BRITBOWL XXII

From the BAFL website:

“BritBowl XXII will be held at the Keepmoat Stadium for the first time and the four game feast of action takes place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September.

BritBowl is the British American Football League’s (BAFL) blue ribbon event and the Keepmoat Stadium will host Youth, BAFL 1 and BAFL 2 finals over the weekend before the Coventry Cassidy Jets and the London Blitz battle it out for the BritBowl title on Sunday at 4:00 pm.

Glen Schild, chairman of the BAFL, said, “We’re extremely excited about BritBowl and especially as it will be the first time it has taken place at the Keepmoat Stadium. The stadium fits the bill for this event perfectly and the Stadium Management Company have been terrific in helping us to organise things. We are anticipating a thrilling contest between the best teams in the country”.

More than 5,000 fans are expected to be at the stadium over the weekend.

Shane Chalmers, from the Keepmoat Stadium Management Company, said, “We’re looking forward to hosting BritBowl for the first time and welcoming the nation’s American football fans to Doncaster”.

The action on Saturday 20 September begins at 3:00 pm when the London Warriors and the Gateshead Senators compete for the Youth Final followed by the BAFL 1 final between the Redditch Arrows and the Sussex Thunder.

The London Cobras and the Tamworth Phoenix battle it out for the BAFL 2 title at 12:00 pm on Sunday 21 September before BritBowl XXII kicks off at 4:00 pm.

Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 concessions.

For more information contact BAFL on 07966 467638.”

Dean Wright

newsflash@bafra.org

BRITBOWL AND BAFRA

If you're on one of the bowl crews this weekend you should by now have received an email setting out the arrangements and providing maps. Just to clarify that the league has decided that officials' passes are only valid for the day of their game and that you will need to pay at the turnstiles if you wish to be a spectator at the games on the other day. I hope that as many officials as possible will come along and provide support to their colleagues - it's also a good learning experience to see other officials in action.

This is the showpiece event for British American football so let's do our part to make the games good ones. Good luck to everyone and may all your whistles be advertent!

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

NFL GAME AT WEMBLEY

Thanks to all those who contacted me volunteering for the chain crew for the Saints/Chargers game at Wembley. Applications closed with 20 applications for 8 posts. I'll be in touch with everyone who applied shortly.

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

DISCIPLINARY CASES

In August we reported that two coaches had been reported to BAFCA for breach of their code of ethics. We subsequently reported that one coach had been found guilty and required to apologise. In the other case neither BAFCA nor BAFL felt there was sufficient evidence to take any particular sanction. However, both felt there were issues that had to be addressed, we will be working with those organisations over the winter to do so.

Adam Steadman of Coventry Jets, who was ejected on 7th September, has lodged an appeal.

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

We are approaching that time of year when memberships need renewal. The forms will be going out this week via Royal Mail, so if anyone has not received theirs by 21st September they should let me know. Renewals are due from 1st October for all active officials it includes the £20-00 BAFA fee. If anyone is a member of BAFA via another organisation, they need not pay this again but should follow the instructions on the form. Membership fees go up on 1st November, so it pays to get in early!!!

Accompanying the renewal form is the annual Members' Survey. We had nearly a 100% response last year and I look forward to collating your responses again. The key results will appear in Newsflash in the New Year while the full results will be reported in Flag Down and the website.

If anyone is not planning to renew their membership, I would be grateful if you would let me know (along with your reasons should you so wish – these will be kept confidential unless you wish them to be shared).

Those members who have joined since 1st September will not receive a renewal form or survey – their membership will be renewed automatically.

If anyone has any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.org

OCTOBER GAMES

There are 10 associate games to schedule in October. I ask those of you that have not yet done so to update your availability on the website so that I can give the league a perspective on how these games will be covered.

Also, could anyone who is prepared to cover an Inverness game please drop me an email. I have a couple of willing volunteers, but would be interested to know who else might be available for a trip north.

Pete Johnson

operations@bafra.org

PLAUDITS

From the administrator of the Gloucester Banshees:

“The reason for this email is for me to thank the crew that took care of the Associate Game yesterday (Sunday 14 Sept) at Reading Renegades. The Banshees won 14-6 and you would hardly know the crew were there - smooth as silk, hardly any flags, no handbags at 10 paces, just a bloody good game of Football and a huge boost to the confidence of the Banshees.

Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to all at BAFRA for the help, advice and rule guidance that your organisation has given us.”

Phil Clarke

operations@bafra.org

REFEREE GAME DAY PACKS

Pete Johnson has provided me with a list of Official who will likely work the Referee position during the forthcoming BUAFL Season. I have made up the Referee Game Day Packs and will issue them to those attending BritBowl XXII this weekend. The remainder will be posted out in the next week or so.

Davie Parsons

training@bafra.org

BAFRA ELITE PROGRAMME OFFICIALS MEETING

My thanks to everyone who came along to the elite officials event last Saturday. This was the 3rd annual BEP meeting and once again we had a fine turn out. The quality and quantity of game film now at our disposal, tailored towards Officiating, has increased considerably over the last couple of years. As I am sure everyone who attended will agree, this aspect generated a lot of excellent discussion during the day.

Davie Parsons

training@bafra.org

FORTHCOMING TRAINING EVENTS

Below are details of the forthcoming BAFRA training. In the interim period we need to confirm numbers to the management team at each location. As such, I would ask that you confirm your intention to attend by sending me an email as soon as possible.

After the BritBowl weekend I will be liaising with Steve Tonkinson and Charles Dean-Young to finalise the programme for each day.

Northern and Southern Training Days

Both these events are open to all BAFRA members. Please pencil the dates and locations in your diary.

Northern Event: Saturday 4th October 2000: 9:30am – 4:00pm

Birchwood Golf Club, Kelvin Close, Warrington, WA3 7PB

www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/cheshire/birchwood.html

Southern Event: Sunday 12th October 2008: 9:30am – 4:00pm

Saracens Head Hotel, High Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1BE

www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/11450/

Davie Parsons

training@bafra.org

DISCIPLINARY CASES

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

END ZONE

CALENDAR