Issue 3/25                                                                                30th January2025

BAFRA Newsflash

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  @BAFRAOfficial             @BAFRA_Official 


ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF BAFRA LTD

The Annual General Meeting of BAFRA Limited will be held during the Convention at 5pm on Saturday 22nd March 2025. 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 2025. Any BAFRA member can nominate a charity, if you wish to do so, please email me with your nomination.

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

In the case of three of the posts, Director of Finance, Recruitment and Director without Portfolio #2 the present incumbent has indicated that they will be seeking re-election.

As of 11pm on Tuesday 28th February the following nominations for these posts have been received:

Director of Finance:

Director of Operations:

- Ollie Maskell #221 – Proposed by James Ford-Bannister #479. Seconded by Henry Richardson #25

Director of Recruitment:

- Emma Harris #236 – Proposed by Graham Smith #149. Seconded by Henry Richardson #25

Director without Portfolio #2:

- Steve Tonkinson #99 – Proposed by David Parsons #425. Seconded by Graham Coleman #177

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 - BAFRA General Secretary

secretary@bafra.info

BAFRA AWARDS

The number of annual BAFRA Awards this year have been increased this year to five and will be awarded for the following:

All members should have received an email outlining the 2025 BAFRA awards with nominations forms within the email as well as the criteria for each award.

The closing date for all nominations is 31st January 2025, with all winners to be announced at the Awards Dinner held over the Convention weekend.

If you have not received the email or would like more information.

Richard Moger - BAFRA General Secretary

secretary@bafra.info

CONVENTION UPDATE

I am pleased to announce that 41 members have registered to attend the convention, as of Tuesday 28 January. I will forward a list of those registered to members. If you have only recently registered your name may not yet have been added to the list, but if you have any queries regarding registration please contact us at convention@bafra.info.

Ian Sneddon - Convention Delivery Team

convention@bafra.info

DISCIPLINARY CASES

NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

New this week

Chidubem Odumegwu-Obi

60

Sunderland Spartans

FUC

4

With 7:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, Sheffield made an interception and a subsequent long return. At the end of the play, #60 of Sunderland committed a Personal Foul (Late Hit Out of Bounds) on the Sheffield returner. This caused injury to the defender. Despite being restrained by his teammates, #60 proceeded to stand over the injured player as he was being tended to by his coaches and taunted the player.

9th February 2025 v  York Centurions

Previous weeks

Jedd Fadhley

-

Bristol Barracudas

BGD

-

Bringing the Game into Disrepute by unethically attempting to gain access to other team’s playbooks and training film.

2nd February 2025 v Swansea Titans
9th February 2025 v Bournemouth Bobcats
Next 4 games thereafter

Rodrigo Canario

7

City Wolfpack

FGT

3

With 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, #7 engaged in a fight with the receiving team #30, where both players dragged the other to the ground by the facemask and refused to separate until multiple others intervened.

2nd February 2025 v Imperial Immortals

Victor Osuofia

30

QMBL Vipers

FGT

3

With 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, #30 engaged in a fight with the kicking team #7, where both players dragged the other to the ground by the facemask and refused to separate until multiple others intervened.

9th February 2025 v Imperial Immortals

Ryan Bradley

42

Sussex Saxons

FPF

4

Kicked the head of an opponent who was prone on the ground.

9th February 2025 v Oxford Brookes

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

New this week

Bath Killer Bees

Bath informed the referee the field was unplayable before any crew member travelled

Keith Wickham #423

12th February 2025 v Southampton Stags

Bath Spa Bulldogs

Two plays into the fourth quarter, the home team head coach requested to forfeit the game due to several injuries. This had resulted in the team no longer having enough linemen to complete the game.

Dan Harries Davies #363

2nd February 2025 v Gloucestershire Gladiators

Birmingham Lions

Field marked in black and very faint. There were a number of gaps in the sideline. These were filled using tape to allow the game to go ahead. No team areas were marked, so cones were used instead. The chain crew was supplied by the away team.

Jed Brookes-Lewis #395

Unknown

Cambridge Pythons

Team areas marked to 25-yard lines.

Brian Yates #29

9th February 2025 v Derby Braves

Essex Blades

Kick off was delayed by 22 minutes.

Larry Rigby #269

Unknown

Hertfordshire Hurricanes

90-yard artificial field marked in blue. The inbounds markings have become faint but 12 pylons were correctly placed so the ones behind the endline assisted with locating where they were. Regulars to Herts will be familiar with the two parallel sets of wires that stretch across the field either side of halfway, which caused numerous instances where inadvertent whistle provisions were applied. No numbers or nine-yard marks. No team areas or coaching boxes were present. With 6:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, the game was suspended for a player with a suspected head and neck injury who the medics were unable to move. Due to strong wind and driving rain, all players, coaches, and officials returned to the main changing room building. After a 35-minute delay, the medics had managed to stabilise the player and get them on a stretcher so they could also be moved into the building to await the ambulance but this meant that the medics were no longer available to the game as they needed to remain with the injured player. At this point, both head coaches agreed to reduce the remaining time in the fourth quarter to zero.

