Issue 15/25 2nd May 2025
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
EXAM 2025 - RESULTS
Thank you to everyone who took the annual exam, especially those who were taking it for the first time. Everyone should now have received their results along with the answer sheet detailing each of the correct answers and why (including rules or mechanics references).
If you wish to appeal any answers, please contact exam2025@bafra.info by Thursday 8th May 17:00.
The exam committee expects to publish the results of any appeals by the end of Sunday 11th May.
Stuart Young - Chair, Exam Committee
exam2025@bafra.info
QUALIFIED - JAMIE BOX
Congratulations to Jamie Box on completing all the requirements to become Qualified.
Thanks to Mark Niven and everyone who helped with Jamie’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
QUALIFIED - LEWIS DILLON
Congratulations to Lewis Dillon on completing all the requirements to become Qualified.
Thanks to Darren Urben and everyone who helped with Lewis’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
Jamil Secka | 13 | NFL Academy | FUC | 4 | With 6:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, #13 was seen to throw an opponent to the ground well after the play was over. He then stood over the prone opponent and, as the opponent got back to his feet, #13 ducked his helmet and struck the opposition player head to head. | Unknown | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
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 | 11th May 2025 v Scunthopre Alphas and next 4 competitive games thereafter | |
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. | 3rd May 2025 v Solent Thrashers 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. | 3rd May 2025 v Solent Thrashers Women & 10th May 2025 v Birmingham Lions Women | |
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 | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Birmingham Bulls | 90-yard field marked in yellow and was difficult to see at times. There was a single change to the chain crew at halftime. The changing rooms were very basic and not lockable. Contrary to the previous report, Birmingham elected to allow kicks at both sets of posts, so one-way mechanics were not required. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 8th June 2025 v Shropshire Revolution |
Birmingham Lions (NWFL) | Game played at Birmingham University. Team had remedied issue with some lines experienced in the past and noted that they are fully remarking the field on May 1st. Opening Kickoff delayed by three minutes due to the incursion of two dogs onto the field of play. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 10th May 2025 v London Warriors |
Bristol Aztecs | 90-yard field marked in yellow with rugby markings in white. Markings were too thin and not straight in places, but Bristol were not able to mark the field until two hours before the game (with only the backup line marker available) due to a prior rugby match. Coaching and Team areas were marked further back than regulation due to a request from the rugby club to protect the field. Two locker rooms were provided, each suitable for around three people, but they were adequate. The pre-game was held outdoors. Locker rooms were not locked during the game, but were staff-supervised. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 7th June 2025 v Cambridgeshire Cats |
Essex Tridents | Field marked in IFAF yards with 1 yard = 0.9 yards. Very well-marked 100-yard field, in white, with ten-yard end zones and with other sport markings in white. No limit line and coaching lines, and team area lines at incorrect depth, but on-field markings were perfect. Good size, well-appointed, lockable changing room just lacking a private toilet. Tim Ockendon #481 | 11th May 2025 v East Kent Mavericks |
Highland Wildcats (U19) | Although this was a well-marked field, the lines were painted in yellow, which is not very clear on green grass. Ian Sneddon #427 | 8th June 2025 v Edinburgh Napier Knights |
Lincolnshire Bombers | The field was faintly marked with markings difficult to see from the Head Linesman's side of the field. Mole hills are still a problem, with many having to be flattened, and the surface produced stones, which were difficult to clear. There were no hash mark pylons. Gerry Mellough #79 | 18th May 2025 v Leigh Miners |
London Blitz B | Large patches of the field are bare earth. One goalpost was noticeably wonky. Hot water was available in the showers. The team now has a regular stadium announcer, who is pretty good at following the rules but less good at knowing what the penalty signals are. Ben Gadsby #564 | 8th June 2025 v Sussex Thunder |
London Blitz (U19) | One member of the chain crew was changed at halftime for three plays. The field continues to lack grass in large patches. One goal is lopsided. Ben Gadsby #564 | 18th May 2025 v Ipswich Cardinals |
Merseyside Nighthawks | 90-yard field with football markings in yellow, along with other field markings for other sports in other colours. Lines were wonky in places, and the inbounds markings were not always straight laterally or the same length. Otherwise, the game was played in great spirits throughout by both teams. Peter Roberts #87 | 18th May 2025 v Yorkshire Rams |
Newcastle Vikings | The changing room was not lockable. The field was re-marked with a few wobbly lines. Three-yard marks were missing. Ali May #42 | 11th May 2025 v Manchester Titans |
NFL Academy | Team areas were marked with cones. The changing rooms were very compact. Brian Yates #29 | Unknown |
Poole Dolphins | Field Markings were blue and well-marked and measured. There were no hash marks, but cones were used to mark the middle of the field. Both fields were a safe distance between each other. With 12:07 remaining in the first half, the game was suspended due to an injury on the adjacent field. The ambulance was over an hour late when it arrived and unable to move awaiting further assistance. At this point, the games were abandoned. Scott Castle #626 | Unknown |
Rossendale Bucks | The field was a five-minute walk from the changing rooms and was barely at the minimum width. The hash marks were marked too far apart, so cones were used behind the end lines to represent approximately where the hash marks should have been and used as visual aids for spotting. The field was clearly marked, albeit using IFAF yards. End Zone were barely legal. Game management did their utmost to assist with any request the crew made. Ian Rogers #625 | Unknown |
Sandwell Steelers | 90-yard field faintly marked in blue, with seven-yard end zones. The field surface is uneven in areas. There was a ten-minute delay to the start of the game due to waiting for an injured player from the junior game to be moved off the field. Emma Harris #236 | 18th May 2025 v Birmingham Bulls |
Sandwell Steelers (U19) | With 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, a Sandwell player was injured and needed prolonged medical attention. With the agreement of both Coaches, the quarter was shortened to 0:00, and the game ended. Mark Schofield #557 | 4th May 2025 v Birmingham Lions |
Somerset Wyverns | There was a long stoppage in the second quarter for an injury to a player. The halftime interval was taken during this delay, and play resumed after the player was able to be moved. Coaches' boxes were only marked to the 25-yard line. Field and other markings were good. A conference room was supplied for officials, which had a lot more space than the official changing room. Dave Moore #92 | 22nd June 2025 v Solent Thrashers |
Sussex Thunder | 100 IFAF-yard field, re-marked to a high standard since the previous game. The field was very dry due to the sudden warm weather, and there was a temporary stoppage to remove some dog faeces from an end zone. Due to the small officials' locker rooms, the crew were offered a vacated team locker room and bags were locked in the storage area during the game. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 1st June 2025 v London Blitz B |
UEA Pirates | The game kicked off half an hour late due to the away team’s transport being delayed. Brian Yates #29 | Unknown |
Yorkshire Rams | 90-yard field with eight-yard end zones. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Team areas were incorrectly marked out between the 25-yard lines. All three game balls, though new, needed inflating prior to use. David Hewitt #607 | 4th May 2025 v Scunthorpe Alphas |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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: | |
New this week | Play: Second and five at the A-45. Ball carrier A33 breaks out into the open and has a clear path to the goal line. At the B-2 they suddenly make a shar p left turn and trot along the B-2 as the Team B players begin to catch up to them. They then carry the ball into the end zone. A33 next runs to the stands and begins to exchange "high-fives" with the fans.
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: In the week before the game, the officials note that Newsflash states that a home team player is suspended for the game. During the pre game meeting between the Head Coach, Referee & Umpire, the Home Team Head Coach states that he believes the player should not be suspended from the game.
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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. |
