DISCIPLINARY CASES

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

CARDIFF @ BRISTOL 3/12

Thanks to both Coaches and players for a good, hard-fought, close game. Special thanks to the three Bristol Cheerleaders who acted as Chain Crew for the first half. It certainly wasn't the weather to stand around holding cold metal poles; especially dressed in short raa-raa skirts (the girls not the poles).

Russell Newton #324

CHAIN CREW @ BATH

I would like to offer plaudits for the chain crew at the Bath game - best chain crew for a fair few years - despite the rain and wind.

Graham Coleman #177

EDITORIAL

Unfair Tactics

On Sunday before the game I was doing my usual chat to each coach and in response to my question whether they had any special play they wanted to warn us about, I got the response "we might do the injured quarterback" - i.e. he appears to be leaving the field but doesn't. I pointed out that this would violate the Football Code because of the feigning of injury, at which point the coach agreed and said that he would just pretend to leave the field of play.

I advised the coach that this too was illegal under the Unfair Tactic Rule (9-2-2a). It has been suggested that the act makes it a foul even if it does not confuse the opponents, but reading the rule again I am not sure. The Approved Rulings imply that the act makes it illegal, but the use of the word "attempt" in the rule would have made it clearer. On the day, I said that if they ran this play and no defender attempted to cover this man it would draw a 15-yard penalty (note - now previous spot).

Over the years a number of coaches have tried to suggest that they run something similar, and I have always given them the same answer. What worries me sometimes is when they say that the previous week's officials said it was OK. This rule states that any attempt to use a simulation of replacements or substitutions is illegal as is any tactic associated with replacements or substitutions.

I recommend you read the rule so that you are familiar with it - it is not long and can be found on page 123 of the rulebook.

Roger Stangroom
newsflash@bafra.org

PHIL CLARKE PROFESSIONAL JINX #2

Phil Clarke jinxed and unhelpful

For the second week running Phil Clarke jinxed another game. After last weekend, and as previously reported in Newsflash, this has come to be expected but on Saturday night he was also unhelpful and took a stance that meant the game could not be played.

Problems began when it became clear that the ambulance booked for the game was not going to come. After waiting some time for a replacement vehicle it was suggested that a way forward would be to nail Phil up. This would have had two beneficial effects. The first would have been that we could have offered up a sacrifice to the gods of luck and the second is that an ambulance would have had to attend. By doing a really good job, perhaps using long nails and strong wire, we were hopeful that it would have taken the ambulance the duration of the game to release Phil allowing for the game to be concluded.

Unfortunately, Phil was unhelpful and refused to allow us to hoist him onto a nearby fence to begin the ceremonial ‘harbinger hanging’. Despite pleas from Officials, players, coaches, fans and a few old crones with baskets and knitting needles, Phil was adamant in his refusal and the game was abandoned.

Phil is next planning to cause the postponement of the Reading/Portsmouth game scheduled for the 9th December. Members are reminded it is not too late to add Phil’s name to the list of people you do not want to work with on the availability sheet.

Keith Wickham #423

JIM'S JOTTINGS

From last week

After two major penalties against the receiving team, Team A kick off from Team B's 30-yard line (90-yard field). At the kick, there are eight Team A players lined up to the kicker's right, but only two lined up to his left. The kick is an attempted onside kick, but goes out of bounds untouched at Team B's 20-yard line. After the ball becomes dead, a Team B player commits an unsportsmanlike act.

What options, if any, should be given to the captains? Where do you think the ball should next be put into play?

In the play described, there are three fouls. Having fewer than four players on each side of the kicker is an illegal formation foul (ILF - Rule 6-1-2-c). The kick-off going out of bounds untouched by Team B is also an illegal procedure foul (FKO, 6-2-1). Both those fouls are live-ball and committed by Team A. There is then the dead-ball UNC by Team B.

Team B has the option of accepting either of Team A's penalties, or declining them both. Declining them both (option 1) leaves Team B with the ball at their 20-yard line. If they accept the ILF (option 2), the enforcement will be 5 yards from the previous spot, leaving Team A to re-kick from the 35-yard line. The penalty for the FKO is either 5 yards from the previous spot (like the ILF) or award the ball 30 yards from the kick-off spot. Since this would be the goal line, we would invoke Rule 10-2-3 (half distance) and award the ball at Team B's 15-yard line (option 3).

Enforcing the UNC after each of these would result in Team B snapping from their 10-yard line (option 1 after half-distance enforcement), Team A re-kicking from Team B's 20-yard line (option 2) or Team B snapping from the 7.5-yard line (option 3). Since option 3 is marginally worse than option 1, we can assume that wouldn't be the chosen one. If Team B chooses option 2, Team A has the significant possibility of recovering the repeated onside kick, or in the best case scenario Team B recovering the kick at around their 10-yard line. Of course they might fancy their chances of returning the kick, but it's unlikely. So if I was Team B's captain I'd go for option 1 and take the ball at my own 10-yard line.

Amazingly, this combination of fouls actually occurred in a recent game. What did the real Team B choose? Well, we will never know. Before the options could be given to the captains, the Team B coach elected option 4 - he forfeited the game!!

ROGER'S RHETORIC

The opinions expressed in this Newsflash are those of the contributors, and are not necessarily those of BAFRA or its Directors.