Issue 14/25 24th April 2025
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
REPORTING DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR TUF
Just a brief reminder; when reporting disqualifications for Two Unspsirtmanline Conduct Fouls, please include details of both Fouls. The report should include, time, period, calling official and a brief description of what occurred.
Ben Griffiths - BAFA Disciplinary Officer
discipline@britishamericanfootball.org
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Matthew Hyndman | 21 | Chester Romans | TUF | 4 | Early in the third quarter, number 21 stood over a prone opponent and taunted them. Between the third and fourth quarters, whilst changing ends, number 21 verbally abused an Official. He was disqualified. Upon completion of the penalty and announcement of disqualification, number 21 re-entered the field, removed his helmet, threw it to the ground and charged at the officials. He had to be restrained by a number of teammates and coaches. This was treated as Misconduct and a second fixed penalty offence | 27th April 2025 v Scunthopre Alphas and next 5 competitive games thereafter | |
Demilade Soyoye | 28 | Rushmoor Knights | TUF | 3 | With 13:00 remaining in the second quarter, #28 left the team area to confront the LJ on the sideline (stopping the LJ from his duties), and loudly shout and remonstrate about a call. With 12:50 remaining in the third quarter, #28 was seen by the BJ to forcibly shove an opponent to the ground, well after and away from the play, and after the opponent had clearly finished participating in any action. | 4th May 2005 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs & 11th May 2025 v v Cambridgeshire Cats & 1st June 2025 v London Blitz | |
Andre Clarke | 86 | Solent Seahawks (U19) | TUF | 4 | In the first quarter, the player threw the football at an opponent after the play was over. With 2:12 remaining in the 4th quarter number 86 committed a second unsportsmanlike act. They taunted their opponents using the football in the crook of their arm. | 18th May 2025 v Rushmoor Knights U19 | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Aimee-Louise Mulcahy | 44 | Hertfordshire Cheetahs Women | FPF | 2 | With around 9 minutes left of the 2nd Half of the Final game of this event - Hertfordshire #44 was seen to forcibly remove and throw the helmet of a Caledonia Chaos player across the field. Due to the force used in taking this action - the Caledonia player was left on the ground and required medical treatment and assessment. Therefore #44 wa disqualified for a FPF. | 31st May 2025 - First Hertfordshire Cheetahs game of Tournament | |
Vanessa Mansaray | 50 | London Warriors Women | NOR | 50 | Played in a game while only listed on the roster as as sideline personal/coach. | 10th May 2025 v Birmingham Lions Women | |
Charlie Thynne/George | 44 | London Warriors Women | MIS | 44 | Made an inappropriate and unauthorised public statement on social media about matters relating to British American Football. | 10th May 2025 v Birmingham Lions Women & 17th May 2025 v Solent Thrashers Women | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Berkshire Rengages | 90-yard field. White lines on an arid field. Upon arrival, one end line was broken, but this was corrected before kickoff. The original changing room was very small, but the crew were given a bigger changing room. Neither room was private nor lockable. Darren Urben #438 | 18th May 2025 v Rushmoor Knights |
Chester Romans | 90-yard field, which had been remarked in blue, albeit with no three-yard marks or coaches’ boxes. Team areas were marked with cones and there were no pylons at the hashmarks extended. Multiple other sports markings were present in various colours. A number of portable soccer goals were stored on the visitors sideline at less than 18’ but as far up against the caged area as possible. Only one small changing room, large enough for two people, was provided for a crew of five despite game managements attempts to secure a second room. This room was not lockable. Officials of other sports also attempted to use this room. One of the officials assistants was provided late. Ian Rogers #625 | 18th May 2025 v Sheffield Giants |
East Kilbride Pirates | No numbers or nine-yard marks. Henry Richardson #25 | 6th July 2025 v Newcastle Vikings |
East Kilbride Pirates (U19) | No numbers or nine-yard marks. Henry Richardson #25 | 6th July 2025 v Highland Wildcats |
East Kilbride Pirates (U16) | No centre marks or cones to mark the centre line. Kenneth Glover #71 | Unknown |
Leicester Panthers | Field marked in yellow and missing nine-yard marks (although rugby marks used as an approximation) and coaches' boxes. Following halftime, one ball person was asked to tone down his celebrations in the second half and instead chose not to continue as ball person, so the second half was delayed as a replacement ball person was sought and briefed. Joel Pearson #405 | 1st June 2025 v Lincolnshire Bombers |
Leigh Miners | The field markings were quite faint which sometimes created difficulties spotting the ball. Pylons at the hashmarks extended were only present at one end. Paul Todd #289 | 4th May 2025 v Lancashire Buccaneers |
