Issue 42/25 4th December 2025
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED |
Previous weeks | ||||
Ezzat Elnagmi | 68 | UWE Bullets | Intentional Contact against an Official | 7th December 2025 v Leeds Beckett |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Birmingham University Lions | With 10:04 remaining in the first quarter, the game was suspended for 40 minutes to deal with a serious injury that required an ambulance. The inbounds markings are in a very faint black paint that was practically impossible to see. Game Management were required to source pylons to assist the umpire in spotting the ball. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 15th February 2026 v Oxford Lancers |
Bristol Barracuda | The 100-yard field had to be shortened to a 90-yard field due to the rugby goal posts being unable to be removed from another event. Faint black markings that are very hard to see under lights. Darren Urben #438 | 5th December 2025 v Bath Killer Bees |
Cardiff Cobras | The lines were marked in black and were faded in places. Keith Wickham #423 | 25th January 2025 v Portsmouth Destroyers |
DMU Lions | No coaching boxes, so rugby lines were used as approximations. Joel Pearson #405 | 8th February 2026 v Lincoln Colonials |
Edinburgh Mavericks | 90-yard field. With around nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the HL was accidentally contacted in the face by a player. After treatment from the game day medics, it was decided that the HL should remain out of the game. With 1:40 remaining, the sports centre staff switched the lights off and informed everyone that the venue had officially closed 20 minutes ago and to clear the field. After a chat with both HCs, it was agreed to reduce the remaining time to 0:00 and declare the score final. Henry Richardson #25 | Unknown |
Essex Blades | Although clearly marked, the inbounds markings were not always a yard apart. Team areas marked with cones. Complete change of the chain crew at half time. Balls provided by the home team were not up to standard, so the away team’s balls were used. Brian Yates #29 | 22nd February 2025 v City WolfPack |
Imperial Immortals | 90-yard field marked in white. No numbers or nine-yard marks. No limit lines or coaching boxes. Team areas marked with cones. No three-yard marks. Goal post uprights are less than 20ft in height. Changing rooms were not lockable. The home team provided a series of footballs, none of which retained pressure. The visiting team provided three footballs, which were used as the game balls. Peter Parsons #321 | 25th January 2025 v City WolfPack |
Kent Falcons | Well-marked 90-yard field in red with other sport markings in yellow, blue, and white. Team area perimeters marked out with cones. Rugby lines approximated for team area lines & nine-yard marks. No numbers or limit lines. One game ball had deflated by the end of the second quarter and was replaced by KCL. Two Ball Persons and the Down Box Operator were replaced at Half Time Graham Smith #149 | 1st February 2026 v Kingston Cougars |
Lancashire Rams | 100-yard field marked in faint blue and will need fully re-marking before the next game at this venue. Other sports markings were present in other colours. The chain crew and home ball person were only provided approximately five minutes before kickoff. There were occasions when they moved without instruction and other times when they were inattentive. This did present some issues for the HL during the game, but they were well managed. There were no coaches or players boxes marked, but both teams worked well on sideline management. Lee Taylor #183 | 25th January 2025 v MMU Eagles |
Leeds Gryphons | 80-yard field. No limit lines. Several other sports markings on the field, some in close proximity to the end zones. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No team areas were painted, but they were marked with cones. The changing room is barely adequate for a crew of four. Dave Black #574 | 25th January 2025 v Warwick Wolves |
Leicester Longhorns | No coaching boxes and field marked to NFL specifications. Multiple chain crew substitutes at halftime. The away team had two players in an alternate jersey design, one of which had the same number as another player (which was rectified prior to kickoff). Joel Pearson #405 | 8th February 2026 v Derby Braves |
Manchester Tyrants | There was a delay to start the game of 30 minutes due to an injury during on-field warmups, where an ambulance was required. The full game was able to be played before the 18:00 cut-off. Field markings below full standards. Lines in Navy Blue, harder to see in the flood lights. No three-yard marks or nine-yard marks. Officials' Assistants had to be warned about conduct as they interacted with opposing players at the end of a play. Richard McEwen #206 | 25th January 2025 v Edge Hill Vikings |
Newcastle Raiders | The original changing room was a bit tight for a crew of four. The crew were relocated to a bigger room with the minimum of fuss. Team areas were marked with cones. This game was a great advert for BUCS football. It was played in good spirits and was very competitive Gordon Galloway #7 | 7th December 2025 v NTU Renegades |