Phil Clarke #262

2nd February 2025 v Reading Knights

Leicester Longhorns

Hash marks were marked out to NFL-width, so extensions were marked with cones at the end line. Team areas were not marked, so were marked to the 20-yard lines with cones. There was a 40-minute delay in kickoff due to the late arrival of the medical staff. There was also a delay in getting the chain crew ready to be briefed but this did not affect game time due to the late arrival of the medics.

Mike Crotch-Harvey #259

Unknown

Liverpool Raptors

Kickoff was delayed by site staff due to the over-running soccer game and the need to put up the rugby posts. One side line had 100 yards worth of yard-line extensions for a 90-yard field. Luckily the away side appeared correct so chains were run on that sideline as normal. The five-yard "solid" lines were faded. No team area or coaching boxes were marked.

John Roberts #145

2nd February 2025 v Newcastle Raiders

Newcastle Raiders

Team areas were marked with cones. The lines were a darker colour, making it difficult to see them under floodlights. One ball person changed at halftime. There was a 15-minute stoppage for a serious injury to an NTU player. Thankfully, he was recovering well when we inquired after the game.

Gordon Galloway #7

Unknown

Northumbria Mustangs

Team areas were marked with cones.

Gordon Galloway #7

Unknown

Reading Knights

Reading notified the Referee on Friday afternoon that, due to the field in Reading being waterlogged, the game was cancelled. The game was subsequently re-organised for Tilsley Park in Abingdon. 100-yard field marked very faintly in blue. No coaching boxes, team areas, or limit lines.

Peter Parsons #321

Unknown

Sheffield Sabres

90-yard field marked in black with other sports markings in a variety of colours, including black. No team areas or coaching areas were marked. No numbers or nine-yard marks. The short yard-line extensions were too close to the sideline. One sideline was a bit wonky. Medical provision, although provided, was slow to attend to injuries and otherwise disinterested. Chain was 9.5 yards long but didn’t present any problems during the game. The changing room was small and intended for a soccer crew, but was at least lockable and included shower facilities - a relief after the wet conditions.

Michael Hansford #594

16th February 2025 v Sheffield Sabres

Southampton Stags

The third and fourth quarters were reduced to five minutes and zero minutes respectively by mutual agreement of the head coaches, at the request of the home team, due to depleted player numbers and further risk of injury.

Scott Castle #626

2nd February 2025 v Bath Killer Bees

Surrey Stingers

Well-marked 90-yard field, which is now closer to the main sports center. The lockable changing room was a short distance from the field. One ball person changed at halftime. The home team provided coloured bibs for officials' assistants.

Graham Smith #149

Unknown

UCL Emperors

The game was played at Avery Hill Campus, Greenwich. Field markings are present but faint in places. The home team only had two legal game balls, but a third ball was sourced from the away team.

Andrew Murrell #608

Unknown

UWE Bullets

100-yard field with faint white lines. Rugby markings were also in white.

Euan Paterson #165

1st February 2025 v Durham Saints

Outstanding items from previous weeks

ARU Rhinos

Game cancelled. On the way to the venue, the Referee received a call from ARU informing them that DMU had transport issues and would likely arrive later than planned. After further phone calls, DMU would not expect to arrive until 14:30, plus would then need time to warm up, which would not allow enough time for the completion of three quarters (as required by BUCS regulations) as sunset would be 75 minutes after arrival. Therefore, the teams decided that the game would be cancelled. All officials were either already at the venue or on their way to the venue when this decision was made.

Andrew Murrell #608

2nd February 2025 v Cambridge Pythons

Brighton Panthers

No team areas were marked. Goals approximately three yards behind the end line, but now with proper post protectors. The field has been remarked and was pretty clear, though continues to have markings for multiple sports

Ben Gadsby #564

2nd February 2025 v Oxford Lancers

Bristol Barracuda

Field marked in Black. Difficult to see under floodlights. Other sports markings in similar colours. Missing team areas.

Stuart Tabberer #348

9th February 2025 v Bournemouth Bobcats

Brunel Burners

90-yard well-marked field. Some of the markings became hard to see during the game. Team areas were marked to the 15-yard lines. No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines. The game kicked off more than five minutes late and, as kickoff was less than three hours before sunset, the quarters were shortened to ten minutes under Rule [3-2-1-f].

