NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

Awaiting Confirmation

85

Glasgow Tigers

FGT

4

Head-butted an opposition player during a play.

Paisley Pyros (27/01/08)

  Outstanding items from previous weeks

Note: it is the responsibility of the individual teams to ensure that their suspended players serve their suspensions in the proper game (according to the BAFA Disciplinary Code), and any dates mentioned here are intended only as a guide.

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

09/12/07

UWE Bullets

The game was moved from UWE Bullets' normal pitch to an astro turf pitch not far away. Cones were used to mark out the ten and five yard lines, none of which went the width of the field except for the two goal lines and the half way line, nor were there any nine yard hashmarks. There were no goal posts; although the home team did try to erect a make shift one, it was plain it was not going to work. Nonetheless, the game was played in a great spirit.

Mike LeFevre #341

17/02/08

Essex Blades

Despite being instructed by the team, the Essex University groundsman once again marked a 5 yd line plus hashmarks inside both Endzones. The team areas were also too small (but at least not as small as last season).

S Tonkinson #99

10/02/08

Loughborough Aces

The balls supplied were old and worn. Chain crew and ball boy was supplied by the away team (Nottingham) ten minutes before kick off. The kick off was delayed slightly as there were problems over a security barrier and wet ground prevented the non-4x4 ambulance from getting near the pitch. The medics and equipment were able to relocate to pitch side. Plaudits go to both teams who fought a good game on a well marked pitch – which considering the recent weather was in excellent condition.

Keith Alldritt #323

03/02/08

  Outstanding items from previous weeks

Tarannau Aberystwyth

No pylons. Footballs provided by the away team. No separate changing room. An official's bag was stolen from the team changing room.
Alan Dobson #308

27/01/08

Royal Holloway Vikings

Groundsmen had tried to mark a 100 yard field on a 90 yard rugby field. This resulted in there being fewer than 10 yards between the each 10 yard line, while the endzones were only 7 yards deep. There were no hashmarks at all, 2 cones were placed at either end of the field to indicate where the ball should be spotted laterally. The numbers were less than 9 yards from the side lines. There was no room for the crew to change in – the home team changing room was used after the team had cleared it but could not be used after the game. Crew waited 25 minutes after the end of the game to get paid. Chain crew (except box operator - who was with us) and one ball person changed at half time. Balls and assistants provided very close to kick off time.

Dan Bridgland #506

10/02/08

Plymouth Blitz

The crew arrived late as we had to be met at a previous venue and shown the way to today's venue. The changing room had no light. The game kicked off 40 minutes late due to lack of ambulance. After the game, we waited outside the changing room for half an hour, before the player with the key came down from field. After changing, we were told that the treasurer did not have the money with him. So, the officials and BAFRA have not been paid.

Mike LeFevre #341

17/02/08

Huddersfield Hawks

End Zones were six and five yards long. Field boundary lines were extremely uneven. There were no inbounds hash marks, three yard lines, ten yard lines, nor five yard lines. No balls were provided by the home team - the away team's balls were used. Some of problems were corrected before game kicked off. The home team were advised to lengthen end zones for future games and shorten the field of play.

Mike Cavanagh #465

16/12/07

Reading Knights

Reading advised us that they have not yet received their balls from the league, therefore they had to use some of their practice balls for the game. Royal Holloway were asked if they could provide game balls, but they do not have any yet either.

Phil Clarke #372

03/02/08

Glasgow Tigers

No team areas, coaching box or 9yd marks. There was only one nearly new ball, one was borrowed from away team. The officials were paid 45mins after the ended.

Les Connor #152

15/02/08

Nottingham Outlaws

Chain crew and ball person supplied by away team (Derby). The game played by both teams with excellent attitude. We approached the treasurer after the game, he stated that they were having problems with the Student Union and were not able to pay officials. We confirmed that he had the game-day invoice and ensured he was aware of the increased fee which is now payable.

