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ISSUE 07/07 26 February 2007

CONVENTION COUNTDOWN

Programme of Events

The programme of events for the Convention is taking shape and will probably be issued along with Newsflash in a week or so. I just have a couple of minor details to finalise.

As we expect quite a large turn out this year I have organised a variety of presenters and increased the number of Break-out Sessions. This will be our biggest (and hopefully best) Convention in over a decade. So get yourself registered if you have not already done so. See below for details.

2007 BAFA Rule Book

Jim Briggs has now confirmed that the 2007 BAFA Rule book is now complete and has been sent to the printers. We hope to receive our full quota in a few weeks time. They will then be issued, along with the Annual Examination, at this years Convention. This will help save a bit of cash on the cost of postage

EFAF DVD

We have now received our copy of the 2006 EFAF (European Federation of American Football) Officiating Review DVD. As some of you will remember we issued a copy of the 2005 DVD to everyone who attended the Convention last year. It is our intention to do the same this year however our source for copying the disc has moved on to another job. Do we have any member(s) who could help solve this problem? If so please get in touch with me at training@bafra.org.

Registration

Charlie advises me that the following have booked their places at the Convention: K Aldritt, B Beynon, D Bridgland, J Briggs, P Clarke, G Coleman, P Cottier, C Dean-Young, E Elliott, R Friel, G Galloway, R Grace, T Hodgkiss, C Jarvis, R lenoire, T Linderman, W Marriage, G Mcjannett, R Newton, C Oates, D Parsons, P Parsons, R Stangroom, P Thom, A Ward, J Weir, and B Yates.

If your name is not on this list then please contact Charlie (via email to finance@bafra.org). You need to do this to register for the Convention even if you are not staying at the hotel. If you intend to stay then booking your room via Charlie will ensure that you get the rebated rate - if you contact the hotel direct they will charge you the full rate.

See Newsflash issue 04/07 for Convention details, hotel location and accommodation information. You can find a copy on the web site or click on he following link http://www.bafra.org/newsflash/200704.htm.

Convention Video

I’m still looking for any budding Steven Spielberg’s within our ranks that have a video camera and would like to help record some of the key presentations at the Convention for use on the BAFRA Video Library? Drop me an email at training@bafra.org or give me a call to discuss if you can help.

Davie Parsons
training@bafra.org

EDITORIAL

New Timing Rule - my final words

I would just like to make it clear that the NCAA 2007 Rule changes I mentioned in last week's editorial, are those which will apply in America this year and not here. They will be considered by the Rules and Mechanics Committee at the end of this year for possible inclusion in the 2008 BAFL season.

As the subject of the new timing rule will almost certainly be discussed at the forthcoming Convention and a BAFRA edict will be issued on how we will deal with any problems arising from this, I will say no more for now. If you want to be involved in the discussion and have some influence on its outcome then you will need to attend the Conference and ensure you have your say.

John Adams announces his retirement

Who, you might ask, is John Adams. He is the editor of the NCAA Rulebook, and the person all American Football Officials turn to when an official NCAA ruling is required on the interpretation and enforcement of a rule. His word is law. He has announced that he will retire when his term expires in September of 2008.

Who will replace him? Simple, the man to whom everyone has been turning to when an unofficial ruling is required on the interpretation and enforcement of a NCAA rule - Rogers Redding. Anyone who has visited any of the football bulletin boards and chat rooms on the web will recognise his name and the respect everyone gives him.

Rogers Redding

In addition to being a contributor to the chat boards, Redding also serves as the coordinator of football officials for the Southeastern Conference where he brought a unique mix of attributes to the position that impressed the selection committee.

"Rogers possesses the vision, respect and integrity the committee hoped the successful candidate would have," said Michael Clark, chair of the NCAA Football Rules Committee and head coach at Bridgewater (Virginia) College. "In a very strong pool of candidates, Rogers rose to the top. We are very pleased to be making this announcement."

Redding's history in football officiating is impressive. He collected eight bowl game assignments in a distinguished career in the Southeastern and Southwest Conferences. Redding also served as a video replay official for one season in the SEC. In the area of football playing rules, Redding has produced a popular study guide since 1991.

