DISCIPLINARY CASES

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

INCIDENTS INVOLVING DUNDEE HURRICANES

After the recent game between Glasgow Tigers and Dundee Hurricanes, BAFRA has received a report from the referee alleging abusive behaviour and intimidation on the part of certain Dundee personnel.

BAFRA has passed the details on to BAFL requesting disciplinary action. In the meantime, in view of the seriousness of these allegations, and in accordance with para 3.6(ii) of our Terms and Conditions, BAFRA will not assign officials to any game involving Dundee Hurricanes (home or away) until we have confidence that incidents of abuse and intimidation will not recur.

If anyone has any questions about the matter, please feel free to contact me.

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AWAY

Pete has asked me to inform you that he is away from 21st July to 11th August. In his absence, please contact Richard Samples if there are any problems with assignments.

The email operations@bafra.org will be monitored in his absence, and so should continue to be used for non-urgent items.

USEFUL GAME EXPERIENCE?

Roger, just 2 or 3 things which might be handy for a Newsflash sometime.

1. Since my return I've been a little surprised at the proliferation of inadvertent whistles, at least in my neck of the woods. Mostly, though not exclusively, it's by the newer officials (#500+) even though they are good officials. I wonder whether a good inclusion to everyone's pre-game might be the only occasions when the whistle should be blown? I know I'm going to do it from now on.
2. We might need to review kicking rules in the pre-game too because another thing I've noticed is that frequently the ball has not been blown dead as soon as an untouched free kick or an untouched scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone touches the ground in the end zone. I don't know why that is! But I've noticed it a lot and not just by inexperienced officials.
3. This is just something which might be of note as hopefully good practice. In yesterday's game at Merseyside. Team A's ball 3&10 at their 10. Backpeddling QB throws a pass. It is intercepted on 'A's 25yard line and run back to A's 15 where the runner is tackled but not fully stopped. As he is going to ground a team mate runs in and the ball is immediately smuggled to him. He then, in the general confusion runs in for a TD.
   Anticipating questions from the coaches 'cos it was all so unusual, in the time between the TD and setting up for the try I got the covering officials together and quickly checked on 4 things ...
   1. Forward progress of the first runner not stopped?
   2. first runner not grounded i.e. knee not on ground when ball handed?
   3. No assisting the runner?
   4. Ball not handed forward?

All this was not really for my benefit but for the benefit of a relatively inexperienced crew to get the key issues fixed in their heads for the awkward questions which they might have to face - a bit of 'on the job' training for the kinaesthetic learners!! It took less time to do than it has to write it and it seemed to work.

I managed to get all this information quickly out to the sidelines and demonstrate to the coaches we knew what we were doing. The loud vocals from A's sideline immediately quietened down and everyone (surprisingly) was happy.

Don't know if you can use any of this for Newsflash but I'm passing it on 'cos the experiences might be of help to other.

Tim Vickers #129

FINAL SCORE

Play: The game goes to extra periods with the score tied, 10-10. On its first possession, the home team kicks a field goad to go ahead, 13-10. On the first play of the visiting team's possession, an intercepted pass is returned for a score. What is the final score? Is it 15-10, 19-10, 13-10 or something else?

Ruling: Because the home team scored, it is allowed to keep the points. That play resulted in a touchdown for the home team, making the final score 19-10 (3-1-3e, 8-3-1).

Reprinted with written permission from Referee magazine.
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