BAFRA Newsflash

http://www.bafra.org

Issue: 20/12

23^rd May 2012

ND V NAVY GAME IN SEPTEMBER

Global Football are looking for 2 officials from the UK to work a game or two in Dublin, who may be going over to the ND/Navy game in September. The organiser will provide a ticket or two to the game if they volunteer to work the two high school games while they are there. If you are interested please let me know and I will pass on your name. Please note, you would not be working the games under the auspices of BAFRA or BAFA. As such, you would not be covered by our Insurance. You would also need to liaise with the organisers direct with regards to any queries you had on the games.

Davie Parsons

president@bafra.org

ELITE TRAINING CLINIC

This year's Elite Programme Training Clinic will be held on Saturday 30^th June 2012 at the Coventry Hill Hotel (This is the same venue as the 2012 BAFRA Convention) so please put the date in your diary now.

BAFRA won’t be covering games that day as it’s the weekend of the BAFCA National Coaches Convention. All Officials who have been selected for the programme are expected to attend (although we appreciate that some people may have work or have other important commitments). As such, could all Elite programme members please e-mail elite@bafra.org to confirm that they will be attending or to give their reasons why they cannot attend.

The Clinic is open to any BAFRA member who would like to attend but as previous Elite Training days have attracted a high attendance, spaces will be limited so if you wish to come along e-mail elite@bafra.org now.

Pete Thom

training@bafra.org

CHAIN CREW FOR NFL GAME AT WEMBLEY

Wembley will stage its fifth regular-season game on October 28^th when the St Louis Rams host the New England Patriots. BAFRA has just been contacted by the NFL Director of Game Operations requesting us to once again provide a Chain Crew for this game.

We therefore seek applicants who would like to be considered for the Chain Crew. This crew will comprise 50% of officials who did it last year for the first time and 50% officials who have not done it before. Expressions of interest are therefore invited from anyone who fits into either category to be received by me by No Later than 6^th June

Richard Vernon

operations@bafra.org

USE OF ARBITER

Due to requests not to assign games too far in advance, I am currently scheduling games about two weeks ahead. In other words I will soon be publishing the assignments for 9^th and 10^th of June. However in order for this to work it is vital everyone updates Arbiter with their availability before I assign games, not after. Obviously I understand that changes in circumstances do occur, but if updating your Blocks on Arbiter with your non available dates could be done as early as possible then scheduling will be more straightforward then it currently is.

Your co-operation is requested in this matter.

Richard Vernon

operations@bafra.org

2012 EXAM

I am currently away with limited internet access. I am aware that some people have outstanding queries about the exam which the rest of the members of the Examination Committee are considering. I will be back in touch when I return. I apologise for any delay in replying to people.

Paul Sutton

secretary@bafra.org

PREPAY TEAM

South Wales Warriors are now pre paid.

Charlie Dean Young

finance@bafra.org

PLAUDITS FOR MERSEYSIDE AT SHROPSHIRE GAME

Plaudits to both players and coaches for an excellent Merseyside at Shropshire game on Sunday. Despite being a close game only settled with 6 seconds remaining, it was played in very good spirits by all concerned.