"I am very pleased and honored to be considered for this position," Redding said. "Football and its rules have long been an interest of mine and I look forward to building upon the great work that John Adams has carried out for many years."

Redding will work with Adams through next season to ensure a smooth transition.

Roger Stangroom
secretary@bafra.org

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Davie informs me that Matthew Robertson passed his competency examination - please join me in congratulating him and welcoming him to BAFRA.

Roger Stangroom
secretary@bafra.org

BAFA UPDATE

Report on BAFA activities

The BAFA Board met on 26 and 27th January to have a strategic planning meeting. As I reported in Flag Down just before Christmas, BAFA has appointed Ken Walters and Simon Newnham to lead on a number of development activities leading to the establishment of a "Whole Sport Plan" by September 2007. This is a strategy for how the sport will develop over the next few years, hopefully attracting Sport England funding for parts of it.

Ken and Simon have been extremely busy. The BAFA website has been revamped. A recruitment campaign "Get into American Football" will be launched in the summer. BAFA clubs are now eligible for Sport England's "Sports Club of the Year" awards. A number of activities geared towards making sure that BAFA and its members organisations are operating effectively are progressing (more on that next week). They have met with a large number of people, both inside and outside the sport.

The main BAFA "event" of the year will be a Convention to be held on the weekend of 30th June-1st July, probably in Leicester. (There will be no games that weekend.) Centred around the coaches convention, there will be a number of general BAFA activities going on, and we in BAFRA will be running one of our Elite Programme clinics as well. Make a note in your diary.

The BAFA Board also discussed senior flag football, and the hope is to be able to launch a new organisation to cover that aspect of the sport this year. We also discussed child protection and disciplinary procedures.

If anyone would like more information on any of these topics, let me know.

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

THEFT AT READING

It has been reported to me that there was a break-in to the officials' changing-rooms last Sunday, which resulted in some officials losing some property. It is regretted that this happened, but it serves as a warning to us all that in this day and age we can trust no-one, and I remind all officials to be on their guard and to take no more private property to a game than is absolutely necessary.

Additionally, it is probably safer to ensure that all property is locked away in your car out of sight than to leave it in a "secure" changing room.

Roger Stangroom
secretary@bafra.org

SHEFFIELD HALLAM v HULL SHARKS

Still being a relatively new official I wondered if anyone could match the scores from the games I officiated on Sunday. Sheffield Hallam and Hull Sharks organised a double header game to complete their seasons.

After a tense first game the score ended Hallam 2 Hull 0, then after a brief rest bite (where Pete Thom somehow managed to get hold of a large burger) the second game was even closer and ended Hull 0 Hallam 0, after 8 quarters of play only 2 points scored!

We met in the middle to discuss the options for overtime but both coaches decided enough was enough and they would like to call a tie, both sets of players did seem a bit unhappy and wanted to carry on. It wasn't as though the teams couldn't play, it was they both had such strong defences which stopped the others. So plaudits to both teams for an excellent close fought game played in the right spirit but I'll stop practising my touchdown signals next time I'm scheduled onto their games.

Ian Wainwright #567

DISCIPLINARY CASES

NAME # TEAM CODE Q OFFENCE SUSPENDED
  25 February
NONE            
  Outstanding items from previous weeks
NONE            

PLAUDITS

The BYAFA youth game between Scotland V England was played with great passion and energy by both teams and it was a pleasure, as echoed by all the crew, to be involved with. If these young men are the future, then the game can only benefit form these fine young athletes.

