Issue 8/25 5th March 2025
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
BAFRA ANNUAL CONVENTION - SAT 22ND AND SUN 23RD MARCH 2025
We should have settled on the final number of Convention attendees, so now is the time to start planning. You should have received several emails from our General Secretary with important information regarding our AGM, which takes place on Saturday 22nd March during the Convention. I suggest you read these emails - they are always very informative. If you have any questions for any of the Directors, please use the form so that the answers can be researched in advance, and you will be able to receive a reply at the AGM. There are also votes to be cast for our Annual Charity, Accountants, and Director of Recruitment. Again, please read the information in advance of attending. Thank you.
Please see below for information regarding the location and how to register.
Please remember there is no charge for BAFRA members to attend the Convention, with lunch and the evening meal on Saturday provided at no additional cost to our members.
Location
The Convention will be held at Yarnfield Park Training & Conference Centre, Yarnfield Lane, Yarnfield, Staffordshire, ST15 0NL. Yarnfield Park is a leading Training and Conference centre in the heart of the UK. I would recommend that you look over the facility on their website, where you can find details of the location and directions: https://www.yarnfieldpark.com.
Registration
You can still register to attend the Convention at the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/vRuGyBCGEe.
Finally, if you have any questions or queries around the convention, please drop an email to convention@bafra.info and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Ian Sneddon - Convention Delivery Team
REPORTING SERVED SUSPENSIONS
In Newsflash 6/25 I reported a fault in the Suspension Served Webform. I am glad to report the issues appear to have been resolved. Please use the link found via the online paperwork section of the BAFRA website (if you have the page bookmarked separately, a reminder that the new link is https://tinyurl.com/BAFASusp).
Ben Griffiths - BAFA Disciplinary Officer
discipline@britishamericanfootball.org
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Eddie Burlock | 47 | Sussex Saxons | TGD | 4 | With 11:51 remaining in the 4th Quarter, #47 was seen to make forcible contact to the head/neck area to an opponent who was defenceless by virtue of being on the ground. | 9th March 2025 v Plymouth Blitz | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Michael Abera | 6 | UWE Bullets | TGC | 3 | During a free kick play, number 6, targeted and made forcible contact with the Crown of the Helmet. The present indicators of targeting were, a launch, leading with the helmet and lowering the head before attacking by initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet. | 9th March 2025 v Loughborough Students | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Bournemouth University Bobcats | A well-marked field in dark paint, with similar colour markings close to but outside the sidelines. The field had clearly been re-marked recently, which was appreciated. No marked team areas, but yellow markings were used as approximations. No nine-yard marks or numbers, but it was generally an excellently marked field. The chain broke once. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 9th March 2025 v Brunel Burners |
Brunel Burners | Team areas were marked out between the 15-yard lines. The grass had been cut and the markings had been redone, so they were much more visible than in previous games. Officials' changing room is too small for a crew of six. Parking at the venue continues to be a challenge due to the many other sports taking place at the same time. Andrew Murrell #608 | Unknown |
Edge Hill Vikings | The field was marked in blue but clearly visible. The inbounds markings are too narrow, cones were used to mark the correct width. No team areas. The kickoff was delayed by five minutes due to the officials' assistants being provided late. The second-half kickoff was delayed by five minutes to allow medics to return to the field after leaving at half time. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | Unknown |
Edinburgh Napier Knights | This was a well-marked field except for the yard lines and short-yard extension lines at the sidelines not being four inches from the sidelines. Ian Sneddon #427 | 9th March 2024 v Northumbria Mustangs |
Kingston Cougars | Well-marked 100-yard field in white. Limit line only marked on the home team side of the field. Both team areas were marked out with cones, but coaching and team area lines were marked with cones on the home team sideline only. One set of posts had rotated through 90 degrees, and this was rectified by game management before kickoff. The field surface was poor, especially at the Southern end of the field and deteriorated as the game progressed. Tim Ockendon #481 | Unknown |
Lancaster Bombers | 80-yard field. No limit lines. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas were incorrectly marked out between the 15-yard lines. The game balls required inflation prior to use. David Hewitt #607 | Unknown |
Northumbria Mustangs | The coaching boxes were marked with cones. Otherwise, it was a well marked 90-yard field. The game was played in great spirit, both teams are a credit to their universities! Gordon Galloway #7 | Unknown |
Plymouth Blitz | The changing room was far too small for the officials. The pitch markings were much better than on previous occasions. Coaches’ boxes were between the 25-yard lines. Dave Moore #92 | 9th March 2025 v Sussex Saxons |
Sheffield Sabres | Team areas were absent. Pylons at the hash marks extended were absent. Otherwise, a well-marked 90-yard field. Paul Todd #289 | 16th March 2025 v York Centurions |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: It is 4th and Goal at the B-5 yard line. Quarterback A12 receives the snap and runs to the B-2 where is hit and looses possession of the ball. A83 picks up the ball at the B-3 and runs into the endzone where he celebrates and makes a rude gesture to an opponent.
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Last week | Play: It is 4th and 5 at the B-25. QB A-1 is under centre. The snap is made and the quarterback touches the ball with his hands, but never controls the ball. The ball rolls backwards to the B-28 where running back A-33 recovers the ball and advances to the B-8 where he is tackled.
The game clock will start on the ready for play, the play clock will be 40 seconds and start when B-8 is tackled. |
MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: Upon arrival at the game site, there are no goal posts available. Both Coaches agree to play the game. The game kicks off and the Visiting Team fall behind and are trailing 27-0 at the end of the first quarter. During the interval, the Visiting Team Head Coach informs the Referee that he no longer wishes to play the game without goal posts as he feels that his team is at an unfair disadvantage and wishes for the game to be abandoned.
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Last week | Game Situation: The game is being live broadcast. It is 6C crew. It is the end of the first quarter, which official is responsible for communicating with the TV liaison person to ensure the 2nd quarter can begin. Answer: M20.7.1 The Back Judge. This duty only applies if the game is being broadcast live and the timings of the game need to be synchronised with the broadcast director. The TV production company is responsible for providing the TV liaison person. |
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. |
