Issue 41/24 31st October 2024
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
The membership renewal window runs until 31st October and I have sent out a list confirming those who have renewed so far. If you believe you should be on the list and are not please contact me as a matter of urgency.
This is a final call for anyone who has not completed the Members' Survey, if you intend to please do so by Saturday 2nd November so that it can be incorporated for the presentation i will be making at the November Board meeting to the rest of the board.
I encourage all members' to complete this as this will help to shape how BAFRA operates over the year ahead,
If you have any questions about the renewal process or members' survey, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Richard Moger - BAFRA General Secretary
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Luca Lattanzi | 21 | UCL Emperors | FUC | 3 | 10:23. After the play UCL #21 was witnessed kicking an opponent whilst on the ground. #21 on his back thrust both legs towards his opponent (who was getting up from completing the tackle). The studs of #21's boots contacted his opponent in the sternum. | 10th November 2024 v KCL Regents | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
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. | 3rd November 2024 v DMU Lions | |
Ziny Zeng | 98 | Sunderland Spartans | TUF | 2 | With 7:28 remaining in the second quarter, #98 was seen to remove his helmet and attempt to confront an opponent. After being penalised for this, as he was ushered away by his teammates, he was seen to throw his helmet some distance resulting in a second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. | 3rd November 2024 v Sheffield Sabres | |
Shadrach Athur | 74 | UWE Bullets | TUF | 4 | #74 committed two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. The first was for shoving an opponent long after the play had ended. The second was for disparaging comments made towards an official. | 3rd November 2024 v Leeds Beckett 1st December 2024 v Loughborough Students | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Bournemouth University Bobcats | The field was missing team areas, coaching areas, and limit lines. Some other sports lines are marked very close to the sideline in a different colour but they have the potential to cause confusion. The whole field is marked in a dark colour and is very faint, the field will need remarking before the next home game. One ball lost pressure during the game so it was replaced. The chain crew contained some injured personnel and they were often very slow/immobile. Oliver Maskell #221 | 8th November 2024 v Bath Killer Beers |
Canterbury Christ Church Chargers | 90-yard field with 8-yard end zones faintly marked in blue with other sport markings in white, red and yellow. No limit lines, numbers or 9-yard marks. Team areas incorrect size and coaching line at incorrect depth. Changing room not lockable or private. Tim Ockendon #481 | 1st December 2024 v Greenwich Mariners |
Edinburgh Mavericks | The game was played under floodlights. Lines were faint and the lights made it worse. Team areas were marked with cones. There was a significant injury to a Glasgow player, causing a stoppage of approximately 10 minutes. Gordon Galloway #7 | 24th November v Stirling Clansmen |
Edinburgh Napier Knights | New field this season, which is very soft underfoot. A well-marked field in white. Gordon Galloway #7 | 10th November 2024 v Stirling Clansmen |
Hull Sharks | No limit lines. No team areas but marked out with cones. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. There were several other sports markings on the field, some in close proximity to the end zones. NFL-width hash marks. One game ball needed inflating prior to the game. David Hewitt #607 | 19th January 2025 v Leicester Longhorns |
Kingston Cougars | The changing facility is not lockable and is shared with other sports officials. It's also located a long walk from the field. The field was really well marked with team areas only marked on the home sideline but tackle bags and cones were used to mark them on the opposition sideline. One goal post is slightly wonky but has been reinforced to prevent turning (as in previous seasons). The field is very boggy in places, particularly at the end to the right when facing it from the changing room approach. One chain crew member changed between halves. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 10th November 2024 v QMBL Vipers |
Leeds Gryphons | Team areas were absent. The field was marked in yellow, but a yellow line from a different sport was present in each end zone. This line did not cause any confusion. Otherwise, a well-marked 80-yard field. Paul Todd #289 | 10th November 2024 v Liverpool Raptors |
Leicester Longhorns | Changing rooms were lockable, but the field is a fair walk (5-10 minutes) from the changing rooms. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 24th November 2024 v Coventry University Jets |
Liverpool Raptors | A well-marked 90-yard field. With 5:17 remaining in the third quarter, the game was delayed for 16 minutes due to an injury to Liverpool #63. Steve Hall #512 | 1st December 2024 v Leeds Gryphons |
LJMU Fury | Field markings below full standards. Football markings were in light yellow, when looking into the Sun they were difficult to say. There were a variety of other sport markings included white field marking closer that 4 feet to and end zone line. There were no nine yard marks or numbers. There were no limit lines. There were no teams areas or coaching boxes marked, however there was a line at approximately 10’ out of bounds that approximated the team area line. Both teams played in Coloured Jerseys (one in Teal and one in Navy Blue), they were sufficiently contrasting. Two lockable changing rooms were provided for five officials. Each changing room was large enough only for one person. A separate room was used for pre-game and half-time meetings. Ben Griffiths #228 | 10th November 2024 v Manchester Tyrants |