London Blitz | 100-yard grass field with ten-yard end zones marked in white. The field surface was sandy in places, but was level throughout, and field markings had been freshly repainted over the sandy parts. No limit lines and team area markings between the 25-yard lines only on one side. Numbers were faintly marked and at the incorrect depth. The goals were too wide, and one was slightly out of alignment. Multiple changes of chain crew and ball persons throughout. The changing room was well-appointed and lockable, but with too few coat hooks. Tim Ockendon #481 | 18th May 2025 v Bristol Aztecs |
London Blitz B | 100-yard grass field with ten-yard end zones marked in white. The field surface was sandy in places, but was level throughout, and field markings had been freshly repainted over the sandy parts. No limit lines and team area markings between the 25-yard lines only on one side. Numbers were faintly marked and at the incorrect depth. The goals were too wide, and one was slightly out of alignment. Multiple changes of chain crew and ball persons throughout. The changing room was well-appointed and lockable, but with too few coat hooks. Tim Ockendon #481 | 27th April 2025 v Portsmouth Dreadnoughts |
Manchester Titans (NWFL) | A clearly marked 90-yard field. The team areas were marked between the 15-yard lines, but Game Management had coned off each end of the field at 20 yards. Field markings in black, including numbers with multiple other sports markings in different colours also present.. New goalposts were in use for the first time, similar to rugby posts attached to the top of movable soccer goals. On arrival, the crew had to request the removal of nets from the soccer goals and for the posts to be centred within the hash marks. End zones were approximately nine yards and, at each end, there was a white soccer line which had two small squares with no turf covering the solid surface beneath. These were filled with sand prior to kickoff. There were no pylons at the inbounds lines, nor were there goal line yardage markers. Game management provided a lockable changing room, which was large enough for a crew of eight, along with food & drink. Ian Rogers #625 | 17th May 2025 v Teesside Steelers |
Oxford Saints (U16) | A combination of soccer and football field markings were used in combination with cones and pylons to mark the fields. This meant that there were end lines, goal lines, and sidelines between the goal lines on both sides and in the end zones on one side. Peter Parsons #321 | Unknown |
Plymouth Vanguard | A well-organised game day. The field had been re-marked due to the rain and was in good condition. The coaches' boxes were marked with cones, but all other lines were good. Dave Moore #92 | 1st June 2025 v Hereford Stampede |
Rushmoor Knights | 100-yard field. Goal posts were made by extending soccer goals, resulting in posts that were 24’ wide with an 8’ high crossbar at both ends. No limit lines. Plaudits to Rushmoor game management for the way in which they looked after the officials throughout the day. Peter Parsons #321 | 4th May 2025 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs |
Rushmoor Knights (U19) | 100-yard field. Goal posts were made by extending soccer goals, resulting in posts that were 24’ wide with an 8’ high crossbar at both ends. No limit lines. At half time, the length of the remaining quarters were shortened to five minutes by agreement of both Head Coaches and the Referee under Rule [3-2-1-a]. The second half was also played with a running clock. Plaudits to Rushmoor game management for the way in which they looked after the officials throughout the day. Peter Parsons #321 | 1st June 2025 v Swindon Storm U19 |
Shropshire Revolution | Field is in a sports stadium used for hammer and discus sports so there were multiple divets infield. Multiple white lines on field from other sports. Visiting team area not marked. Several pieces of equipment used for other sports on the field had to be padded prior to game Andrew Lovell #559 | 11th May 2025 v Sandwell Steelers |
South Wales Warriors | No nine-yard marks. The inbounds markings and some five-yard lines were initially marked out incorrectly. These were scrubbed out, and correct markings were added, but the incorrect markings were still visible. Amir Brooks #593 | 4th May 2025 v Solent Thrashers |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Aberdeen Roughnecks | A well-marked 100-yard field. Kickoff was delayed by 30 minutes due to road works delaying the arrival of the away team. One game ball had to be changed at half time, it was found to have a slow puncture. Gordon Galloway #7 | 8th June 2025 v Glasgow Tigers |
Birmingham Bulls | The changing rooms at this facility consisted of converted shipping containers. The designated referees' changing room was barely big enough for three officials (but did have a private shower and toilet and was lockable). However, the gameday manager was able to secure a larger room for the officials. This changing room was lit using a portable lamp hooked up to an extension lead, as the mains electrics weren't working. One of the goals was in fairly close proximity to nearby houses. With the possibility of game balls getting lost in bordering hedges or in a neighbour's back garden, both head coaches agreed not to attempt field goals / PATs at this end (only one PAT kick was attempted throughout the whole game, at the opposite end). The gameday manager has indicated that nets could be provided behind this goal for future games. Hopefully, this won't be an issue going forward. With 0:20 remaining in the second quarter, the game was briefly suspended to treat an injured player. Both head coaches agreed to call the half at this point (Team A would take a knee, and Team B indicated they wouldn't use any timeouts to enable the clock to run down). Gameday management must be commended for making the officials and visiting team very welcome throughout the day, with hot food provided after the game. Amir Brooks #593 | 27th April 2025 v Staffordshire Surge |
