BAFRA Newsflash

http://www.bafra.org

Issue: 25/11

7^th July 2011

BAFA COMMUNITY LEAGUE 5 ON 5 KITTED TOURNAMENTS

As some you will be aware the BAFA Community League have again sanctioned a series of Junior Kitted 5 on 5 tournaments. The games will be played at various venues throughout the UK during the coming months and always on a Saturday. See schedule below.

BAFRA is very keen to support football at the grass roots level, be it at junior kitted or junior flag competitions. As these events are usually quite limited in terms of funding, the BAFRA Board has agreed that in order to support these competitions we will again reduce the BAFRA admin fee for these events to £5.00. We would also like to ask for volunteers to officiate at the tournaments. There would be no BAFRA game fee, it would be purely voluntary. You would expect to have food and refreshments provided and the organisers would pay reasonable travel expenses.

The process for assigning to these games will be as per any other event. Richard Vernon, Director of Operations will assign officials to the tournaments and will advise the tournaments directly if they have officials or not. He will then confirm assignments to the crews. On game day officials would need to claim their expenses directly with the tournament organisers. The head ref on the day will need to complete a green form to account for the BAFRA admin fee and to ensure the crew are covered off for insurance purposes.

If anybody is interested in volunteering to officiate one or more of these events please advise Richard by email on operations@bafra.org as soon as possible. This might also be a useful opportunity to give some of our newest members a taster of the game before they take the field for youth or senior kitted football.

The tournament dates and hosts are as follows:

Dates:	Host:
9^th July	London Blitz
9^th July	Chorley Buccaneers
16^th July	Clyde Valley Phoenix
23^rd July	Burnley Tornadoes
30^th July	Reading Rebels
6^th August	Balby Car Mustangs
6^th August	Glasgow Tigers
14^th August	Colchester Gladiators
20^th August	Woodham Warriors
20^th August	London Warriors
20^th August	Highland Wildcats

Davie Parsons

president@bafra.org

DURHAM COUNTY PRESIDENTS

Plaudits to the Durham County presidents on their excellent game management. Upon arrival the crew were greeted by game management and allocated parking spaces immediately adjacent to the stadium. The crew were provided with cold drinks, tea, coffee and various refreshments. The dressing room was immediately adjacent to the field and was perfectly sized with private washing facilities.

There was a scoreboard, commentator, referees microphone, seated grandstand and even a civic dignitary to perform the coin toss. Durham attracted a healthy crowd in excess of 500 people.

Ben Griffiths

#228

THE ZEBRA – JULY 2011

Here is the link to the latest edition of the officiating newsletter for football officials in Denmark, Europe and beyond: http://whitecap.dk/newsletter/the-zebra/

Jim Briggs

#31

RESULTS

EFAF Cup Final

London Blitz 29 - 7 Kragujevac Wild Boars

BAFA CL Division 1

Merseyside Nighthawks 7 - 52 Doncaster Mustangs

BAFA CL Division 2

Bournemouth Bobcats 22 - 20 Cornish Sharks

Dundee Hurricanes 46 - 19 Highland Wildcats

BAFA Junior

Cambridgeshire Cats 32 - 6 South London Renegades

Leicester Falcons 0 - 34 Sheffield Tomahawks

Manchester Titans 0 - 38 Leeds Varsity Bobcats

DISCIPLINARY CASES

NAME	#	TEAM	CODE	Q	OFFENCE	SUSPENDED
New this week – none

Previous weeks
Jayned Donatien	24	Gloucester Banshees	FPF	2	Player was observed kicking a prone player in the abdomen whilst standing over him.	17/07/11 v Berkshire Renegades
Dariusz Edward Wiercioch	23	Bristol Apache	FGT	4	After the play was over, the player got up off the floor and punched an opponent.	09/07/11 v South Wales Warriors
Alex Butlin	55	Sheffield Predators	FPF	3	With 0.00 remaining in the 3rd Quarter No 55 Punished an opponent by a block in the back, who had given up, as the play was dead.	10/07/11 v Lincolnshire Bombers
David Saul	9	Sheffield Predators	TUF	4	2 Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls:- 1st = with 7.00 of the 2nd qtr, No 9 Taunted an opposing player after going out of bounds in the away teams team area, 2nd = 4.23 remaining of the 4th qtr, No 9 removed his helmet whilst on the field of play.	10/07/11 v Lincolnshire Bombers
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.

