Issue 2/26 29th January 2026
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
BUCS FINALS
The BAFRA Selection Committee will be meeting in February to select the crews that will officiate the 3 BUCS Finals, which are due to take place on Tuesday 24th March, at Loughborough University.
Due the timings of the finals, hotel rooms are offered on a twin basis for officials (and assistants) working the Division 1 Final (staying overnight Monday), and the National Championship game (overnight Tuesday). Hotel space is not offered to officials assigned to work the 2pm game.
If you wish to be considered for selection for these games, please mark yourself available on Assignr by 11pm on Sunday 8th February. If you wish to be considered for a specific position, or a specific game, please make this clear in the notes on your availability - but this will not give you priority selection status over higher ranked officials.
Ollie Maskell - Director of Operations
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED |
New this week | ||||
Louis Sharp | 5 | Chichester Spitfires | Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Conduct | 15th February 2026 v Royal Holloway Bears |
Kai Wilkinson | 12 | Surrey Stingers | Two Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls | 8th February 2026 v Reading Knights |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
ARU Siege | The changing rooms were not lockable, and had no private toilet. Lee Wood #517 | 22nd February 2026 v Cambridge Pythons |
Bournemouth University Bobcats | The field has recently been repainted. Old lines were slightly faint. Scott Castle #626 | 8th February 2026 v Southampton Stags |
Cambridge Pythons | The changing rooms were not lockable, and had no private toilet. Lee Wood #517 | Unknown |
Cardiff Cobras | 90-yard field. The markings had been repainted in yellow since the previous home game, but these are already faint. Euan Paterson #165 | 15th February 2026 v Exeter Demons |
Chichester Spitfires | Chichester were charged with a delay of game penalty as they couldn’t present a chain crew before the scheduled kick off time. The game kicked off 15 minutes late once a crew were found and briefed. A poorly marked 90-yard field with NFL-width hash marks. Inbounds markings were painted 1.5 metres long and were not straight. One end zone was only five yards deep, so, with the agreement of both head coaches, the game was played with one goal mechanics. The field will require re-marking before the next game. All three game balls were presented well below legal pressure. Officials changed in public changing rooms and had to leave bags behind the sports centre front desk as the changing room was not lockable. Players from both teams used the toilets in the changing room, interrupting the pre-game and half-time crew discussions. Jon Ireland #508 | 15th February 2026 v Royal Holloway Bears |
Exeter Demons | One of the footballs was changed at half time. The five-yard markings were faint. 90-yard field. Good-sized changing rooms. Richard Madge #485 | 8th February 2026 v Portsmouth Destroyers |
Glasgow University Tigers | The field surface was very soft and muddy, but the actual field markings were good throughout the game. Gordon Galloway #7 | Unknown |
KCL Regents | 100-yard field. The field surface was soft and muddy at the start of the game. It churned up throughout the game, making the markings increasingly difficult to see. The home team's team area was marked to the 25-yard lines and had no coaching box line. There was no marked visiting team area at all. The limit lines on the home sideline were too close (6ft). They were further away (12ft) on the visiting team sideline, still too close, and were completely missing behind either end zone. One goal post needed spinning prior to the game to be positioned correctly. The changing rooms were not lockable and were approximately a ten-minute walk from the field. Prior to the game, while the medical cover had arrived in time for the scheduled kickoff, they were unable to get their vehicle to the field due to the soft nature of the surface. After discussion with game management and the home head coach, the medical cover's equipment was transported to the field using one of the ground staff's buggies. Arranging and organising this delayed the kickoff by 33 minutes, and the game kicked off at 1:33, five minutes before the cutoff time for shortening to ten-minute quarters under Rule [3-2-1-g]. Peter Parsons #321 | 8th February 2026 v UCL Emperors |
Lancashire Rams | There were no pylons to place on the hash marks, the resourceful backjudge managed to find an individual small orange cone however thee was only one of those so we played without three reference points. The chain crew were extremely poor. Stuart Young #33 | Unknown |