Keith Alldritt #323

17/02/08

Sunderland Spartans

Inadequate balls; the 2 balls presented by Sunderland were composite but ok to play, Hull provided a 3^rd – standard – ball The field markings were haphazard comprising NFL style hash marks, no nine yard marks with numbers at the side of the field, no coaching areas, end zones of dimensions 1 x 10 yards and 1 x 9 yards. There were no goal posts, all pat's were 2 points. There were no pylons and the kicking tee was too high despite the team being warned about this last week. Changing rooms were in a public swimming area with no chairs and no coat hooks. The Sunderland management said that they were not expecting officials, they were asked by BUAFL to provide team officials for this game! The crew and BAFRA were not paid.

Chris Jarvis #10

27/01/08

Paisley Pyros

A public toilet was situated in the changing room. No ball persons were supplied by the home team. No 9 yd marks and the team areas were marked to the 20 yard line. After a late hit by Paisley, the Stirling head coach started shouting foul and abusive language towards a Paisley player. Thirty minutes after the game the crew went looking for home team coach to get paid. She told us she did not realise we wanted to be paid on the day and did not have the money. She told me she would have to go to the student union to get the money during the week. All this despite the crew asking before the game if they could be paid on the day.

Les Connor #152

27/01/08

Staffordshire Stallions

NFL style hash marks were the only problem on 100yd grass pitch. Cones used to mark wider NCAA type markings.

Keith Aldritt #323

03/02/08

Bath Killer Bees

Field of play was only 79 yards long (there was 9 yards between the opposing 40 yard lines and the half way line was badly marked between them). The field was adequate in all other respects so agreement between the coaches to play was ascertained prior to the kick off.

Colin Edwards #76

27/01/08

Lancaster Bombers

Field was an 80yrd astroturf pitch. Field goals were poles attached to the fence around the pitch. The game started 15 minutes late due to late arrival of the Referee. Other then that, it was a nice game with both teams in good spirit.

Ralph Lenoire #523

-

Southampton Stags

End zones only 8yds deep. Goals attached to fence which was about 2yds beyond the endline. Chains became detached from stakes twice during game, causing short delays. Two wires stretched across the field about 8ft above the ground. Teams were notified that inadvertent whistle rules would apply if the ball touched the wire, this happened once during the game. Plaudits to Christian, Drew and Gareth who, despite this being their first time doing the job, worked a great game as chain crew.

Jim Briggs #31

03/02/08

Sheffield Hallam Warriors

Field 80 yards in length, marked every 10 yards, endzones measured 15 yards from goal line to Posts.

Richard Samples #349

27/01/08

Stirling Clansmen

Field was marked with what seemed like 5yd lines over an 80 yd field, but they were 5 metres apart, so it was a 90 yd field marked in metres. No team areas marked. No 9 yd marks. Only 2 balls supplied. Stirling told us after the game that their student union needs the invoice before it can pay us, so we did not get paid.

Les Connor #152

10/02/08

Hull Sharks

Hull claim their Ambulance charges were increased significantly, to £400, due to change of Service Supplier, leaving them with insufficient balance to pay the Officials prior to sponsorship monies being received.

Richard Samples #349

03/02/08

Surrey Stingers

Home team provided three balls. Only two were suitable and we used one from the away team. Home team played in dark blue, away team in purple. Chain crew and ballboys changed multiple times. Game suspended 15 minutes in third quarter (which was ended with two minutes remaining and we proceeded to the fourth quarter by agreement of both head coaches) due to injured player. However, in spite of this, and the vile weather, the game was played in excellent spirit by both teams.

Alan Dobson #308

03/02/08

Derby Braves

Chains were below the standard height. The 90 yard pitch was well marked out with yellow markings. Due to admin difficulties the Derby Coach paid one cheque for full amount of £220 before kick off. Therefore crew need individual payment.

K.Alldritt #323

10/02/08

Portsmouth Destroyers

One goal was too wide, both goals had posts that were not tall enough.

Graham Coleman #177

10/02/08

Warwick Wolves

Officials and BAFRA fee not paid prior to the game; I handed the invoice to the team president who stated "I'll get this to who needs it". We waited over 1/2 hour after the game but no Warwick representative was forthcoming, so we left.

