain crew helped game flow without interruptions.

Shawn Sombati #15

21st July 2024 v East Kilbride Pirates

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

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

Hertfordshire Cheetahs

Well marked 100-yard field. Changing rooms are approx. 200 yards from field but large enough for the crew. A second one is there if needed.

Graham Smith #149

21st July 2024 v London Blitz

Humber Warhawks

No nine-yard marks or three-yard marks.

Joel Pearson #405

28th July 2024 v Yorkshire Rams

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

London Blitz

100-yard grass field with ten-yard end zones marked faintly in white. Field surface was sandy in places but was level throughout and a considerable improvement on previous years. No limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Team areas too small and the coaching line and team area line on one side of the field were too close. Goals too wide and one was out of alignment until Game Management improvised a solution. Good size lockable changing room but with too few seats or coat hooks.

Tim Ockendon #481

4th August 2024 v Bristol Aztecs

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

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

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

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

Manchester Titans

80-yard field. Other sports markings present.

Jed Brookes-Lewis #395

21st July 2024 v Newcastle Vikings

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

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)

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

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

North East Giants (U19)

No three-yard lines.

Ali May #42

4th August 2024 v Manchester Titans

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

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

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

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

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

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

Somerset Wyverns

Officials Changing Room were very, small, the crew had to change in shifts or arrive dressed/partially dressed. The crew were allowed to use a Meeting Room for Pre-Game.

Albert Lambert Jnr #461

21st July 2024 v Bournemouth Bobcats

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)

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

Sussex Thunder

Limit lines too close, nine-yards marks missing and coaching boxes / team areas missing.

Dean Wright #553

14th July 2024 v Swindon Storm

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

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

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

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: The game is being played with a Video Judge. 1st and 10 at Midfield, there are 1:30 seconds left in the game. The clock is not running, the score is tied. Team A attempt a pass play and it is intercepted by B38 at the B-29. B38 returns the ball to A’s end zone for a Touchdown.

After the play the video judge reviews the pay and sees clear evidence of a false start prior to the snap.


Ruling?

Last week

Play: 4th and 30 at the A-20. A65 punts the ball, the ball bounces at the A-49 yard line, where B89 attempts to recover the ball with a knee on the ground, B89 muffs the ball. Thinking B89 has secured possession the Back Judge blows his Whistle to declare the ball dead. Immediately after the whistle is sounded, A72 recovers the ball while prone at the A-48.


Ruling: A’s Ball, 1st and 10 at the A-48 yard line. As there was a clear  recovery of the kick in the immediate continuing action after the inadvertent whistle, the ball belongs to the recovering team at the spot of the recovery. (4-1-2-b-3-exp3).

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: 1st and 10 at the A40, team A run an option play.  While under pressure at the A35 quarterback A3 throws a backwards pass to A20, who muffs the ball at the A30.  The ball then bounces on the ground and goes out of bounds at the A32.  How should the covering officials make use bean bags to indicate spots of interest in this play?


Answer next issue…

Last week

Game Situation:  At the end of the 1st and 3rd quarter, what should the Back Judge do?

Answer: The Back Judge should move to the new location for the next play remaining with and between the players.

The Back Judge should also record the yard line of the ball and the down and distance.

(M20.4.2.d & M20.4.8)


CALENDAR

Date

Event

Contact for details

2024

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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