Issue 39/25 13th November 2025
BAFRA Newsflash 💻 http://www.bafra.info @BAFRAOfficial @BAFRAOfficial @BAFRA_Official changes | |||
Issue 39/25 13th November 2025
BAFRA Newsflash 💻 http://www.bafra.info @BAFRAOfficial @BAFRAOfficial @BAFRA_Official changes | |||
QUALIFIED - FRASER AITKEN
Congratulations to Fraser Aitken on completing all the requirements to become Qualified.
Thanks to Henry Richardson and everyone helping with Fraser’s training.
James Ford-Bannister - Director of Training
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED |
New this week | ||||
Previous weeks | ||||
Antonio Ward | AC | MMU Eagles | Misconduct | 16th November 2025 v Liverpool Raptors & 23rd November 2025 v Lancashire Rams |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
ARU Siege | The game was suspended for ten mintues in the first half to deal with an injured player. With 0.02 remaining in the fourth quarter, the game was declared final at the agreement of both head coaches due to a serious injury to a DMU player needing medical attention. Lee Wood #517 | 25th January 2026 v Coventry University Jets |
Bath Killer Bees | An excellent black lined pitch. The try line was marked at the two-yard line. Keith Wickham #423 | 23rd November 2025 v Bournemouth University Bobcats |
Birmingham Lions | Birmingham informed the crew that there would be a brief dance team display between the first and second quarters. The field was cleared, but then there was a delay before the dancers were introduced and the routine begun. As such, there was a delay of nine minutes between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. Keith Wickham #423 | 23rd November 2025 v UEA Pirates |
Bournemouth University Bobcats | Prior to the game, the chains were an inch and a half short of the ten-yard measurement. The team were able to replace the chains to provide the correct measurement before kickoff. The field markings had additional lines of different colours for other sports. There were faint lines where the field was previously painted. There was also a 15-minute stoppage due to an injury in the fourth quarter. Scott Castle #626 | 25th January 2026 v Plymouth Blitz |
Brighton Panthers | Ball persons were changed twice during the game, and the chain crew had two changes at halftime. Lines were slightly difficult to see as they were dark on rubber crumb. Dean Wright #553 | 1st February 2026 v KCL Regents |
Brunel Burners | The field was located a five-minute walk down the main road from the changing facilities. The crew was able to secure a larger changing room with a shower, compared to the normal officials' room. The game balls supplied were below the legal pressure. Field markings were visible but are starting to fade due to rain and general churning of the field, so would ideally be remarked before the next home game. Andrew Murrell #608 | 15th February 2026 v SGS Pride |
Cambridge Pythons | Due to an injured player from the first game needing medical treatment on the sideline and waiting for a county ambulance, the kickoff was delayed. Once the field was clear, quarters were reduced to eight minutes each due to remaining daylight. Lee Wood #517 | 23rd November 2025 v ARU Siege |
Cardiff Cobras | A well-marked artificial field. Yellow markings on Green. No team areas marked. The Changing Rooms were not private and were used by other sports officials. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 30th November 2025 v Brunel Burners |
Derby Braves | The field was marked in blue, with short yard-line extensions extending five yards into the end zone. Changing facilities were good and adjacent to the field - spacious and all equipped with lockers for officials' use during the game. Emma Harris #236 | 23rd November 2025 v Nottingham Green |
Durham Saints | 90-yard field. Henry Richardson #25 | 16th November 2025 v Loughborough Students |
Heriot-Watt Wolverines | No team areas painted. Marked with cones. Michael Prentice #393 | 23rd November 2025 v Aberdeen Bulls |
Keele Crusaders | Medics arrived five minutes late. Andrew Lovell #559 | 8th February 2026 v Staffordshire Stallions |
Lancashire Rams | 100-yard field with faint blue markings alongside those of other sports. The field will need to be fully re-marked before the next game at this venue. The balls required inflation. Team areas were not marked. Two members of the chain crew did not continue into the second half, causing a short delay whilst replacements were sourced and briefed. The changing room was of a good size, but it was a four-minute walk from the field. Ian Rogers #625 | 30th November 2025 v Liverpool Raptors |
Manchester Tyrants | Field markings below full standards. 100-yard field marked in dark blue. Lines and hash marks became difficult to see as the evening got darker and the floodlights came on. No coaches or team areas were marked. No limit lines or numbers. Steve Hall #512 | 30th November 2025 v MMU Eagles |
Northumbria Mustangs | No numbers or nine-yard marks. Henry Richardson #25 | 23rd November 2025 v Newcastle Raiders |
Nottingham Gold | The field was marked in blue lines, which could be hard to see at times. Team areas were too close to the sidelines. Various changes to the chain crew during the game. UWE had no one to act as ball person, as per the BUCS National Premier regulations exemption. The home team supplied both ball persons. Brian Yates #29 | 30th November 2025 v Sheffield Sabres |
Nottingham Green | The field was marked in blue lines, which could be hard to see at times. Team areas were too close to the sidelines, but teams and coaches were kept well back. The away team’s balls were used as those supplied by the home team were well-worn. Brian Yates #29 | 30th November 2025 v Leeds Beckett |