Brian Yates #29

27/01/08

Birmingham Lions

Game was played on a 100 yard field which was generally good except for there being field numbers present further infield than the required 9 yards. No changing rooms were available at the field, everyone had to use the main campus changing facilities which are a 1 mile away from the field itself. Officials had to use the public changing rooms. A ball boy – provided by Tarranau – needed to be replaced at half time. The replacement ball boy provided by Birmingham was outstanding, as were the chain crew and the ball boy on the other side despite it being their first ever game. The game was a very close fought battle with only one major penalty against each team, it was a pleasure to officiate.

Phil Clarke #372

10/02/08

Durham Saints

Both Teams played the game in Good Spirits despite atrocious weather conditions.
All field Markings were very faint due to excessive rain. The goals were missing.
There were no inbounds pylons. Only two balls were available as the league had sent one with a faulty valve.

Chris Jarvis #10

09/12/07

Brighton Tsunami

No 5 yard lines or 10 yard lines. Interior hashmarks were present with hashmarks extended to double length where the 10 yard lines should be (but no extension on the 5 yard lines). End lines were coloured white, all the other lines were a dark red. Wires stretched across the field at the 30 yard point at each end. The goalposts at both ends were mounted on the wire fencing surrounding the playing field and they were set back from the end line about 2 yards.

Keith Wickham #423

17/02/08

Note: it is possible that any game may be cancelled, or any team may arrange additional games. In addition, the large number of game cancellations this week means that the fixtures listed here are highly likely to change. Any dates mentioned here are intended only as a guide.

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: A's ball, 4th and goal, on B's 4. The score is A28-B28. A3's field goal attempt is blocked and does not cross the neutral zone. The ball is rolling on B's 5 when B96 kicks (implies intentionally) the ball. B47 picks up the ball in B's end zone and advances across A's goal line. Time expires in the fourth quarter before B47 recovers the ball.

Ruling?

Last week's play

Play: A's ball, 2nd and 10, on the 50. B75 incidentally grabs A14's face mask on A's 44 and, after A14 breaks loose, A14 throws a forward pass that crosses the neutral zone to A82 who goes out of bounds on B's 44 yard line.

Ruling: A's ball, 1st and 10, on B's 45. When a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone during a forward pass play and a contact foul that is not pass interference is committed, the enforcement spot is the previous spot. The penalty is 5, 10, or 15 yards plus a first down if the foul occurs against an eligible receiver, the rule is specific. The legal forward pass must cross the neutral zone, but the foul does not have to occur beyond the neutral zone. A14 is an eligible receiver despite also being the ball carrier, therefore a first down is awarded. If the penalty is declined, it is A's ball, 3rd and 4, on B's 44. The penalty will be accepted.

Phil Clarke and Alan Dobson both sent in answers this week but failed to score full marks. Although Alan did get the right answer, he is disqualified for hedging his bets by sending in two answers – very disappointing.

Date

Event

Contact for details

2008

January 20^th (Sun)

Examination Committee Meeting

secretary@bafra.org

January 20^th (Sun)

BUAFL season resumes after Christmas break

operations@bafra.org

February 2^nd (Sat)

Training Day for new recruits

training@bafra.org

March 23^th (Sun)

BUAFL bowl game

operations@bafra.org

April 5/6 (Sat/Sun)

BAFRA Convention

training@bafra.org

September 20^th & 21^st (Sat/Sun)

Britbowl weekend

operations@bafra.org

BAFRA Directors

President

Jim Briggs

president@bafra.org

General Secretary

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.org

Finance

Charles Dean-Young

finance@bafra.org

Operations

Pete Thom

operations@bafra.org

Recruitment

Alun Price

recruitment@bafra.org

Training

David Parsons

training@bafra.org

Director without Portfolio #1

Dan Bridgland

dwp1@bafra.org

Director without Portfolio #2

Vacant

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.org.

Deadline for articles submitted by email (newsflash@bafra.org) is midnight Tuesday.