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

HOME TEAM	REPORT	NEXT HOME GAME
New this week
Manchester Titans Youth	Crew were advised at KO that a member of chain crew would be swapped at half time. On arrival at ground the Leeds Head Coach challenged whether his #88 was suspended from the game following ejection at previous game. Newsflash showed he was disqualified - coach challenged as he "had not been informed by league”. A phone call to the ejecting official confirmed he was suspended from this game. Andrew Lovell #559	Unknown
DC Presidents	Field was marked in white on a pitch also with white soccer markings that conflict with the markings for football. No numbers or 9 yard marks. The chain broke numerous times during the game causing several delays. The game balls were provided by the home team but were all under the legal pressure. While the home team were attempting to inflate the balls one ball became defective and a replacement was provided by the visiting team. The home team wore all white shirts and the away team wore silver/grey shirts with black shoulders. On a bright sunny day this was not an issue, however on a darker/overcast issue the colours could clash. Ben Griffiths #228	Unknown
Cambridge Cats	Game was due to start at 13;00 but did not get under way until 13:57, due to the late arrival of the visiting team. Larry Rigby #269	10/07/11 v Leicester Falcons
Outstanding items from previous weeks
East Kent Mavericks	Field marked out as last week (no limit lines, no coaching boxes or team areas, no 9 yard marks or numbers, no inbounds lines). With the agreement of both coaches, a running clock was used in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks only had 3 fit offensive linemen. Dan Bridgland #506	24/07/11 v Ipswich Cardinals
Farnham Knights Juniors	Unique hashmarks - those in the middle of the field were about 15 yards long (though they varied a lot) between where the inbounds lines might have been. No team area lines. Field surface very poor: lots of long grass and hollows. Both teams wore blue jerseys: Farnham in light blue; Blitz in dark blue. Kickoff delayed 30 minutes due to late arrival of visiting team. Jim Briggs #31	24/07/11 v Bristol Aztecs Junior
Farnham Knights	As youth game, kick off delayed due to delay in arrival of visiting youth team. Pete Parsons #321	24/07/11 v Bristol Aztecs
Sheffield Predators	The hash marks at sidelines are approx 2 foot inbounds from the side line. The chain is of very poor quality, the links of the chain broke 4 times during the game. Chris Jarvis #10	10/07/11 v Lincolnshire Bombers
Manchester Titans	Kick off delayed for 50 minutes awaiting arrival of ambulance. Mike Cavanagh #465	10/07/11 v Doncaster Mustangs
Bristol Aztecs	Plaudits to the Aztecs' groundsman for a superbly-marked pitch. Dean Wright #553	07/08/11 v London Blitz
Yorkshire Rams	Plaudits to the Rams team management for supplying hot drinks and food on such a cold wet and windy June "summer" day! Chris Jarvis #10	31/07/11 v Doncaster Mustangs
London Olympians	Played at Well Hall astroturf, Eltham. No Team areas or hashmarks either at sideline or inbounds. Solid lines marked every 5 metres so coaches were informed that the chains would be definitive. Soccer goals were on the end line and the crossbar from these combined with two white drainpipes suspended within the goal netting constituted the posts. Officials assistants not supplied until after scheduled kickoff time. First half abandoned with the consent of both coaches with 0.40 remaining in order for an injured player to be treated. Tim Ockenden #481	17/07/11 v Colchester Gladiators
Highland Wildcats	No limit line lines, no three yard mark for PATs, No numbers on field. Henry Richardson #25	14/08/11 v Dundee Hurricanes
Merseyside Nighthawks	One change to chain crew midway through second quarter. Second half ball boy on away team sideline was inattentive to the official - talking to spectator instead of concentrating on his job. Mike Cavanagh #465	03/07/11 v Doncaster Mustangs
Chester Romans	Chain Crew and Ball Persons provided less than five minutes prior to kick-off. The Kick-off was delayed five minutes to ensure they were properly briefed. One Ball Person and the entire chain crew left at half time. The start of the second half was delayed by ten minutes while alternates were found and briefed. Apart from the above issues the game management was very good. Ben Griffiths #228	10/07/11 v Lancashire Wolverines
Carlisle Border Reivers	Distance between 5 yard lines in middle of field was between 6 and 8 yards. Down marker numbers on A4 paper in A4 sleeves. Balls and chain crew not supplied until just before kickoff time Tzvi Lindeman #381	17/07/11 v Dundee Hurricanes
Gateshead Senators	The kick-off time on Arbiter and the BAFCL website was 14:30, however the home team believed kick-off was 14:00 (they claimed that's when all their games kick-off). This will need to be clarified as a matter of urgency to avoid any clashes in the future. As with all games at Gateshead; there were a number of white and yellow non-American Football markings on the field. The coaching line was not marked and the team areas were not marked between the 25 yard lines. Chain Crew were changed at half time and on of the crew were changed during the 3^rd quarter. Mark Snow #430	10/07/11 v Yorkshire Rams
Kent Exiles	Field markings faint and disappeared during game. Field surface muddy & worsened through game. Changing room dirty & insufficient room for 6/7 officials. Dan Bridgland #506	24/07/11 v Essex Spartans
South London Renegades	Played at Streatham & Croydon RFC. Field 20 feet too wide with Rugby markings the same colour as the Football markings. Yardlines marked every 10 yards although unevenly spaced. No hashmarks at sidelines and inbounds lines only every 5 yards. Goals too wide and with crossbar too high. Only one adequate game ball; one other supplied was well worn and another was not at an adequate pressure and no pump could be found. Tim Ockendon #481	31/07/11 v Cambridgeshire Cats Junior
Bristol Aztecs Junior	Farnham Knights reported there were some differences with the dates shown on the documentation of players details and those shown on the roster. They reported that 52 Leon Holland had no photo ID but a birth certificate was produced. 4 other players had different dates of birth on the BAFACL roster than on the documents produced. #8 James Cunningham was shown as 23/8/92 on the roster but 26/8/92 on the ID. #44 Matthew Teall was shown 7/8/93 on roster but 8/7/93 on ID. #2 Jamiel Tinto was shown as 1/3/92 on roster but 15/3/92 on ID and #3 Daniel Vickery was shown as 12/04/94 on Roster but 27/4/94 on ID. Keith Wickham #423	07/08/11 v Hampshire Thrashers Junior
Kent Exiles Junior	Game played in driving rain. Field markings had become non-existent and field surface more mud than grass. Same issues with changing room as with senior game. Dan Bridgland #506	24/07/11 v South London Renegades Jumior
Hampshire Thrashers Junior	Kick off delayed by 55 minutes due to the non arrival of the visiting team due to their bus breaking down. Once they arrived the game started promptly and was played in good spirit by both teams Dave Knight #135	10/07/11 v Farnham Knights Junior

