DISCIPLINARY CASES

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

2006 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Renewals have been received from the following members:
Stewart Abel, Keith Alldritt, William Anderson, Graham Baker, Lee Baker, Barry Beynon, Andrew Binns, Magnus Bjermo,
Ellis Bowyer, Bernard Bradley, Dan Bridgland, Mike Cavanagh, Stephen Clibbins, Graham Coleman, Colin Edwards, Phil Cottier,
Norman Cox, Ian Cubitt, Charles Dean Young, John Doneghan, Robert Friel, Cameron Gibson, Martin Gibson, Murray Gibson,
Raymond Grace, John Hornsby, Tim Hutchins, Chris Jarvis, Kara Laing, Mike Leferve, Ralph Lenoir, Tzvi Lindeman,
Andrew Lovell, Julian Mallia, William Marriage, Collins Mckay, Tony Newsham, Russell Newton, David Parsons, Peter Parsons,
Richard Prattley, Henry Richardson, Andrew Robson, Ian Sneddon, Roger Stangroom, Paul Sutton, Lev Sviridov, Pete Thom,
Steve Tonkinson, Craig Urin, Ronald Vale, Richard Vernon, Tim Vickers, Ian Wainwright, Alan Ward, Mark Ward,
James Weir, Keith Wickham, Mark Wilson, Dean Wright, and Brian Yates.

If you have done so yet, please send your renewal form as soon as possible.

Roger Stangroom
secretary@bafra.org

PRE-PAID TEAMS

The current list of teams who have pre-paid for their officials is: University of Western England (Bristol), University of Warwick, University of Surrey, University of Birmingham and Royal Holloway

ANOTHER COMMENT ON TRICK PLAY

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

• I have nothing against this (or any other) offensive trick play per se, it is designed to work by virtue of the defense being unsure of where to place their personnel to best cover it.

  However, in my humble opinion in this video clip, the defensive team are clearly not ready to play. They are all ambling back to the middle of the field after their timeout. Ask yourself how many teams you have officiated where this is their normal style of playing defense. In the games I've worked, the defense are all stationary, with several of them in a 3 point stance and occasionally one defender moving to follow the motion man. It appears to be a traditional style of play. Perhaps those of you who think the defense are indeed ready are from areas of the country where football is coached and played in a different style.

  In the very early days of football in this country, there were occasions of officials allowing the offense a free and unopposed path to goal because the defense were tardy in breaking from a timeout conference near the sideline. I can recall discussions with senior clinicians like Clyde Messenger, Jerry Grunska, etc who categorically stated that this was neither in the spirit nor the minutiae of the Rules - it is simple, it is 5 yd Delay on the Defense!

  I would argue that using Rule 7-1-5 as a justification to allow the offense to run this play is erroneous. The spirit of Rule 7-1-5 is to restrict the defense from illegally spoiling an offensive play, not as a definition of whether they are ready to play. Rules 3-4-2 and 3-5-2 are much more pertinent, indeed AR 3-4-2 I is quite simple and to the point and covers this situation perfectly. I would also point out AR 3-5-2 V.

  The various points concerning the poor execution of this play by the offense which leads to them violating a number of Rules restricting them are true (illegal snap - picks it up then throws it, false start - look at the snappers foot move before he snaps, players not set for a second, sideline guy in white shirt doesn't get off the field fast enough), but moot since the play should never have been allowed to run.

  Do everything you can to prevent a situation happening in your game where you have no choice but to call a Delay on the defense. What can you do as officials?

  1. Have the Umpire warn the crew 15 seconds before the timeout expires.
  2. This gives the sideline officials time to yell to the huddles "10 seconds!!"
  3. If they dont move quick enough, then yell some more.

  A final note on the officiating - the SEC is the conference that other NCAA Conference officials tell jokes about - for many years their officiating mechanics and philosophy have lagged 20+ years behind the rest of the NCAA. It would be wise for BAFRA officials not to pick up any of their bad habits if you have occasion to watch any SEC games....

  Steve Tonkinson #99

CLOCK MANIPULATION

We have here the end of the first half between Wisconsin and Penn State from the weekend's NCAA games. 10 Wisconsin players deliberately run offside twice on the kickoff to run out the 24 seconds remaining on the clock (Penn State is forced to accept the first penalty and likely would have accepted the second without the offsetting hold because of the poor return prospects offered by the kicking team getting a 10-yard head start on the ball).

If we do end up adopting this year's NCAA timing rules for the 2007 rulebook, is there anything we can do when a coach gets clever and tries it? Is this perhaps an example of 'tactics obviously unfair' that would allow us to invoke Rule 3-4-3? Or could it fall under 9-2-3-c, making the penalty whatever the referee feels is equitable? If so, should we have a consistent policy or allow individual crews to use their judgement?

Alan Dobson #308

MOVING

It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that I have accepted a new job in Denver, Colorado (yes that's in the US). I will be leaving just before Christmas and starting my new job on January 1st. I have had a great experience here in the UK and working with all of you. I've made some good friends and had loads of fun doing games here in the UK. I think BAFRA is a top-notch organization and I am proud to be a member. I'll see some of you this Saturday and perhaps at another TV meeting (with pizza!). I'll pass along my new contact details when I get them. I do plan to keep this e-mail address however. Though I'll be in the land of the Broncos, I will remain a loyal 49ers fan!!

Thanks for all the great times and getting me out of my female filled house on Sundays.

Jeff #501

KEITH'S KONTENTIONS

A new series of thought-provoking comments and video clips from Keith Wickham...

Firstly visit http://www.refstripes.com/ilforpass.wmv.

Is this an illegal pass? You will see the helpful blue line remains throughout the play.

I have posted the play on the BAFL forum at http://www.gridironuk.co.uk/talk/showthread.php?p=40022#post40022. This will allow you to discuss the issue on an open forum. Please remember that the forum is open to all subscribers and not just officials.

If you would prefer you can email me with your comments at intliaison@bafra.org

Keith Wickham #423

ROGER'S RHETORIC