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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 03/10 |
10th February 2010 |
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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 03/10 |
10th February 2010 |
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BAFRA STATEMENT ON BAFL'S WITHDRAWAL FROM BAFA
To all BAFRA members,
The statement from the BAFL directors that their organisation is withdrawing from BAFA has come as disappointing news to BAFRA.
The BAFL representatives at the BAFA Board meeting held on Saturday 6 February gave no mention of that intention, nor did the BAFL representatives raise any issues at the meeting that did not appear to be resolved by discussion.
BAFRA is concerned that this move will only divide the sport. British American football seemed to be moving forward (albeit slowly) towards better working relationships between organisations. We understand that the BAFL Board did not decide to consult their member clubs before making its decision. Nor did they consult BAFRA on their plans.
BAFRA remains committed (as it has done for over 25 years) to the development of American football in Britain and will do everything in its power to ensure that it takes place in an open and inclusive manner.
It is possible that in the next few days, individual members of BAFRA may be approached to join another organisation as officials. If that happens, please politely terminate the conversation and let me (president@bafra.org) or any of the other directors know about the contact.
If any BAFRA member has a question about this, please contact one of the directors. If anyone outside BAFRA has any questions, please contact me. Be assured that all questions will be answered as openly as possible.
Jim Briggs
BAFA STATEMENT ON BAFL'S WITHDRAWAL FROM BAFA
The following is the BAFA statement on the recent withdrawal of BAFL from BAFA, from the BAFA website www.bafa.org.uk:
“BAFA is both surprised and extremely disappointed that the BAFL have taken the step to withdraw from the National Governing Body (NGB) without prior discussion or notification, and without consulting their members, who form a majority of BAFA's members.
The withdrawal is particularly bewildering since the BAFL directors who represented the League at the BAFA Board meeting on Saturday 6th February made no mention of it. Indeed, one of the BAFL representatives agreed to take on a major role in the delivery of one of BAFA's services.
BAFL did not ask for any particular items to be added to the agenda prior to the meeting.
BAFA acknowledges its duty to its members, especially those who are also members of BAFL clubs. We recognise that there are issues about the standard of services provided, and that steps need to be taken urgently to address those.
BAFL have made some accusations about BAFA's performance. Many comments have similarly been made about BAFL's performance, both in public forums and in private to BAFA. The sport does not however, benefit from a mutual exchange of mud.
We would urge all members of BAFL clubs to press their leaders to reverse their threat of withdrawal at the earliest possible opportunity. If that cannot be accomplished, rest assured that BAFA has contingency plans in place to provide an alternative structure for NGB-sponsored football in 2010 recognised by EFAF and IFAF.
Finally, BAFA thanks all the clubs and individuals who have expressed their overwhelming support for it at this difficult time.”
Copyright www.bafa.org.uk
NOMINATION PAPERS FOR DIRECTOR POSTS
The current position on nominations for the posts that are up for election at the AGM is, at the time of writing, unchanged from last week (correct to 10:00pm on Wednesday 10th February):
Director without Portfolio #1:
Phil Clarke (Nominated by Alan Dobson, Seconded by Dan Bridgland)
Director of Training:
No nominations yet received
General Secretary:
Paul Sutton (Nominated by Pete Johnson, Seconded by Tzvi Lindeman)
President:
No nominations yet received
Nominations close at 5:00pm on Saturday 20th February. I will keep this list updated weekly in Newsflash.
Paul Sutton
ALL TIME MEMBERSHIP LIST
Those of you who attended last year’s Convention will remember that Steve Tonkinson mounted an exhibition of BAFRA memorabilia covering the 25 years since the organisation’s inception. Amongst this was a list of previous members and their BAFRA numbers. Whilst it will probably never be possible to compile a fully comprehensive list, work has been undertaken to update it over the past year. Now we are asking for your help. Are you able to fill in any of the gaps, provide a name where we only have an initial or a “?” or provide a number to match a name? The list has been posted on the website in the password protected area. If you are able to fill in any of the gaps please e-mail me with the details.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide in this area.
Paul Sutton
PRE-PAY BUAFL TEAMS
Please note that both Reading and Surrey should be treated as pre-pay teams.