Peter Parsons #321

9th February 2025 v Brighton Panthers

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

Markings are blue on green artificial turf. No nine-yard marks or numbers. One of the first three game balls provided was flat but a suitable replacement was found.

Richard Whitby #136

2nd February 2025 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors

Derby Braves

No nine-yard marks or coaches' boxes (rugby lines used as an approximation). The away team played in two different styles of white jersey.

Joel Pearson #405

16th February 2025 v DMU Lions

Edge Hill Vikings

Field markings below the required standards. No limit lines or numbers. No coaches or team areas were marked. Only four pylons were available, so the end lines were marked with cones. NFL-width hash marks. Upon arrival, 1.5 hours before the game, the changing facilities were unavailable. The changing facilities were opened one hour before the scheduled kickoff time. This hampered the officials' pre-game and also the away team's warm-up. As a result, it was agreed with both teams to move the kickoff time back by 15 minutes. With 6:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Head Coach for the away team informed the official on his sideline that, due to player injuries, he felt he could not finish the game safely with his remaining players and therefore would like to forfeit the game.

Steve Hall #512

9th February 2025 v Lancaster Bombers

Edinburgh Napier Knights

Field surface was very soft underfoot, but a very well marked out field.

Gordon Galloway #7

2nd February 2025 v Glasgow Tigers

Glasgow University Tigers

The game kicked off 61 minutes late as, despite a similar delay for their last home game, Glasgow had to re-mark all four sets of short-yard line extensions (as the chain crew were tasked with this, it then delayed their briefing). A miscommunication with the collection of their own jerseys had Edinburgh having to borrow Glasgow's alternative shirts.

Ali May #42

9th February 2025 v Stirling Clansmen

Heriot-Watt Wolverines

The team areas were missing, so marked with cones.

Kenneth Glover #71

9th February 2025 v Aberdeen Bulls

Hertfordshire Hurricanes

No team areas marked, but cones used as an approximation. All three game balls were below legal pressure.

Andrew Murrell #608

6th January 2025 v Brunel Burners

Hull Sharks

No limit lines. No team areas were marked, so cones were used. The field also had no three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Hash markings were NFL width. There were several other sports markings on the field. The chains had to be repaired twice, and one game ball had to be inflated.

Dave Black #574

9th February 2025 v Coventry Jets

KCL Regents

90-yard artificial field. Markings in blue, with other sports markings, getting slightly feint. No team area markings, numbers, or nine-yard marks. One goal crossbar is bent. The down box is of the correct size, however the dial-a-down box is broken meaning it often cannot display the correct down number. Changing rooms are not private and a significant walk from the field.

Lee Wood #517

2nd February 2025 v UCL Emperors

Kent Falcons

90-yard artificial field marked in red with multiple other sports markings in blue, yellow, and white. The markings were clearer to make out this week. No team area or coaching box lines were present, cones were used instead to mark them. There were no nine-yard marks or numbers, but the rugby markings were used as a reference point instead.

Phil Clarke #262

2nd February 2025 v Essex Blades

Leeds Beckett Carnegie

80-yard field. No limit lines. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Several other sports markings were present in close proximity to the end zones. Team areas were marked out using cones. The game balls required inflation prior to use.

David Hewitt #607

2nd February 2025 v Loughborough Students

Leeds Gryphons

80-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Several other sports markings were present in close proximity to the end zones. Team areas were missing but marked out using cones. All three game balls were actually overinflated and required adjusting prior to use.

David Hewitt #607

9th February 2025 v NTU Renegades

LJMU Fury

Field markings below full standards. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No limit lines, team areas or coaching boxes. Several of the main lines were crooked. two small changing rooms supplied for 4 officials, separate area used for pre game and halftime discussions.

Steve Hall #512

2nd February 2025 v Northumbria Mustangs

Loughborough Students

Very faint yard lines and hash marks. No team areas. No three-yard marks.

Brian Yates #29

16th February 2025 v Durham Saints

Oxford Brookes

100-yard field marked in (mostly) blue. The lines are quite faint and became harder to see as it got darker. No marked coaching box or team areas, however, some rugby markings were used to approximate the position of the team areas. No limit lines. One member of the chain crew changed at half-time.

Peter Parsons #321

9th February 2025 v Sussex Saxons

Oxford Lancers

A mostly well-marked 90-yard field with double sidelines and goal lines. Changing rooms are quite a distance from the field.

Emma Harris #236

9th February 2025 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes

Portsmouth Destroyers

90-yard field, which has been repainted in a new pink colour. The team and coaching areas were still missing, but the quality of the overall markings was much improved from the last game.