Andrew Lovell

#559

RESULTS

BAFA Premiership

Doncaster Mustangs 44 – 14 Leicester Falcons

London Blitz 3 – 7 London Warriors

East Kilbride Pirates 28 - 23 Tamworth Phoenix

BAFA Division 1

Kent Exiles 29 – 30 Cambridgeshire Cats

East Kent Mavericks 35 – 25 Berkshire Renegades

Essex Spartans 0 – 28 Sussex Thunder

Nottingham Caesars 23 – 30 West Coast Trojans

Shropshire Revolution 37 - 34 Merseyside Nighthawks

BAFA Division 2

Chester Romans 47 – 6 Crewe Railroaders

Bristol Apache 3 – 27 Bournemouth Bobcats

D C Presidents 22 – 34 Manchester Titans

Sheffield Predators 39 – 6 Lincolnshire Bombers

Colchester Gladiators 49 – 20 Bedfordshire Blue Raiders

Carlisle Border Reivers 0 – 26 Glasgow Tigers

Oxford Saints 41 – 0 Gloucester Centurions

DISCIPLINARY CASES

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

Previous weeks
Martin Punter	77	Edinburgh Wolves	FGT	2	Player tackled opponent by throwing him to the ground, and then retaining hold of him. Player continued to tighten his grip before being removed.	Player's 3^rd DQ this season. He is suspended for 12 months (to 07/08/12) plus one more game after that due to an earlier incident.
Jason West	77	Dundee Hurricanes	FGT	1	Threatened an opponent, then head-butted him.	26/05/12 v Edinburgh Wolves
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
Bristol Aztecs Juniors	The lines were very faint, but were still in the right places. Jonathan Swithinbank #400	27/05/12 v Farnham Knights Junior
DC Presidents	The Gooseneck Goals are situated 3yds behind the End Line; therefore the uprights are approximately 1 yard behind the end line. This is a stadium issue and therefore cannot be resolved. Plaudits to the home management for a thoroughly professional game day experience for the officials and spectators. The "welcome" staff, food, drink and dedicated car parking for the officials was very much appreciated by all the officials. Chris Jarvis #10	27/05/12 v Staffordshire Surge
Bristol Apache	Field markings were very faint (albeit pretty much complete). Team areas were marked to 30 yard lines, with no separate player/coach areas. Limit lines marked too close to the field (6 foot). Amir Brooks #593	02/06/12 v Gloucester Centurions
East Kent Mavericks	Played at Aylesham Welfare Leisure Centre. Pitch had not been marked by regular groundsman due to illness so had to be marked manually by home team players in the two hours leading up to kickoff. As a result several lines were crooked and others were indistinct in parts. Hashmarks at the sideline and inbounds lines were not always correctly positioned, as was the coaching line. Several potentially hazardous areas in one end zone needed repair prior to kickoff. Tim Ockendon #481	17/06/12 v Hampshire Thrashers
Kent Exiles	Blue lines on green grass, but no problems of visibility. Some lines rather crooked. No team area lines. Goals were soccer goals with extended uprights. Changing room a bit of a squeeze for a 5-man crew, but was lockable. We were well looked after as usual by the Exiles. This report also applies to the junior game between Exiles Juniors and South London Renegades. Jim Briggs #31	03/06/12 v Hampshire Thrashers
Sheffield Predators	After a lengthy injury, and with 1:30 left in the game with the score 39-6 to the home side, it was agreed by both teams to end the game to allow an air ambulance to land. Muz Gibson #268	02/06/12 v Manchester Titans
Chester Romans	No nine yard marks or numbers. Home team only provide one ball person, the visitors provided one ball person. Chester’s game management was excellent - well done. Ben Griffiths #228	27/05/12 v Lincolnshire Bombers
Carlisle Border Reivers	The field was marked to a width or approximately 47 yards wide. Which is wider than earlier games this year, but still not the correct legal width. No numbers or nine yard marks. Short yardage extensions marks were set at an NFL width. The short yardage extension marks were not always one yard apart and the marks at the sideline did not line up with the marks at the inbounds lines. The marks at the inbounds line did not line up with each other. Coaching line marked at approximately 4 feet from sideline and team area marked at approximately 8 feet from sideline. Collapsible cones were used as goal-line and end-line pylons, these were removed before play commenced. The chains were of a homemade nature and broke on numerous occasions. The down marker did not have the same numbers on both sides. The crew ensured the correct down number was facing the press-box side, however this caused some initial confusion for the team using the sideline opposite the press-box. Crew not paid until 45 minutes after the game. Ben Griffiths #228	17/06/12 v Highland Wildcats
Outstanding items from previous weeks
Merseyside Nighthawks	NFL hash marks, running track lines on field and same colour (although becoming faded), hash marks in some areas were not consistent distance between 5 yards lines. However, it should be noted that the game day management (including facilities and the field generally) is one of the best organised by many teams. Mark Snow #430	10/06/12 v Lancashire Wolverines
Berkshire Renegades	Everything was just fine. Barry Beynon #533	01/07/12 v Essex Spartans
Farnham Knights Junior	There are some extra lines on the field from a failed marking attempt. Not sure that the field is rectangular - the size of the end zones varied from 9-11 yards according to where you measured. Not all yard marks were a yard long. Field uneven and grass quite long in places. Changing room not lockable. Ball boys were quite poor, and the best one left at half-time. It was an amazing game in which Farnham came back from 19 points down to win. Plaudits to the effort of both teams. Jim Briggs #31	10/06/12 v London Warriors
Glasgow Tigers	No limit lines; team box and coaching box marked but too close to sideline. Henry Richardson #25	27/05/12 v Highland Wildcats
Gateshead Senators	The field is offset to the playing area, meaning that there is no room opposite the press box to run the chains safely, therefore the chains were positioned on the home team sideline. The goal posts are situated 2 yards behind the end line and are of High School width. Plaudits to the home management for supplying hot/cold drinks and food during the game and between the 2 games, it was very much appreciated. Chris Jarvis #10	02/06/12 v Coventry Jets
Cornish Sharks	Goals were soccer goals with added uprights (this should be rectified for their next home game). Plaudits go to Cornish Sharks for their excellent game management, and to both sets of players for a good hard-fought game. Amir Brooks #593	26/05/12 v Bournemouth Bobcats
Cambridgeshire Cats Junior	Ambulance was late so delayed the kick off by 10 minutes. Near the end of the 3^rd quarter the ambulance took an injured player to hospital. Crew was told the ambulance would take 15 minutes but ended up taking 55 minutes. 4^th quarter was done with a running clock with agreement from both coaches. Field a long way from changing rooms. Officials had access to two changing rooms which were both small Ellis Bowyer #502	17/06/12 v Peterborough Saxons
Lincolnshire Bombers	Field had rugby, soccer and football markings, all marked in white. Bombers where excellent hosts, paying as soon as we arrived and offering hot food after the game. Plaudits are due to both teams for the exemplary sportsmanship and good humour displayed during the game. Tim Fisher #439	10/06/12 v Sheffield Predators
London Olympians	Game was played as a 'single post' game as the posts at one end of the field are too close to a nearby road. Field was 100 yards and generally well-marked, though the numbers were too close to the sideline and the hash marks were NFL style. Dean Wright #553	17/06/12 v London Blitz
Watford Cheetahs	Field of play not a multiple of 10 yards. Changing rooms not lockable. Pete Parsons #321	03/06/12 v Peterborough Saxons
Leicester Falcons	Plaudits to both teams, all the coaches and gameday staff, in the worst weather conditions anyone on crew had ever worked, the game went off with out incident and with just one minor injury. It was also the 1st 0-0 game I have covered! Ian Wainwright #567	09/06/12 v Doncaster Mustangs
Birmingham Bulls	Game kicked off 35 minutes late due to late start of preceding youth game. One set of goal posts collapsed in the wind 5 minutes from the end of the game and we used the one-goal mechanic for the remainder. Brian Yates #29	09/06/12 v Tamworth Phoenix