Pete Johnson
REGIONAL TRAINING MEETINGS
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REGION |
DATE OF NEXT MEETING |
VENUE |
CONTACT |
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Solent |
18th February |
Jim's House, Havant |
Jim Briggs |
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Thames Valley |
22nd February |
Pete's House, Reading |
Pete Parsons |
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NAME |
# |
TEAM |
CODE |
Q |
OFFENCE |
SUSPENDED |
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New this week |
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John Bertram |
67 |
Swansea Titans |
FPF |
3 |
Whilst on the ground the player lashed out with his foot at Cardiff number 25. |
14/02/10 v Worcester Royals |
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Tom Davies |
25 |
Cardiff Cobras |
FPF |
3 |
Player kicked Swansea number 67 whilst he was on the ground. |
14/02/12 v Exeter Demons |
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Loughborough Acers |
32 |
Unknown |
FGT |
3 |
Player rolled on top of another player who had just tackled him and threw a punch to his helmet. The player who was punched did not react. The roster provided by Aces contained the names and BAFA registration numbers of the players but omitted the squad numbers – this omission was only noticed after the game had ended. |
21/02/10 v Staffordshire Stallions |
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Previous weeks – None |
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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. |
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HOME TEAM |
REPORT |
NEXT HOME GAME |
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New this week |
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Staffordshire Stallions |
Only one ball supplied. No hash marks in middle of field, unable to make measurements, both teams informed. Team areas not marked with lines Charlie Dean Young #258 |
21/02/10 v Loughborough Aces |
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Exeter Demons |
Team website provided no directions to the ground. Changing room was dirty and inadequate, officials changed in the players' changing room after they had vacated it. Showers filthy. The field is a very long walk from the changing rooms. It is strongly recommended that officials arrive plenty of time before kickoff due to this distance restricting adequate pregame. Field markings have not been corrected from previous game - no 5 yard lines, 9 yard marks or team areas. Grass playing surface is excellent, though liable to flooding as on river flood-plain. Ball persons inadequate and were changed for members of the chain-crew at halftime. Simon Ryan #408 |
14/02/10 v Cardiff Cobras |
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Outstanding items from previous weeks |
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Oxford Cavaliers |
50% of all lines on the field were extremely faint. 80 yard field, no hashmarks in bounds or at sidelines. Team areas marked with cones (no lines). Goals leaned over at an angle. Cones used for line markers and hashmarks at the perimeter. Changing room small, cluttered and dirty. Brian Yates #29 |
28/02/10 v Bristol Barracuda |
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Canterbury Chargers |
Game played at Kent University as the normal field was unplayable. Field extremely muddy and by end of game virtually no grass remained between the inbounds lines! Inbounds lines at kickoff were uneven in their distance from the sidelines. Game kicked off 20 minutes late due to late arrival of officials' assistants. 2 members of chain crew changed at half time. Crew not paid and should have been. However game quite enjoyable despite the very cold weather and muddy field. Dan Bridgland #506 |
21/02/10 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
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Loughborough Aces |
Only one set of posts. Restricted team areas and limit lines, due to field being enclosed by fence. 90 yd pitch Cam Gibson #286 |
28/02/10 v Leicester Longhorns |
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Bristol Barracudas |
With 1:07 left to play in the 2nd quarter and after obtaining the agreement of both head coaches the half time was taken after the Paramedic crew was asked to attend a paediatric emergency that was occurring in the adjacent sports hall. The game resumed at the start of the third quarter after a half time interval of 25 mins. The officiating crew would like to acknowledge the assistance given by the medical staff and the co-operation from both sets of coaches and players. Through out the game, on numerous occasions the chain became detached from one of the stakes and the game had to be stopped to repair the chain set; the crew used an entire years' normal supply of chain repair kit in an afternoon. Colin Edwards #76 |
14/02/10 v UWE Bullets |
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Manchester Tyrants |
The game was moved from Manchester to Huddersfield due to both Manchester's primary and alternate field's being unplayable. The game was played at Fartown in Huddersfield. The only available changing facilities were in a some-what dilapidated porta-cabin, which officials had to use in between their use by the teams, a rugby league referee, two rugby league junior teams and two open age rugby league teams. The pitch was marked with a variety of white, blue and red lines. There same pitch was also marked for Rugby with white markings. The pitch was 85 yards between goal-lines. No team areas were marked. Ben Griffiths #228 |
31/01/10 v Bangor Muddogs |
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Leicester Longhorns |
After consulting with both teams about the frozen conditions it was decided to proceed with the game. It was delayed 15 minutes while the groundsmen put a heavy roller over parts of the pitch to smooth out some rutted areas. There were no hash marks and the pitch was 80 yards. Plaudits go to both teams for providing a fantastic game in trying conditions Muz Gibson #268 |
14/02/10 v NTU Renegades |
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Bangor Muddogs |
Due to their regular pitch being waterlogged, Bangor had to play on a artificial pitch at another part of the University. The pitch was hastily marked out and had wonky lines, no 5 yd lines and two sidelines did not extend to the endzone at one end. The endzones were 7 yds in length, there were no posts so no field goal kicks were permitted. There were hash marks on the sideline and in inbounds but no 9 yd markings. Despite having received an invoice prior to the game, the officials were not paid as the AU President had disappeared before the game ended.