Loughborough Students | No three-yard marks or coaching boxes (other sports lines approximated for team areas.) Joel Pearson #405 | 24th November 2024 v Nottingham Gold |
Manchester Tyrants | The field was marked in blue with rugby markings in white. No team areas or three-yard marks. The chain set broke once. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 3rd November 2024 v Northumbria Mustangs |
Reading Knights | There was a clash of jerseys as both teams played in predominantly black jerseys, although Reading had large elements of red and white in parts of their jerseys. However, they were still clashing to a large degree. Brighton's jersey is black with purple numbers, which is not an ideal contrast but there were no issues with being able to see the numbers on the day. Only six pylons were available, so four were used at the Goal Line and the remaining two were used on the End Line in one of the End Zones. There is also some discrepancy regarding whether parking at the venue is now chargeable. The website for the venue and the staff at the reception both said it was free at weekends, but the signs in the Car Park itself now say it costs £3 on a Sunday. Andrew Murrell #608 | 3rd November 2024 v Brunel Burners |
SGS Pride | ||
Solent Redhawks | 100-yard field, mostly marked in yellow apart from the midfield line (white) and the majority of the ten-yard lines (dark colour). Team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines. Peter Parsons #321 | 2nd February 2025 v Oxford Brookes Panthers |
Tarannau Aberystwyth | Kick-off was delayed for one hour due to the Away team forgetting some Jerseys. As such, quarters were reduced to ten minutes due to light concerns. However, the away team were able to provide two of the three game balls. Kieran Smith #102 | 16th February 2025 v Plymouth Blitz |
UCL Emperors | The crew changed in Disable Toilet - this has been painted with the toilet and shower now both working. Inbounds markings were in the correct place but were not correctly marked (approx 1/2" wide.) Graham Smith #149 | 10th November 2024 v KCL Regents |
UEA Pirates | Very faint lines were difficult to see in the sunlight. Team areas were marked with cones. Chain set needed repair once. Brian Yates #29 | 17th November 2024 v UCL Emperors |
UWE Bullets | No Limit Lines. Two small changing rooms were provided, so the crew was split up - but the rooms were lockable and had showers. Oliver Maskell #221 | 7th December 2024 v Durham Saints |
UWE Bullets 2 | A new person was needed on the chains at half time and, as the original crew were not available at the second half kickoff time, it took time to identify this and obtain a replacement. Keith Wickham #423 | 3rd November 2024 v Tarannau Aberystwyth |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Cardiff Cobras | 90-yard field. Cardiff addressed the issues from last week; having re-marked the field the visibility of the lines is improved. They have also invested in a new metal chain, although one of the stakes is still bent. No nine-yard marks. Coaches and team areas were marked out in cones only. The goals at this venue are some 5 yards off the end line, so padding is not required here. Amir Brooks #593 | 3rd November 2024 v SGS Pride |
Newcastle Raiders | No limit lines. No nine-yard marks or numbers. There were several other sports markings on the field including some in close proximity to the end zones. David Hewitt #607 | 1st December 2024 v Warwick Wolves |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: 4th & 18 at the A-32. Team A Punt the ball and, in an attempt to catch the kick, returner B85 muffs the ball at the B-15. A32 recovers the ball at the B-20 where he advances across the Goal Line. While in the Endzone A32 celebrates by performing a mid-air somersault. The Line Judge throws his flag for this act by A32 for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
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Last 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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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: When setting up to pass, the potential passer is hit from their blindside. When in doubt is it a pass or a fumble?
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Last week | Game Situation: The game is played at a venue with only one stand at the side of the field. The game is not being broadcast. The home team select to use the sideline opposite this stand. While the Head Linesman is briefing the chain crew. The Home Team Head Coach states “we want the chains run on the other side of the field so they don’t get in our way”. Answer: The request is denied. The chains must be run on the side opposite the press box (1-2-7). If there is not a formal press box, the location of the press box is determined by the location of the majority of spectators not by which side of the field the home team chooses to use (M8.2.2). Note - if the game was being broadcast, the main TV camera may be located opposite the stand (in order to have the stand in the background of shot), therefore it would be correct to run the chains on the side of the stand in this case. |
Date | Event | Contact for details |
2025 | ||
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. |