Oxford Lancers | 90-yard field with cones used for coaches and players box. The changing room was a long walk from field. Darren Urben #438 | 30th November 2025 v UEA Pirates |
York Centurians | 100-yard field marked in blue with no numbers or nine-yard marks. The changing rooms were quite a walk from the field and did not lock. With 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, the medic approached the Referee to inform him that his presence had been requested on another field to stabilise a serious injury to a rugby player, and the other medic was already in the ambulance dealing with other players. Fortunately, the visiting team had a qualified paramedic, who met the required standard set by the rules, on their staff, who agreed to take on the role while the rugby player was being attended to. Lee Taylor #183 | 16th November 2025 v Sunderland Spartans |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Bristol Barracuda | Field markings are in black and are faint. Euan Paterson #165 | 23rd November 2025 v Plymouth Blitz |
Edge Hill Vikings | Field markings below full standards. 90 yard grass field marked in dark blue. No team or coaching areas marked, no limit lines, and no numbers. Pitch started off ok, but started to cut up as the game went on. Steve Hall #512 | 23rd November 2025 v Liverpool Raptors |
Edinburgh Mavericks | 90-yard field, with no limit lines. Henry Richardson #25 | 16th November 2026 v Edinburgh Napier Knights |
Glasgow University Tigers | One stake was very short. Kenneth Glover #71 | 23rd November 2025 v Edinburgh University Mavericks |
KCL Regents | New Venue: Chiswick RFC. 80-yard field with 11-yard end zones marked with blue lines. Rugby posts were used, so the crossbars were too high. Hash marks are 18 yards from the sidelines (not 20 yards). No numbers. Changing rooms were built with three rugby officials in mind; they were lockable and included a private shower. The down box arrived late (in the first quarter), and the crew was able to manage until then. Graham Smith #149 | 7th December 2025 v Brighton Panthers |
Kingston Cougars | The changing room was not lockable, and they were a ~ten-minute walk to the 100-yard field marked in white. The goal post at one end was initially at a 45-degree angle, with one upright and half the crossbar in the endzone. However, several members of the home team were able to pivot it around so that it was correctly aligned. Both teams had forgotten to print any rosters, so both teams supplied a handwritten list of all players, coaches and other persons permitted to be in the team areas. The crew were originally advised that the medics were on their way but would not be there before the original kick-off time, so a delayed start with ten-minute quarters was planned. However, after 40 minutes, the medical company advised that the SU had not actually booked cover until after the offices closed on Friday evening, so they stated that no medic was allocated - both head coaches were advised that the game would not take place at all. Phil Clarke #262 | 16th November 2025 v Brighton Panthers |
Leeds Beckett | 80 yard field.No limit lines.Several other sports markings on the field, some in close proximity to the endzones.No team areas marked but both teams used cones.The away team didn't like the quality of game balls provided so provided two of their own, which was acceptable to both teams.No nine yard marks or numbers. David Hewitt #607 | 7th December 2025 v UWE Bullets |
Leeds Gryphons | 80-yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No team areas, but the teams marked them out using cones. The changing room is too small for a crew of five. The down box pole was missing, so the operator had to hold it aloft. David Hewitt #607 | 30th November 2025 v NTU Renegades |
Leicester Longhorns | The field was marked with NFL-width hash marks, so cones were used on the end lines to approximate the correct position. No team area markings on either sideline. Both teams normally play in Green, but Leicester wore Red jerseys instead (from Notts Caesars - which was mildly confusing). The game was suspended for 35 minutes in the third quarter due to a serious injury and the ambulance being on the field of play to treat the injury. Andrew Murrell #608 | 30th November 2025 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors |
Liverpool Raptors | Field markings below full standards. 90-yard field marked in yellow. No team areas or coaching areas marked. No numbers, no limit lines, and a couple of the main lines were crooked. Steven Hall #512 | 16th November 2025 v MMU Eagles |
Loughborough Students | Team marked not marked. Brian Yates #29 | 22nd November 2025 v Leeds Beckett |
MMU Eagles | Field markings were below full standards. The Football markings were marked in Red on a Green surface, they were also very faint. They will need full re-marking (preferably in another colour) before the next game at this venue. There were numerous white field markings within 4 feet of an endzone line. There were no nine yards marks or numbers. There were no limit lines or team area markings of any sort. During the week it was determined that the teams intended to play in Jersey that did not contrast (Home in Navy Blue and the visiting Team in Purple). The Home team were advised of the rules (and the penalty) and were asked to change into White Jerseys. Upon arrival at the venue, the Home Team Head Coach was unaware of this conversation and of the rule change. In overcast conditions there was insufficient contrast so the home team were penalised according to rule. The opening kick-off was delayed approximately 5 minutes as the medical cover only drove through the entrance to the venue at the scheduled kick-off time and took some time to get to within view of the field. The change rooms were lockable but only by key-code however the code has not changed for some time. Ben Griffiths (228# | 23rd November 2025 v Lancashire Rams |