Leeds Gryphons | The field markings fell below full standards. The field was marked in yellow. Whilst the sidelines and end lines were clear and visible, the goal lines and five-yard lines were faint. The inbound markings were barely visible. The field will need to be re-marked in full before the next game at this venue. No numbers or nine-yard marks present. There were white and yellow field markings closer than four feet to an end zone line. No limit lines or team areas marked at all. No towels were provided for the ball persons, despite steady rain throughout the game. The officials' changing rooms were only large enough for one or two persons and were not lockable. While the field itself was not flooded, the entrance to it was. The home team had constructed pontoons from some tackle shields to allow access to the field, which meant navigation of an obstacle course was required every time you wished to enter or leave the playing arena. Ben Griffiths #228 | Unknown |
Manchester Tyrants | 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 not ready 30 minutes before kick off. Richard McEwen #206 | 8th February 2026 v Lancashire Rams |
NTU Renegades | Game kicked off an hour after advertised time due to late arrival of away team. As this meant kickoff was within three hours of sunset, quarters were shortened to 10 minutes. One change of chain crew at halftime. It is recommended future crews at NTU ask for a changing room in the sports centre, which is both bigger and closer to the pitch. Joel Pearson #405 | 1st February 2026 v Leeds Gryphons |
Oxford Lancers | The game was postponed on the Friday prior due to the weather. Peter Parsons #321 | 8th February 2026 v Oxford Brookes Panthers |
Sheffield Hallam Warriors | The field was marked in orange with other sports markings in white and blue. Goals set approximately one yard back from endline. No team areas. The home team played in mismatched jerseys, but all designs contrasted with the away team. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 1st February 2026 v Leicester Longhorns |
Stirling Clansmen | The game was delayed as medical cover was late. Kenneth Glover #71 | 1st February 2026 v Glasgow University Tigers |
UEA Pirates | The game was suspended for 45 minutes due to an injury to a UEA player. Brian Yates #29 | 8th February 2026 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Derby Braves | Sideline short yard-line extensions continued into both end zones. Three-yard marks were repeated every five yards down the length of the field. During the fourth quarter, play was suspended for 50 minutes to treat an injured player. Andrew Lovell #559 | 15th February 2026 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors |
DMU Lions | No coaching boxes, so rugby lines were used as approximations. Joel Pearson #405 | 8th February 2026 v Lincoln Colonials |
Edge Hill Vikings | Field markings below full standards. No visible inbounds markings when the crew arrived, but these were marked before kickoff. 90-yard field marked in yellow with very faded lines that were difficult to see. No team areas or coaching areas marked. No numbers or limit lines. Two small changing rooms were provided, which were inadequate for a crew of five. The crew changed in the downstairs bar area. Steve Hall #512 | 1st February 2026 v Lancashire Rams |
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 2026 v City WolfPack |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes | A reasonably well-marked 90-yard field in blue. The short yard-line extensions were increasingly faded and particularly difficult to see under the floodlights. Team areas marked with cones. A large changing room was provided, but no private toilet. Will Fazackerley #227 | 1st February 2026 v Oxford Lancers |
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 |
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 |
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 |
LJMU Fury | 90-yard field marked in yellow with no numbers, nine-yard marks, limit lines, or team areas. The lines had been painted the morning of the fixture before a previous game at the venue. These gradually grew fainter over the course of the game. Andrew Swift #403 | 22nd February 2026 v Salford Storm |
KCL Regents | 80-yard field marked in blue with other sport markings in white. No limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Team areas were marked out with cones. Two of the game balls provided were significantly under-inflated. The field surface was initially soft and rapidly became muddy, making inbounds markings difficult to locate. The changing room was small, with no private toilet and it was not locked during the game. The game was suspended for 24 minutes with 9:19 remaining in the fourth quarter to allow treatment to an injured player. Tim Ockendon #481 | 8th February 2026 v UCL Emperors |
