BAFRA Newsflash 01/07

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ISSUE 01/07	1 January 2007

EDITORIAL

A New Year Begins...

How did everyone's Christmas go? Did you get what you were hoping for - a new bean-bag or a bright shiny new whistle? Never mind, those new pink socks will go nicely with that nice new green necktie.

With a new year comes the New Year's Resolution - I gave up making these years ago as they never worked out, but if you want something to think about how about improving your technique for dealing with your assistants at the next game.

I suspect we have all fallen into the trap of doing the same briefing that we always do - whether it is the best or not, it is what we do. Have you ever discussed your briefing in the pre-game to see what others do? No, nor have I and I suspect we can all learn something from each other on how best to brief our assistants who mostly are helping us because they weren't quick enough to escape game management's attention. There are exceptions, but mostly these are unwilling volunteers.

Chris Jarvis has come up with two tip sheets for briefing the chain-crew (http://www.bafra.org/members/paperwork/Chain Crew.pdf) and the ball-boys (http://www.bafra.org/members/paperwork/balls to the officials.pdf) - these can also be downloaded from the Gameday paperwork (http://www.bafra.org/members/paperwork/index.htm) page from the site.

Here are a few more tips:

Check the equipment before the game - that should cut down the number of interruptions to the game for breakdowns.
Always carry a cable-tie in your hat - handy for repairing broken chain links - watch the chain crew's jaws drop when you do it.
Tell the chain-crew "never move until you're told" - the clock is stopped and we can wait for them, but if they move when they shouldn't it makes life difficult as the chains have to be reset.
Ask the box-man to tell you when there are fewer than 5-yards to go (you do mark the half-way point of the chain, don't you?) - that way you can advise the crew that it is something and short so that the Referee knows in advance that a 5-yard penalty against the defence will bring up a 1st down.
Tell the chain crew to always move back 2 steps from the sideline - not just for their sakes but for your own - you can't run to safety if there is someone in the way.
Always place the clip on the back of the line - be consistent and then you know where to put it for a measurement or to reset the chains.
Tell the box man when you want the number changed - and confirm the number every down, verbally or hand-signal but let him know as part of your briefing.
Move the box to the front stake before moving the chains on a measurement - handy if the clip comes off in your hand half-way onto the field; you know where to go back to start again.
Always tell the chain crew to drop the stakes and run if the play comes towards them; also drop the stakes away from the play - we don't want anyone impaling themselves on the stakes.
Tell the chain crew to remain impartial - I always remind them that there are many of the opposition players surrounding them and that there is an ambulance available for those who over-do it... OK, they know I jest, but it gets the meaning over.

I am sure there are many more tips that people use every week - let me know them and I'll include them here.

Roger Stangroom
newsflash@bafra.org

NEW YEAR GREETINGS

Since this is the first Newsflash of 2007, on behalf of the Directors I would like to thank all of our members who have shown fortitude over the last few weeks of 2006. The weather has been poor, game management at many teams has been less effective than we can remember for some time, and we have had to deal with many game cancellations, rearrangements and crew changes. Despite that, people have turned out, week-in, week-out and let the games go ahead with proper neutral officials. Thanks for that.

Let me say a special word of thanks to Jeff Bloszies whose job took him back to the USA at the end of the year. Jeff has been with us for two years and has made a big impact on the officials he has worked with, both because of his solid performance, but also the sense of humour he brings to the game. Good luck for the future in Denver, Jeff.

We will all have to get our football fixes from TV for the next few weeks. The BCAFL season resumes on the weekend of Sunday 4th February, which is also Super Bowl Sunday.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year break,

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

AVAILABILITY

If you haven't already done so, please complete your availability so that I can assign games for you. This may be done on-line at http://bafra.org/members/paperwork/availability.htm.

Pete Thom
operations@bafra.org

BAFRA OUTRANKS NFL.COM

I thought this might amuse you: Ever since last summer, the IT people at my work (NHS Lothian) have been blocking sports websites. I'm assuming this started because of the world cup, but it snowballed from there - all the main soccer, tennis and golf websites quickly bit the dust, but sites for less important sports (not my choice of words!) like American football escaped the first rounds of the cuts. Apparently it is all done on the number of hits a website gets from the UK and seems to be done by a human-updated database (I don't know if that's done by the Trust or some outside agency). Well, about a month ago, I lost access to BAFRA.org at work but I can still get NFL.com and TouchdownClaymores.com. I met one of the IT bods at work this morning (the NHS never sleeps!) and he told me that it probably means that the BAFRA website is more popular than NFL.com - I think you should be proud of that!

On a separate matter, I would be grateful if you could stick the following small ad into the next issue of Newsflash: New and unworn Honig's black and white polyester mesh cap for sale, size 7 5/8. Price £2.00 plus postage of £1.50. Email Andy Robson (#215) at arobson235@btinternet.com if interested.

Andy Robson #215

SCOTLAND V ENGLAND YOUTH GAME

BAFA Statement regarding the Scotland v England Youth Game

BAFA is pleased to announce that the Scotland v England Youth game has been rescheduled for Saturday 24th February 2007 at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh. Douglas Adamson, the game day manager for the event has only recently been able to confirm the date and availability of this prestigious venue.

When the Scotland v England game had to be unfortunately postponed, it was always the intention of BAFA and BYAFA to try to reschedule the game for a time that would allow all required aspects to be completed to both BAFA and BYAFA's satisfaction.