Oliver Maskell #221

2nd February 2025 v SGS Pride

QMBL Vipers

Markings in blue on a rugby field marked in white. Goal posts slightly outside the end lines. The field became very muddy throughout the game, especially between the hashes. The female officials' changing room was also used for female away players and lacks a door handle to the main corridor so has to be accessed from the other side.

Daniel Clarke #311

16th February 2025 v Greenwich Mariners

Sheffield Hallam Warriors

90-yard field marked in red. Chains had to be set to the correct length before kick-off. No team areas were marked though both teams managed their respective sideline with good discipline throughout. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Goalposts were set back a yard from the end line. Other sports markings were present around the field. Two lockable changing rooms were provided for officials with each big enough for 2/3 people.

Ian Rogers #625

9th February 2025 v Nottingham Green

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

Southampton Stags

The stags set out a nice spread of sandwiches, crisps, and drinks for the officials which is always welcome.

Keith Wickham #423

26th January 2025 v Bournemouth Bobcats

Sussex Saxons

Three-yard marks were marked at the two-yard line. End zones were approximately 11 yards deep. Chains kept breaking throughout the game. The whole chain crew was changed at half-time.

Dean Wright #553

16th February 2025 v Surrey Stingers

Swansea Titans

Sidelines, goal lines, and end lines have been re-marked in red and are noticeably clearer than in the previous game. The original black yard-line extensions were not redone and are fainter. 100-yard field with nine-yard endzones and NFL-width hash marks. No end line pylons were available to assist with spotting the ball. No three-yard marks, team areas, coaching areas, or limit lines. Due to a booking problem, the home team's medical cover was not present at the game. Thankfully, the visiting team's medic was a qualified sports therapist and was able to stand in as the game's medical cover.

Amir Brooks #593

2nd February 2025 v Bristol Barracuda

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

UCLan Rams

Field markings below required standards. No team areas, coaching areas, limit lines, or numbers were marked. The lines were marked in dark blue which became difficult to see as the light levels lowered. Changing rooms were of adequate size for a crew of five but were a substantial walk away from the field.

Steve Hall #512

2nd February 2025 v Manchester Tyrants

Warwick Wolves

Changing rooms were not lockable. Field marking were in a dark colour and slightly offset from other sports markings.

Kieran Smith #102

2nd February 2025 v Leeds Gryphons

York Centurions

Field markings below full standards. The field was marked in red and was difficult to see in places, it will need remarking, preferably in white before the next game at this venue. There were no nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas, Coaching areas, and Limit lines were missing. The changing rooms were approximately 500 metres from the Car Park, and the field was a further 200 metres from the changing rooms. There were only three toilets for everyone using the Sports fields (1 male, 1 female, and 1 disabled toilet). The Changing rooms were not lockable and were only sufficient for approximately three people.

Ben Griffiths #228

2nd February 2025 v York St John Jaguars

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: A12 throws a forward pass intended for A89. During the pass, defensive end B88 is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The pass to A89 is complete for a 10-yard gain to the A-30 where A88 is tackled.


Ruling?

Last week

Play: 3rd and 5 at the B-35. Team B has 12 players in the formation, and no Team B player is attempting to leave the field. The ball is ready for play, both teams are in formation and the snap is imminent. Quarterback A12, late in the play clock, is struggling to read the defense and the play clock expires.


Ruling: It will be 1st and 10 at the B-30. There is no foul for delay of game, penalise Team B for a substitution foul. (3-5-3-b)

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: On a five man crew, on 3rd down, Team A run a sweep play towards the Press-Box side of the field. After the play, the Line Judge indicates a forward progress spot that results in a first down, the Head Linesman indicates a spot that results in fourth down. The two wing officials cannot agree on the spot. Which forward progress spot should be used?


Answer next issue…

Last week

Game Situation: Team A completes a forward pass inbounds with the clock running. They hurry to the line and get set; immediately before the snap, receiver A87 who is standing in front of the Line Judge commits a false start which the Line Judge flags. At the same time the Head Coach of Team A, who is standing on the Linesman’s side of the field requests a timeout.

Answer: The charged Team timeout should be granted, there is no foul for false start. If in doubt, a charged team timeout precedes a foul that prevents the snap (M6.1.12).

CALENDAR

Date

Event

Contact for details

2025

15th February (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting (Virtual)

secretary@bafra.info

22nd March (Sat)

BAFRA Ltd. AGM

secretary@bafra.info

22nd-23rd March (Sat-Sun)

BAFRA Convention

training@bafra.info

17th May (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

12th July (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting (Virtual)

secretary@bafra.info

8th November (Sat)

BAFRA Board Meeting

secretary@bafra.info

2026

11th-12th April (Sat-Sun)

BAFRA Convention

training@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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