Bangor have stated that they hope to move to their grass pitch once the weather allows them to. In the meantime, they will address their current pitch issues brought to their attention by the crew. C Unwin #570 |
28/02/10 v Tarannau Aberystwyth |
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Brighton Tsunami |
No solid yardage lines apart from goal lines, only extended hashmarks every 10 yards. No team areas on either sideline; improvised barrier to keep non-players out on home team sideline. Goalposts lashed to fence surrounding field and set back from end line. Changing rooms locked and no key available at both half-time and full-time. Chain crew and ballpersons changed at half-time necessitating delay to second-half kickoff whilst new chain crew were trained. Crew not paid. Tim Ockenden #481 |
21/02/10 v ARU Phantoms |
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Lancaster Bombers |
The game was scheduled to be played an an all weather astro-turf pitch which had in the days leading up to the game been deemed playable. On the day of the game there was confusion between the two teams and the groundsmen as to the playability of the pitch and the markings of an alternative pitch. As a result of this the game was not played. The officials were paid for their time. Ben Griffiths #228 |
21/02/10 v Manchester Tyrants |
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Kent Falcons |
Field extremely muddy but playable. There were non-white markings on the field (apparently for lacrosse). Inbounds lines are not correctly marked although hashes at sidelines are. Kent had 7 balls, none of which was particularly good. We used two of theirs and one from UEA. There were multiple changes of ball persons and chain crew members. Dan Bridgland #506 |
14/02/10 v Surrey Stingers |
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Worcester Royals |
80 Yard Pitch. Only 1 ball person provided, and that wasn't until after half time. Graham Coleman #177 |
28/02/10 v Reading Knights |
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Solent Redhawks |
The game was played at Southampton Rugby Club and the changing room provided was small. There was not enough room to hold a pregame and so we moved to the Rugby Club bar and held it there. The field was 80 yards long and was marked every ten yards. There were no clearly marked team area. The ambulance was 55 minutes late arriving. The game did not begin until then and was played with 12 minute quarters. Keith Wickham #423 |
28/01/10 v Essex Blades |
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UWE Bullets |
This game was played at Filton which has only one set of goal posts consisting of white tubing strapped to the wire fence. A kick dislodged the tubing so the game was suspended whilst the tubing was strapped upright again. Russell Newton #324 |
21/02/10 v Oxford Cavaliers |
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Note: it is possible that any game may be cancelled, or any team may arrange additional games. Any dates mentioned here are intended only as a guide. |
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PLAY OF THE WEEK:
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New this week |
Play:
Team A's punt is first
touched by A88, then picked up by B45, who runs five yards and
fumbles. A22 picks up the fumble and scores. During A22's run, B75
holds.
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Last week's play |
Play:
A's ball on the 50, 4th and 15. B29 signals for a fair catch
on B's 10, but steps away from the ball and lets it bounce next to
him. However, the ball bounces sideways and touches B29 on the leg
on B's 10. A82 tries to recover the rolling ball but muffs it on
B's 6 and the ball rolls into B's end zone where B66 and A74
simultaneously recover the ball. |
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Date |
Event |
Contact for details |
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2009 |
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February 20th (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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March 20th – 21st (Sat - Sun) |
BAFRA Convention & AGM |
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May 8th (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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May 9th (Sun) |
BUAFL Final |
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July 24th (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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October 31st (Sun) |
Broncos @ 49ers, Wembley |
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November 20th (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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BAFRA Directors |
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President |
Jim Briggs |
General Secretary |
Paul Sutton |
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Finance |
Andrew Lovell |
Operations |
Pete Johnson |
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Recruitment |
Ben Griffiths |
Training |
David Parsons |
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Director without Portfolio #1 |
Dan Bridgland |
Director without Portfolio #2 |
Steve Tonkinson |
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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. |
Editor: Dean Wright - Email: newsflash@bafra.org