Issue 42/24 7th November 2024
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
RULE CLARIFICATION
A number of reports identify fields marked with "NFL hash marks". This typically means that the inbounds lines are 70ft 9in from the sidelines, instead of the correct 60ft. If this is the case, the game should not be played to the marked inbounds lines. Cones or other indicators, behind the end lines, should be used to approximate the correct location of the inbounds lines and for spotting the ball between them. Adopting that approach means we consistently apply the rules and are more in tune with NCAA/IFAF standards. Teams should take care to ensure that they, or their ground staff, mark their field out correctly - good communication is essential to make sure that our standards are met (and paint isn't wasted).
I have also received a report querying whether it is legal for a player to have fresh orange juice squeezed on their hands - presumably to improve their grip on the ball. No, it is not legal - it is a breach of Rule [1-4-7-g] which prohibits adhesive material on a player's person, clothing or equipment.
Any questions relating to the above, please let me know.
Jim Briggs - BAFA Rules Editor
rules@britishamericanfootball.org
BAFRA CHARITY 2024
BAFRA's Charity for 2024, the Alzheimer's Society, has contacted the Association to thank it for the £1,850 donation made by BAFRA. I would like to extend my thanks to all those members who donated to this cause. I will make contact in early 2025 for nominations for the 2025 BAFRA Charity as part of the preparations for the AGM.
Richard Moger - BAFRA General Secretary
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Bora Dogmen | 75 | Durham Saints | FUC | 2 | Immediately following a play, #75 was seen to strike an opponent in the back, which also caused injury requiring treatment. | 10th November 2024 v Loughborough Students | |
Faizaan Hassan | 65 | Leicester Longhorns | TUF | 4 | With 10:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, after the play was over, #65 responded to provocation by pushing an opposing player in the chest, drawing a first unsportsmanlike penalty. After the players had been separated by officials and teammates, #65 continued to exchange words with the opposing player and returned to shove him a second time. It was deemed that enough time had elapsed to consider this a second act so #65 was penalised for a second unsportsmanlike conduct foul. | 10th November 2024 v Coventry University Jets | |
Jake Walton | 74 | Reading Knights | FGT | 2 | With 6:50 remaining in the second quarter, just after the end of a play, #74 was seen to throw a punch into the back of an opponent. | 10th November 2024 v Oxford Lancers | |
Mackenzie Ellis | 2 | SGS Pride | FUC | 2 | After sustaining an injury, #2 was walking off the field between the two teams making ready for play. #2 raised his voice for all to hear and, gesturing at the opponents used violent and inappropriate language. | 10th November 2024 v Exeter Demons | |
Victor Ojeaburu | 16 | Sheffield Hallam Warriors | TUF | 4 | With 10:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, after claiming to have been fouled, #16 began shouting at an opposition player and bought his face close to theirs to laugh at them, who responded physically, drawing a first unsportsmanlike penalty. After the players had been separated by teammates and officials, #16 continued to goad the opposition player, who returned and pushed #16, who then fell to the floor in an exaggerated manner drawing a second unsportsmanlike penalty. | 10th November 2024 v Nottingham Green | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
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 | |
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. | 17th November 2024 v Durham Saints 1st December 2024 v Loughborough Students | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Cardiff Cobras | 90-yard artificial field marked in Yellow. Team area markings were missing but marked out using cones. The chain set has a new chain, but one post remains very bent. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 1st December 2024 v Exeter Demons |
Chichester Spitfires | 90-yard rugby field. End zones are short and not necessarily the same size. The team areas were marked to 12 yards instead of 12 feet. Changing rooms were neither private nor lockable, but the crew were able to leave bags at reception. Daniel Clarke #311 | 9th February 2025 v RHUL Bears |
City Wolfpack | 80-yard field with eight-yard end zones marked in pink with other sports markings in white. Main yard lines were approximately 5.5 yards apart. The short yard-line extensions at the sidelines and the hash marks were not a consistent distance apart. No team areas, limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. The visiting team protested the field markings prior to kick off and with 9:07 remaining in the second quarter (with the score at 26-6) they refused to continue with the game citing player safety and injuries to their already small (24 players at KO) squad. Tim Ockendon #481 | 2nd February 2025 v Imperial Immortals |
Coventry University Jets | Kickoff was 11:00, not 10:30 as initially communicated. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 10th November 2024 v Leicester Longhorns |