END ZONE

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: A's ball on A's 40, 3rd and 15. QB A14 throws a legal forward pass that is controlled by B21 at B's 30 while airborne. A81 tackles and carries B21 from B's 30 to out of bounds at B's 32 where he contacts the ground.
Ruling?

Last week (actually week 11/12)

Play: A's ball, 4th and 4, on A's 30. Punter A6 catches the snap and runs to A's 24 where he is hit and fumbles. B76 tries to pick up the ball at A's 22 but muffs it to A's 25. A67 recovers on A's 25 and runs to A's 35 where B52 grabs his face mask and jerks him down on A's 36.
Ruling? The fourth down fumble was by A6. The recovery was by teammate A67 in advance of the spot of the fourth down fumble. There was no change of team possession during the down. Therefore, the ball becomes dead when A67 recovers the 4th down fumble on A's 25 and will be returned to the spot of the fumble, A's 24. All subsequent action was with a dead ball. The face mask foul by B52 is a dead ball foul. All dead ball face mask penalties are 15 yards. B's ball, 1st and 10, on A's 39. The clock starts on the snap.

MECHANICS:

New this 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 next issue...

Last week

Play: On punt play covered by a 5 man crew, which official(s) must know if the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage by knowing what the ball first touched beyond the neutral zone?
Ruling? M-11-7-a-1. The Head Linesman has sole responsibility for ruling on if the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage on a punt play of this kind. This is the Head Linesman's top priority during the play.

CALENDAR

Date	Event	Contact for details
2012
July 14^th (Sat)	BAFRA Board Meeting	secretary@bafra.org
August 25^th (Sat) / 26^th (Sun)	BAFA NL Finals Weekend
November 17^th (Sat)	BAFRA Board Meeting	secretary@bafra.org
March 31^st / April 1^st	BAFRA Convention	president@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	Pete Thom	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