In the meantime work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that further guidelines and role responsibilities were put in place to help with the smooth organisation and running of the game.

Only players already selected via the trials will be eligible and BYAFA age rules will still have to be met. This will mean no player who has attained the age of twenty (20yrs) on the date of the game can be accommodated.

There have been changes to the Coaching staffs of both squads, some due to personal choice and others required by BAFA. All coaches involved in the game have to be BAFCA members and qualified to at least Level 1 and have the necessary child protection checks completed.

Alan Wilson, of the Glasgow Tigers, has agreed to take over the role of Head Coach for Team Scotland and has an experienced Coaching staff at his disposal.

In England the 'reins' will be picked up by Steve Rains, (Farnham MH Knights), as Head Coach and he will be assisted by his wife Jenny on the organisational front. Steve will be looking to confirm his coaching staff at the earliest opportunity and all current Team England Coaches are asked to contact Steve to indicate their willingness to carry on in their roles.

Steve Rains 01252 409798
jenrains@hotmail.com

Both BAFA and BYAFA want to look forward and establish this game as an important part in the BAFA National Programme.

BAFA Board of Directors

TRAINING DAY FOR NEW RECRUITS AND NEWER OFFICIALS

Just a note to remind everyone, if you intend coming along to the above event, please send me an email at training@bafra.org.

The Training Day will be held at The Coventry Hill Hotel, Rye Hill, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9PH, on Saturday 27th January 2007. This is the same venue we held the 2006 BAFRA Convention.

Hotel Website - Location Map

Please give me a call if you want to discuss the days programme.

Davie Parsons
training@bafra.org

HOLIDAY QUIZ

As promised, here are the answers.

No	Cryptic	Answer
1	24 H in a D	24 Hours in a Day
2	26 L of the A	26 Letters of the Alphabet
3	7 D of the W	7 Days of the Week
4	7 W of the W	7 Wonders of the World
5	12 S of the Z	12 Signs of the Zodiac
6	66 B of the B	66 Books of the Bible
7	52 C in a P (WJs)	52 Cards in a Pack (Without Jokers)
8	13 S in the U S F	13 Stripes in the United States Flag
9	18 H on a G C	18 Holes on a Golf Course
10	39 B of the O T	39 Books of the Old Testament
11	5 T on a F	5 Toes on a Foot
12	90 D in a R A	90 Degrees in a Right Angle
13	3 B M (S H T R)	3 Blind Mice (See How They Run)
14	32 is the T in D F at which W F	32 is the Temperature in Degrees Fahrenheit at which Water Freezes
15	15 P in a R U T	15 Players in a Rugby Union Team
16	3 W on a T	3 Wheels on a Tricycle
17	100 C in a R	100 Cents in a Rand
18	11 P in a F (S) T	11 Players in a Football (Soccer) Team
19	12 M in a Y	12 Months in a Year
20	13 is U F S	13 is Unlucky For Some
21	8 T on a O	8 Tentacles on a Octopus
22	29 D in F in a L Y	29 Days in February in a Leap Year
23	27 B in the N T	27 Books in the New Testament
24	365 D in a Y	365 Days in a Year
25	13 L in a B D	13 Loaves in a Baker's Dozen
26	52 W in a Y	52 Weeks in a Year
27	9 L of a C	9 Lives of a Cat
28	60 M in a H	60 Minutes in a Hour
29	23 P of C in the H B	23 Pairs of Chromosomes in the Human Body
30	64 S on a C B	64 Squares on a Chess Board
31	9 P in S A	9 Provinces in South Africa
32	6 B to an O in C	6 Balls to an Over in Cricket
33	1000 Y in a M	1000 Years in a Millenium
34	15 M on a D M C	15 Men on a Dead Man's Chest
35	1024 B in a K	1024 Bytes in a Kilobyte
37	12 L of H	12 Labours of Hercules
38	10 I of V	10 Incarnations of Vishnu
39	24 H from T by G P	24 Hours from Tulsa by Gene Pitney
40	76 T L the B P	76 Trombones Led the Big Parade
41	9 P in the S S	9 Planets in the Solar System
42	1000 W that a P is W	1000 Word that a Picture is Worth
43	200 P for P G in M	200 Pounds for Passing Go in Monopoly
44	40 D and N of the G F	40 Days and Nights of the Great Flood
45	4 C in the H H	4 Chambers in the Human Heart
46	112 P in a H	112 Pounds in a Hundredweight
47	9¾ is the P at K C for the H E	9¾ is the Platform at King's Cross for the Hogwart's Express
48	1000 is the S R of a M	1000 is the Square Root of a Million
49	4 H of the A	4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
50	14 L in a S	14 Lines in a Sonnet

ROGER'S RHETORIC

From last week

Play: A's ball, 2nd and 3, on A's 40. A29 fumbles on A's 38. The ball rolls out of bounds on A's 42. A78 holds on A's 36 during the down.

Ruling: A's ball, 2nd and 13, on A's 30. The clock starts on the ready for play. The ball is returned to the spot of the fumble since the fumble went forward and out of bounds between the goal lines. By interpretation, the running play ended behind the neutral zone. The spot of enforcement for the holding foul is the previous spot (9-3-3-b-Penalty).

New this week

A's ball, 3rd and 8, on A's 34. Tight end A80 runs his route and B29 incidentally grasps his face mask on A's 40. A80 changes his route and QB A18 throws a pass in A80's direction. The ball goes off his hands and falls incomplete on the 50.

Ruling?