Muz Gibson #268

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

HOME TEAM REPORT NEXT HOME GAME
  21 February
Birmingham Lions The game was played without goalposts. This was due to Birmingham and Loughborough managing to rearrange the game at short notice. In the circumstances Birmingham did a very good job and the field markings and facilities were of a high standard.
Keith Wickham #423 		04/06/07
  24 February
Tarannau Aberystwyth 4-man crew arrived with no sign of teams. Groundsman who also expected players contacted head coach of home side who visited to inform crew that match being played Sunday 25th February 2007. No payment made. Director of Operations updated by phone.
Keith Alldritt #323 		Next Season
  25 February
Bath Killer Bees Game was cancelled while officials were in transit to it. Surrey cancelled the game because their bus didn't turn up.
Jim Briggs #31 		n/a
Hertfordshire Hurricances Game played on Astroturf field due to normal field being waterlogged. Field had soccer markings the same colour as football markings. No numbers or nine-yard marks. There was a wire running about 8 feet above the halfway line but the ball never actually touched it. Goals were soccer-style with extended uprights. No limit lines, coaching lines or team areas.
However the game was played well and there were not many penalties (the first being late in the second quarter).
Dan Bridgland #506 		Playoffs?
Derby Braves Despite the terrible boggy conditions both teams gave 100%. The lines, which were very few to start, with became non-existent as the game progressed and the pitch was 80 yards long.
With 5:01 left in the 4th quarter after what looked like a serious neck injury to an Essex player both Head Coaches decided to end the game.
Muz Gibson #268 		Next Season
Glasgow Tigers Coaching box lines, team area lines, limit Lines, hash marks at sideline, and field numbers were all missing. No ball-boys provided.
Henry Richardson #358 		04/03/07
Sheffield Hallam Warriors Down box had been lost since last game, lines drawn on the pitch not straight and no team areas marked out. However this didn't stop an excellent game played by two very well organised teams.
Ian Wainwright #567 		Playoffs?
Royal Holloway Vikings 80-yard field, no pylons team areas marked to the 20-yard line. Quality of the balls very poor.
Otherwise everything excellent - if they could only do something about the (lack of) heating in the officials' changing-room...
Roger Stangroom #180 		Next Season
  Outstanding items from previous weeks
Loughborough Aces Both Loughborough and Birmingham failed to inform the 5-man crew allocated that the game had been called off and all five turned up to officiate.
Muz Gibson #268
Note from Pete Thom - Loughborough contacted me by e-mail at 11:54pm Saturday night to tell me that their game was off, I didn't get the e-mail until Sunday night so the crew went to the venue to find that the game had been cancelled. Loughborough say that they left an answer phone message with "BAFRA", I received no phone messages from them.
Note from Charlie - Loughborough left a message on my phone at 2000 on Saturday, which as I was away I didn't receive till Sunday night. 		04/03/07
Newcastle Raiders 90yd pitch, no 9yd numbers. Very hard fought and close game, plaudits to coaches and players from both teams, it was a pleasure to officiate and be involved in this game.
Ian Cubitt #457 		Playoffs?
Southampton Stags End zones only 8yds deep. Team area lines only 10ft from sideline. Goal posts tied to fence and approx 2yds beyond end lines. These are all due to restricted space within fence surrounding field. No limit lines. No numbers. Two wires stretched across field approximately 8ft from ground. Officials' changing rooms were flooded from overflowing showers.
Jim Briggs #31 		04/03/07
Essex Blades Field marked by groundsman too narrow (132ft) despite him getting it correct before Xmas. Team areas OK, except much narrower than 25 to 25.
Steve Tonkinson #99 		04/06/07

ROGER'S RHETORIC

From last week Play: A's ball, 3rd and 12, on B's 18. A16's legal forward pass is airborne when B34 grabs A88's jersey on B's 13, thus limiting A88's ability to jump for the catchable pass.

Ruling: A's ball, 1st and 10, on B's 13. Defensive pass interference. Team A has the option of accepting the penalty for a second foul only when the second foul is a personal foul. If defensive pass interference is called, then that call supersedes the holding call. If the pass is not catchable, then the foul would be holding. If B34's foul was a personal foul, Team A would accept the penalty for the personal foul and decline the penalty for the defensive pass interference foul. It would be A's ball, 1st and goal, on B's 9.
New this week A's ball, 2nd and 4, on B's 8. QB A18 hands off to A44 on B's 13. A44 runs to B's 6 near the sideline where B55 hits him causing the ball to come loose. B38 then deflects the bouncing ball and B12 controls the ball while touching the end line.

Ruling?

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