NTU Renegades | The field was marked in red on green. Team areas were absent. Pylons at hash marks extended were missing. Dave Black #574 | 16th November 2025 v Newcastle Raiders |
Oxford Brookes | An excellently marked artificial field. Markings in light blue, readily visible. Officials' Assistants were not presented to the officials until minutes before kick off, and all home team representatives had abandoned the field for pre-game activities in the locker room. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 7th December 2025 v Birmingham Lions |
Portsmouth Destroyers | 90-yard field marked in pink, team areas marked with cones. The chain crew were woefully slow and caused significant disruption to the flow of the game. Oliver Maskell #221 | 16th November 2025 v Exeter Demons |
Plymouth Blitz | NFL-width hash marks. 90-yard field. Changing rooms were some distance away from the field and, although not locked, there was an attendant present. Dave Moore #92 | 16th November 2025 v Bournemouth University Bobcats |
SGS Pride | A four-team event played as a series of structured, controlled scrimmages at opposite ends of the field, with each team scrimmaging against each of the other teams. Peter Parsons #321 | 16th November 2025 v Brunel Burners |
Sheffield Sabres | The field was marked in black with other sports markings present. No marked team areas. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 23rd November 2025 v Leicester Longhorns |
Sussex Saxons | 90-yard field with other sports markings present. 12-yard end zones were shortened to ten yards as the existing end line was close to the boundary fence. Hash marks were very faint, no nine-yard marks, or coaches' boxes. The chain set broke multiple times. One member of the chain crew changed at half time. The chain crew were slow and disinterested despite a thorough briefing. Three game balls were presented all under pressure and are starting to show their age. Jon Ireland #508 | 22nd February 2025 v Reading Knights |
Swansea Titans | The field was initially marked out as 100 yards with five-yard end zones. The goal lines were brought out five yards to make the field 90 yards with ten-yard end zones. There were no team areas. The home team provided three game balls in good condition but badly under-inflated and so needed inflation before the game (thankfully, these were provided shortly upon arrival at the venue). The officials' changing rooms were excellent - they are of a very good size (probably sufficient for a crew of eight, although there was a lot of sports kit stored in there which isn't usually the case), clean, had a private toilet & two private showers, contain lockers, and are lockable with a university staff members stationed in an adjacent office throughout the game. Two stoppages were made during the game to repair the chain set. With 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter, the away team's head coach informed us that due to injuries sustained by his team, they no longer had sufficient offensive linemen to complete the game safely. It was agreed with all parties to shorten the remainder of the fourth quarter to 0:00 under rule 3-2-2-a. Amir Brooks #593 | 1st February 2026 v Tarannau Aberystwyth |
UWE Bullets 2 | The field had been re-marked in white for this season, but this clashes in several places with rugby markings. Euan Paterson #165 | 22nd February 2026 v Bath Spa Bulldogs |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: 4th & 18 at the A-32. Team A punts 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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Last week | Play: 1st & 10 at the A-20. Team A comes to the line and gets set for longer than one second. While A49 is in motion toward the sideline, A22 takes a step forward without committing a false start. The ball is then snapped. QB A12 runs forward for 5 yards and is tackled
This is an illegal shift and is a foul at the snap; it is enforced from the previous spot. |
MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: 1st and 10 at Midfield. Wide Receiver A87 catches a pass in the open field and is running towards Team B’s endzone. Prior to crossing the goal line, at the B-5, A87 celebrates by clenching his fist and pointing it to the sky, and he shouts “Touchdown”. The nearest Team B defender is at the B-20 yard line, and the gesture by A87 is not directed at anyone. A87 then runs across the goal line.
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Last week | Game Situation: One minute has passed after the try following a Team A touchdown. Team A are in position to kick off at their own 35-yard line. The Team B players are grouped in a huddle on the field near their sideline, receiving information from their coach, who is in the coaching box. The head coach of the receiving team has been warned about tardiness on a previous kick-off. How should the officials resolve this situation? Answer: After a score, it is a delay of game if either team is not on the field (or on the field but still in the huddle) within one minute, regardless of whether the ready for play has been given or not. For a first offence, warn the Head Coach of the team rather than throw a flag (MM 3-4-1-b). Team B are guilty of a delay of game here, and should be penalised 5 yards from the succeeding spot (3-4-2-b-3). |
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. |