Nottingham Gold | 90-yard field. Team areas were faintly marked. As a result, these were re-marked with cones. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 7th December 2025 v Durham Saints |
Nottingham Green | 90-yard field. Team areas were faintly marked. As a result, these were re-marked with cones. Two changes to the Chain Crew at half time. Two delays during the game to repair the chain set. Krister Halvorsen #77 | 7th December 2025 v Leicester Longhorns |
Oxford Lancers | 90-yard field with cones used for Team areas. The changing room was a long walk from the field. Andrew Murrell #608 | 18th January 2026 v Birmingham Lions |
Plymouth Blitz | Well-marked 90-yard field. The changing rooms were not staffed or locked, and were some distance away from the field. The chains broke twice, one time needing some time to fix. Both teams had blue jerseys, but the shades were different enough for the officials to be able to discern the difference during play. Balls were supplied very late and had to be checked on the field. Dave Moore #92 | 15th February 2025 v Bristol Barracuda |
Salford Storm | The field was marked in black and faded, making the markings difficult to see in direct sunlight. The field will need fully re-marking before the next game at this venue. The changing room was not lockable, but there was a security guard present near the entrance. Kickoff delayed by 30 minutes due to overrunning soccer game beforehand. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 25th January 2025 v Staffordshire Stallions |
SGS Pride | Well-marked 100-yard field. The crew had to change in an alternative changing room, due to rugby using the normal changing room. Darren Urben #438 | 1st February 2026 v Exeter Demons |
UCL Emperors | 80-yard grass field marked in dark blue. The field was cut up from prior rugby practice, which made markings harder to see in places. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas were missing, but the ends were marked with cones. Lack of limit lines led to stoppages caused by other sports players getting close to the field or their balls rolling onto it. The chain broke once. The start of the game was delayed by approximately 15 minutes due to the late arrival of the medical cover. Changing rooms were lockable via the bar staff, and two were provided for a mixed gender crew. However, one had been recently mopped and had a still-wet floor. No private toilet, but a nice changing room setup that is a short walk from the field. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 25th January 2025 v Kent Falcons |
UWE Bullets | The field has been re-marked in white for this season, but was already faint in places - clashing with white rugby markings. The field will need fully re-marking before the next game at this venue. Euan Paterson #165 | 14th February 2026 v Nottingham Gold |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Bath Killer Bees | Game was suspended for approximately 15 minutes for a significant injury to a player. Julian Mallia #336 | 1st February 2026 v Bristol Barracuda |
Bath Spa Bulldogs | One of the balls provided did not hold pressure so a third ball was provided by the away team. Julian Mallia #336 | 1st February 2026 v Worcester Royals |
Cambridge Pythons | Two changes of chain crew during the game. Brian Yates #29 | 25th January 2026 v Lincoln Colonials |
Coventry University Jets | During the pregame briefing, the Medical cover provided by Coventry was discovered to be inadequate (unqualified student physio, Emergency First Responder qualified). It was agreed by both coaches, that the Lincoln medic would provide cover for the game. Future crews unfamiliar with the Cryfield site should note the postcode does not take you to the Sports Pavilion. Officials should follow the signs for 'Cryfield Village' from the roundabout and the Sports Pavillion can be found on the left Mark Schofield #557 | 1st February 2026 v Cambridge Pythons |
City Wolfpack | The markings were in dark blue and had been re-marked in places with spray paint of the same colour due to rain washing parts away before kickoff. 90-yard field. Lee Wood #517 | 7th December 2025 v QMBL Vipers |
Derby Braves | Sideline short yard-line extensions continued into both end zones. Three-yard (PAT) markings were marked every 5 yards down the length of the field. When initially presented, Nottingham Green's handwritten roster contained a number of errors. Andrew Lovell #559 | 7th December 2025 v Sheffield Sabres |
Durham Saints | 100-yard field faintly marked in white. There were other sports markings, with some the same colour. Lee Taylor #183 | 7th February 2026 v UWE Bullets |
Edge Hill VIkings | Field markings below full standards. 90-yard grass field marked in dark blue. No limit lines, numbers or coaching/team areas marked. Whilst changing after the game, the officials were told by venue staff that the room they were allocated was a shared room and to ensure that bags were secured in lockers when used in the future and that it is a mixed changing area with male and females using it and to only change in the side parts of the room and not the main locker area. Steve Hall #512 | 7th December 2025 v Manchester Tyrants |