END ZONE

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: On a try attempt at Team B's 3 yard line, B1 intercepts Team A's legal forward pass and runs it to midfield. During the run back after the interception, B2 clips in the Team B end zone. Ruling?
Ruling?

Last week

Play: On a try attempt at Team B's 3 yard line, Team B is flagged for lining up in the neutral zone at the snap. B80 blocks the kick, recovers the ball, and returns it until A18 tackles him at Team A's 45 yard line by grasping and twisting his facemask. Ruling?

Ruling: If both teams foul during the down and Team B fouls before the change of possession, the fouls offset and the down is replayed. Team A's ball at the B 3 yard line, replay the try down. (8-3-3-a).

MECHANICS:

New this week

Game Situation: What are the 3 ways to mark a dead ball spot (and their order of desirability)?
Answer next issue...

Last week

Game Situation: On a 3-man crew, which official should take responsibility for actions against the snapper on field goal and try attempts?
Answer: M-23-6-3. The Linesman is responsible for action against the snapper and may come infield after the ball is snapped to better observe this.

CALENDAR

Date	Event	Contact for details
2011
July 23^rd (Sat)	BAFRA Board Meeting	secretary@bafra.org
November 6^th (Sun)	BUAFL 2011/12 Season Starts
November 19^th (Sat)	BAFRA Board Meeting	secretary@bafra.org

BAFRA Directors
President	David Parsons	president@bafra.org	General Secretary	Paul Sutton	secretary@bafra.org
Finance	Andrew Lovell	finance@bafra.org	Operations	Richard Vernon	operations@bafra.org
Recruitment	James Meredith	recruitment@bafra.org	Training	Charlie Dean Young	training@bafra.org
Director without Portfolio #1	Martin Cockerill	dwp1@bafra.org	Director without Portfolio #2	Steve Tonkinson	dwp2@bafra.org

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