Bournemouth Bobcats | No team or coaching boxes marked. Some other sports markings run close to the American Football markings and can seem confusing. Oliver Maskell #221 | 8th June 2025 v Solent Thrashers |
Cambridgeshire Cats | Team areas were marked to 25-yard lines. Brian Yates #29 | 27th April 2025 v London Warriors |
Clyde Valley Blackhawks | No on-field numbers or nine-yard marks.. No limit lines and 3-yard marks in the wrong place. Henry Richardson #25 | 4th May 2025 v Inverclyde Goliaths |
Darlington Steam | A well-marked out 100-yard field. Other sports markings were present in close proximity to the endzones. Team areas were missing, but other sports markings were used for the coaches' box line. All three game balls needed inflating before use. No designated officials changing rooms, so the officials had to wait for the players to vacate their room so they could use that one. David Hewitt #607 | 25th May 2025 v Humber Warhawks |
East Kent Mavericks | 90-yard field with 8-yard end zones 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. Game management can get the changing room locked upon request, but this is a code lock rather than a key so can be opened by anyone with access so we treated it as non-lockable and stored kit in cars. Phil Clarke #262 | 4th May 2025 v Colchester Gladiators |
Humber Warhawks | A reasonably well-marked 90-yard field with no numbers. Changing rooms are poor and double as a store area for equipment. Dave Black #574 | 18th May 2025 v Doncaster Mustangs |
Lincolnshire Bombers | Team areas were marked between the 15-yard lines. Cones were used to finish them at the 20-yard lines. The chain set had to be repaired before kick-off off. The playing surface had molehills which were flattened, but also had uneven surfaces around the ten-yard line across the field. Because the field is owned by the Memorial Hall, nothing could be done before kick-off. Gerry Mellough #79 | 27th April 2025 v Leicester Panthers |
Manchester Titans (U19) | Field markings were below minimum standards. No goalposts were available as there were issues with contractors who were due to install them before the game. Both teams agreed to play with no goalposts. The home team failed to provide three leather balls before kickoff, therefore, synthetic balls were used. Markings were black on a green field, coaching areas were marked between the 15-yard line rather than the 20-yard lines. There were issues with the down box operator, who appeared to be more interested in talking to the ball boy than paying attention to the game. Steve Hall #512 | 8th June 2025 v Chester Romans |
Nottingham Caesars | The field was marked in red with other sports markings present. The team areas were too close to the sideline. Changes to chain crew at half time. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 3rd May 2025 v East Kilbride Pirates |
Nottingham Caesars (U19) | The field was marked in red with other sports markings present. The team areas were too close to the sideline. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 1st June 2025 v Sandwell Steelers U19 |
Sandwell Steelers | 90-yard field with end zones that are on the legal limit. Small changing room for a crew of five. Andrew Lovell #559 | 27th April 2025 v Shropshire Revolution |
Sheffield Giants | Team areas weren’t painted but were marked with cones. Otherwise, a well-marked 90-yard field. Paul Todd #289 | 11th May 2025 v Chester Romans |
Somerset Wyverns | Bristol coaches questioned the legality of the game balls presented by the home team. The balls were Nike branded and appeared to be leather, but Bristol thought they might be composite. We played the game with the balls presented to us by the home team. Julian Mallia #336 | 27th April 2025 v South Wales Warriors |
Sussex Thunder | The field had been marked out by the rugby club groundsman as a Canadian Football field. Thankfully, the home side had put in a lot of effort to amend the field markings such that they met the minimum standards to play the game. There were several stoppages of play for injuries. Changing room was too small for a crew of five. Dean Wright #553 | 27th April 2025 v Berkshire Renegades |
Swindon Storm | The field was generally well marked however there was a high number of bark and pieces of wood on the field which is a community facility. The changing room is of a good size but is not lockable. Dan Coles was awarded the best BAFRA fan of the game. Richard Moger #472 | 11th May 2025 v Hereford Stampede |
Yorkshire Academy Assassins (U19) | The field was marked with cones, as were the team areas. Dave Black #574 | 19th July 2025 (Tournament) |
PLAY OF THE WEEK
Play of the Week will return when the exam period has concluded.
Date | Event | Contact for details |
2025 | ||
BAFRA Directors | |||||
President | David Parsons | General Secretary | Richard Moger | ||
Finance | Mark Schofield | Operations | Oliver Maskell | ||
Recruitment | Emma Harris | 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. |