Leeds Beckett Carnegie | 80-yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Several other sports markings were in close proximity to the endzones. No team areas were marked out. All three game balls required inflation prior to use. There was one change of ball person at the half. Kick off was delayed approximately 50 minutes due to the chain being missing from the chain set. David Hewitt #607 | 1st February 2026 v Durham Saints |
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 |
Nottingham Gold | 90-yard field, marked in black on artificial turf, and difficult to see in places. The crew changing facilities were three individual changing rooms, insufficient for the crew size and with no place to pre-game. Despite multiple attempts to contact the home team in the week prior, the Referee was unable to get a response from them to confirm key game details. Emma Harris #236 | 1st February 2026 v Loughborough Students |
Nottingham Green | 90-yard field, marked in black on artificial turf, and difficult to see in places. The crew changing facilities were three individual changing rooms, insufficient for the crew size and with no place to pre-game. Despite multiple attempts to contact the home team in the week prior, the Referee was unable to get a response from them to confirm key game details. Emma Harris #236 | 1st February 2026 v Derby Braves |
Oxford Brookes | The field markings were very faint. Keith Wickham #423 | 1st February 2026 v UEA Pirates |
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 2026 v Bristol Barracuda |
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 |
Reading Knights | 100-yard grass field marked in white. Changing rooms were not lockable. Euan Paterson #165 | 8th February 2026 v Surrey Stinger |
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 |
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 |
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 different colours. Inbounds markings were very faint and difficult to see under floodlights. All game balls provided were well below legal pressure. Plenty of snacks and refreshments were provided for the crew in the changing room. Jon Ireland #508 | 1st February 2026 v Plymouth Blitz |
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 |
UCL Emperors | 80-yard grass field "marked" in blue, lines have become increasingly faint or entirely obliterated in places and the surface is quite muddy in addition. No nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas were missing, but the ends were marked with cones. One changing room was allocated and the floor was wet from cleaning, we decided to store kit in cars and leave the door open for it to try and dry out during the game. Toilet facilities were shared usage but both the changing room and other facilities were a short walk to the field. Phil Clarke #262 | Unknown |
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 |
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: A12 throws a forward pass intended for A89. During the pass, defensive end B88 is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The pass to A89 is complete for a 10-yard gain to the A-30 where A88 is tackled.
|
Last week | Play: It is 4th and 10 at Midfield. Team A line up in a Scrimmage Kick Formation. The Ends are numbered 23 and 34. The Offensive Line is numbers (from left to right, 50, 62, 5, 71, 79), the Punter is wearing number 7 and the three personal procters/up-backs are number 47, 33 & 39. Number 5 is the long snapper. Shortly before the snap A47 moves to a position under centre, pauses for a second and then receives the snap. He throws a forward pass to A23 at the B-30 where A23 catches the ball and is immediately tackled. There is 10:00 remaining in the second quarter.
When A47 steps in under centre Team A are no longer in a Scrimmage Kick Formation, therefore the numbering exceptions no longer apply and they must have 5 players wearing 50 to 79 on the line if the ball is snapped while A47 is under centre (2-16-10-a, 7-1-4-a-3). |
MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation:
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Last week | Game Situation: 1st and 10 on team B's 45 yard line. A84 runs a post pattern and is heading towards the end zone pursued by defensive back B21. The QB passes the ball. The Back Judge jogs backwards and arrives at the goal line moments before B21 intercepts the legal forward pass somewhere between the goal line and Team B's 1 yard line. B21's momentum carries him into his own end zone. Ruling? Answer: In this situation, in which there is clearly some doubt as to exactly where B21 intercepted the ball, we apply when in doubt principle M-6-1-24. When in doubt, it is a touchback rather than a momentum exception. Team B's ball on the B20, 1st and 10. |
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. |