Exeter Demons | Field markings were poor. Light green inbounds markings on a green field. Main lines were incredibly faint. They had been painted in yellow but had mainly disappeared, believed to be due to the rain. Home team players had to re-spray the main lines by hand prior to the start of the game. No nine-yard marks and no coaching boxes marked out. The Medic was changed at the end of the first quarter, and new medic had to be briefed, causing a slight delay. Dave Moore #92 | 7th December 2025 v SGS Pride |
Glasgow University Tigers | No limit lines. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Henry Richardson #25 | 7th December 2025 v Aberdeen Bulls |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes | A well-marked 90-yard field. Lines painted blue with other sports markings in other colours. Game day assistants were provided with less than ten minutes remaining before the scheduled kick off, and the entire chain crew was changed for the second half. There was a brief delay at the end of the third quarter whilst the floodlights were switched on. Large changing room, but no toilet. Will Fazackerley #227 | 7th December 2025 v UEA Pirates |
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 Dec 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 Dec 2025 v UWE Bullets |
Liverpool Raptors | Team areas were absent. Pylons at the hashmarks-extended were absent. Otherwise, a well-marked 90-yard field. Paul Todd #289 | 8th February 2026 v Edge Hill Vikings |
Loughborough Students | 90-yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas were missing. David Hewitt #607 | 15th February 2026 v Durham Saints |
MMU Eagles | Field markings were below full standards. The Football markings were very faint and marked in Red on a Green surface. They will need full re-marking (preferably in another colour) before the next game at this venue. There were numerous white field markings within four feet of an end zone line. There were no nine-yard marks or numbers. There were no limit lines or team area markings. Ian Rogers #625 | 1st February 2026 v Liverpool Raptors |
Northumbria Mustangs | No team areas or limit lines. Jerseys not of contrasting colours. Kenneth Glover #71 | 8th February 2026 v Leeds Gryphons |
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 on green. Coaching box and team areas marked with cones. Changing rooms were not lockable. Kickoff was delayed by 15 minutes due to the late arrival of the visiting team. Peter Parsons #321 | 1st February 2026 v Brunel Burners |
RHUL Bears | Arrived on site to find the field flooded. The Groundskeeper refused use of the field, and the game was abandoned. Scott Castle #626 | 8th February 2026 v Sussex Saxons |
Sheffield Hallam Warriors | 90-yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No team areas marked. All three game balls required inflation prior to use. David Hewitt #607 | 14th December 2025 v Derby Braves |
Sheffield Sabres | Team areas were absent but marked with cones. Otherwise, a well-marked 90-yard field. Paul Todd #289 | 8th February 2026 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors |
Southampton Stags | 90-yard field with blue markings and additional markings of differing colours. The balls presented to the crew were underinflated, and the three-yard marks were very faint. Scott Castle #626 | 7th December 2025 v Bournemouth Bobcats |
Stirling Clansmen | Field markings were faint, and lines were a faded purple. The chain crew were slow to react at times. Gordon Galloway #7 | 7th December 2025 v Edinburgh Napier Knights |
Surrey Stingers | Well marked 90-yard field in a good condition despite heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the game. Lockable private changing room provided a short walk from the field. Jon Ireland #508 | 22nd February 2026 v RHUL Bears |
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 2026 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: 1st and 10 at Team A-29. Prior to a legal snap, there is movement by both offensive and defensive lines and multiple flags are thrown. The players then come together and A57 strikes B98 in the groin. After discussion it is concluded that offensive lineman A66 had false started which caused the movement by both offensive and defensive lines.
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Last week | Play: Upon arrival at the Venue the home team states that they have had complaints from the buildings that back onto one endzone about Footballs hitting their property. The home team state that they want all field goal plays (including trys) to take place at the other end of the field.
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: After having a false start called against him, snapper A67 complains to the Umpire that the defensive signals are interfering with the snap count. On the next play the Umpire listens carefully to the defensive calls being made by linebacker B54. Though his calls are loud and some of them are being called out during the QB's cadence, they do not appear to be simulating the QB's signals. How should the Umpire approach this situation?
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Last week | Game Situation: What are the 3 categories of Offensive Holding? Answer: M3.3.1.b
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Date | Event | Contact for details |
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. |