Durham Saints | No limit lines. No three-yard marks. Several other sports markings were present and in close proximity to the end zones. The team areas were missing but marked out using cones and other sports lines. All three game balls required inflation prior to use. David Hewitt #607 | 10th November 2024 v Loughborough Students |
Keele Crusaders | The home team only provided two game balls. As the Sports Union didn't open early enough for the arrival of officials to cover a 10:00 kickoff, the Officials arrived in uniform. Andrew Lovell #559 | 10th November 2024 v Staffordshire Stallions |
Leeds Beckett Carnegie | Field markings fall below full standards. John Roberts #145 | 24th November 2024 v Durham Saints |
Manchester Tyrants | Well-marked 100-yard field. However, the markings were dark blue and became difficult to see under floodlights as the game went on. Steve Hall #512 | 24th November 2024 v MMU Eagles |
Plymouth Blitz | The pitch was marked with NFL-width hash marks, so cones were used to mark the correct width. Numbers marked on the field on the major yard lines were incorrect and were five yards out of sync. Sideline markers were used to mark the correct yard lines. Changing rooms were very small for officials. Dave Moore #92 | 26th January 2025 v Gloucestershire Gladiators |
Portsmouth Destroyers | 90-yard field painted in a mix of orange and red. Lines were probably around two inches thick and many of the main lines were very faint - the crew were informed that they would be repainted in a more "permanent" paint in the next few weeks. Team and coaching boxes were marked with cones. Changing rooms shared with players and not lockable, members of the public come and go to use the toilets in the corner of the room throughout pregame and half-time. There was a change to the chain crew during the 1st half due to injury. The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth was in attendance and was the VIP at the coin toss. Oliver Maskell #221 | 17th November 2024 v Cardiff Cobras |
Reading Knights | Generally well-marked field. End lines were marked in blue with all other lines in white. Team areas were marked to the 25-yard lines. Some lines were faint. Limit lines less than 18 feet in some places. Two small changing rooms for the officials, neither of which are lockable. The car park at SportsPark has signs up saying that parking is chargeable on Sundays, but the Sports Centre reception staff confirmed that it is, in fact, free parking on weekends. Peter Parsons #321 | 24th November 2024 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
Sheffield Hallam Warriors | Posts are set a yard back from the marked end line. The changing room was too small for a crew of five. The home team had a few jerseys of an old design, predominantly burgundy rather than predominantly black, due to their new kit not arriving in time. Joel Pearson #405 | 8th December 2024 v Hull Sharks |
Staffordshire Stallions | NFL-width hash marks. Andrew Lovell #559 | 17th November 2024 v Lancaster Bombers |
Stirling Clansmen | While the individual yard lines/hash marks had been remarked, the five-yard markings and sidelines were very faded. Team areas were marked with cones. As the weather stayed dry, the visiting team's green jerseys contrasted enough with Stirling’s alternative black jerseys. Ali May #42 | 8th December 2024 v Edinburgh Napier Knights |
Swansea Titans | 100-yard field with numbers and NFL-width hash marks. One goal line was very faint at one corner and needs re-marking. No three-yard marks or coaching/team areas (the team areas were marked out with cones.) Amir Brooks #593 | 24th November 2024 v Bournemouth University Bobcats |
Team North U19 | No limit lines. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Team areas were incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines. David Hewitt #607 | Unknown |
Warwick Wolves | The game was played at Butts Park Arena. Changing rooms were lockable (the same room as the officials used for the recent Great Britain vs. Germany fixture.) A scoreboard was available but no game clock was in operation during the game. There was a slight delay at the start of the second half awaiting floodlights in one corner of the ground being phased on. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 10th November 2024 v Newcastle Raiders |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: 3rd and 4 at the B-8. B98 intercepts QB A12’s forward pass in the end zone and starts to run with the ball. While B98 was running with the ball, B52 clipped A62 in the end zone. B98 is then tackled by the face mask by A66 in the end zone. Team A were in an illegal formation at the snap
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Last 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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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: On a crew of five, what fouls should be recorded (in writing) by which officials? What details of the fouls should be recorded?
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Last 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? Answer: If the passer was hit from their blind-side, when in doubt it is a fumble rather than a forward pass.{M6.2.18}. |
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. |
