DISCIPLINARY CASES

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

FORWARD PASS OR FUMBLE

Have a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg3fYyn8ifs. Is it a fumble or an incomplete forward pass?

RULES AND MECHANICS COMMITTEE

Charlie has reluctantly stepped down from the Rules and Mechanics committee which means that there is now a vacancy. Anyone interested in taking up this position, please contact Jim Briggs (rules@bafra.org).

COMMENT ON TRICK PLAY

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcUAzVb6GpI&NR.

• Yes the referee blew the play in too soon; neither he nor his officials were ready and this is the first and major fault and probably explains why they did not spot the subsequent infractions.

  Assuming that the play had gone off as it did but with the officials in position I see no justification to flag the defense as they have met all the criteria of rule 7.1.5. They have 11 men on the field [a coach might be on the far sideline but he is not pertinent to the play] none of the players is encroaching and they have not prevented the offence from snapping the ball, therefore I do not see how they have delayed the game. It depends on your definition of ready under 3.4.2, but since 7.1.5 has not been breached I’d say they are ready.

  I personally think the offence have committed three penalties, the illegal shift as mentioned, one of the players also appears to be in forward motion and finally the snap is not a single smooth movement, the ball is picked up and then passed breaching 2.21.3e/g and 7.1.1. All 5 yarders so as long as you get one you've got it right.

  Mark Wilson # 558

QUESTION FOR UMPIRES

Play ends close to a first down, the umpire looks out to the wings and one wing has a spot which is a first down and the other does not. Do you take the spot from the official on whose side of the field the ball ended up or the official who blew the ball dead (assuming they are different)?

• From Mark Wilson

  For umpires concerning spotting the ball, lacking a clear statement in the mechanics manual this should have been discussed at the pre-game. Then what ever you do is consistent throughout the game. Generally I would face the official on the wing to which the ball has gone, however I have played a game with a referee whose rule was to take the most advanced spot and I had no problem since the instruction was clear and unambiguously given in the pre-game.

  Mark Wilson # 558

• From Martin Gibson

  My answer to the Umpire question. I could have gone into more graphic detail but that could alert the teams to some of our more dark arts!

  If a wing official sounds his whistle, its either an inadvertent whistle or, he has seen the runner down so in either case he should whistle loudly and verbalise that he has the spot, that tends to get everyone’s attention. As an umpire if a run ends in a side zone, I will normally favour that side of the field. The umpire will usually be looking in that direction in any event to pick up the blocks ahead of the runner. For a run up the middle, very often it is the wing official who shouts loudest who gets favoured. Why? If I can hear the call, almost certainly most of the players can and I am not about to bring the competence of the crew into question to both teams by ignoring a ‘sold’ call. What an umpire should never do is invent the spot, the spot of progress is always the wing officials territory.

  If there is a problem with forward progress spots, it should be resolved in the dressing room, not on the field. Remember it’s the position of the ball when the play becomes dead and not the position of the runner when he finally stretches forward afterward that’s crucial.

  Martin Gibson # 197

2006 RENEWAL - FINAL REMINDER

I have so far received renewals from the following members:

Stewart Abel, Keith Alldritt, William Anderson, Graham Baker, Lee Baker, Magnus Bjermo, Bernard Bradley, Dan Bridgland, Jim Briggs, Graham Coleman, Phil Cottier, Norman Cox, Charles Dean Young, John Doneghan, Robert Friel, Cameron Gibson, Martin Gibson, Murray Gibson, Raymond Grace, Tim Hutchins, Chris Jarvis, Kara Laing, Ralph Lenoir, Tzvi Lindeman, Andrew Lovell, Julian Mallia, William Marriage, Collins Mckay, Russell Newton, David Parsons, Peter Parsons, Richard Prattley, Henry Richardson, Ian Sneddon, Roger Stangroom, Paul Sutton, Pete Thom, Steve Tonkinson, Richard Vernon, Tim Vickers, Ian Wainwright, Alan Ward, Mark Wilson, Dean Wright, and Brian Yates,

If your name does not appear on this list you have very little time to get your membership renewed at the reduced rate, so extract your blessed digits and overcome your proverbial inertia...

MEDICAL COVER AT GAMES

With the college league season approaching and a few teams already playing friendlies, it is worth reminding everyone of the rule change earlier this year concerning medical facilities at games. This wasn't normally an issue during the BAFL and BYAFA seasons since both those league decided to retain the need for an ambulance. However, BCAFL will be following the BAFA rule precisely, so you may see instances where there is no ambulance present, but there is a doctor or paramedic. Remember, that there is a list of other mandatory facilities that must be present too, including a first aid kit containing splints, a stretcher and a phone. It is up to game management, not the officials, to confirm the qualifications of the doctor or paramedic.

A question has also arisen as to what minimum medical facilities are required when a BCAFL team plays a BAFL team (or any other league)? The answer is always that the officials enforce the BAFA rule. If either or both teams can't play because they (or their league) insist on a higher standard then that's their matter and all you need do is report the fact.

More on league-specific stuff next week.

Jim Briggs
rules@bafra.org

HEAD COACHES REPORT CARDS

Coaches Cards have been sent out to everyone who worked more than 3 games at Referee during the BAFL season. If anyone else needs some cards please drop me an email and I will get them posted out. Full Referee packs will be issued again at the Convention in March.

Davie Parsons
training@bafra.org

EFAF PANEL APPLICATIONS

A quick reminder that the deadline for applications for the EFAF panel is 31st October. Applications to Pete (operations@bafra.org) please.

The situation about how many officials we will be able to put forward is not yet clear, but we should know after the EFAF teams meeting on November 4th. It looks like at most one British team will be entering the EFAF cup next year.

Attendance at the EFAF Officials Clinic in Dublin is open to EFAF officials and prospective EFAF officials. Let Jim know if you are interested in going.

NEW RECRUITS

We have had quite a few people sign up via the website over the last 8 weeks and most will start their training during the College season. Hopefully we can turn as many as possible into full time officials and keep them within the Association for many years to come. You will more than likely work with some of them in the coming months and I would ask that you give them as much support and encouragement as possible.

We have a good opportunity to increase our numbers again and every little helps when it comes to selling BAFRA officiating in general.

Davie Parsons
training@bafra.org

DOWNED KICK

Play: Fourth and 10 for Team A from Team B’s 30-yard line. An untouched punt kick is bouncing inside Team B’s 2-yard line. What is the ruling if A1 recovers the ball:

1. with one foot on the goal-line and the other in the field of play,
2. standing with both feet on the goal-line, or
3. lying down with his left side on the goal-line. In none of these cases does the ball break the plane of the goal-line, and it is over team B’s 1-yard line when recovered?

Would the ruling change if the kick were a field-goal attempt?

Ruling: Regardless of the type of kick, the position of the ball and not the player’s feet determines the status of the ball. In each, Team B would start a new series first and 10 at its own 1-yard line, but if the kick were an attempted field-goal then Team B would get the ball at the previous spot (2-11-1, 6-3-6a, 8-4-2b).

Reprinted with written permission from Referee magazine.
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