EXAMINATION ERROR

So much for all the proof reading!!!

Q89 has a ‘B’ missing in the Ruling line.

It reads: Ruling: Failed field goal, Team’s ball, 1st and 10 on team B 22-yard line.

It should read: Ruling: Failed field goal, Team B’s ball, 1st and 10 on team B 22-yard line.

Paul Sutton
Examination Committee Chairman
exam2007@bafra.org

AVAILABILITY

Only 43 people have filled in their availability form so far, so just less than half of our 80 active officials still need to do it. I'm trying to get the May schedule out and if you don't get these forms in, we won't be able to cover all the BAFL games.

So if you haven't already done so, please do it now at http://www.bafra.org/members/paperwork/availability.htm. If you can't access the form on line, please let Roger know secretary@bafra.org or if you prefer the excel version, please let me know at operations@bafra.org and I'll send it to you.

Plymouth Admirals / Cornish Sharks

Thanks to those people who have volunteered to go to Plymouth or Cornwall, we still need lots more individuals and crews to volunteer. If you can get a crew together of would like to make up the numbers on a crew, please contact me at operations@bafra.org.

Pete Thom
operations@bafra.org

HEALTH & SAFETY

Consultation on constitution and health and safety policy

The consultation period on the proposed new constitution and the health and safety policy, which began at the AGM, will end on Friday 20th April. If you have any comments, please send them in before then to secretary@bafra.org.

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

START OF SEASON REMINDERS

I know it was included last week, but as most people did not have a game, here it is again...

• Fees and expenses

1. The BAFRA admin fee has gone up to £60 (£30 for youth games). The fee per official is still £40/£25. There is no longer a reduction in fees for friendlies. Please refer to the Annex to the Terms and Conditions for more details.
2. Please remember to hand the invoice to game management before kickoff. If it's not paid within 30 minutes of the end of the game, you may leave and submit a Crew Request for Payment form.

Rules and mechanics

3. Everyone should have received their rulebook by now. It's also on the website at http://rb.bafra.org/index.htm.
4. Remind teams for the first couple of games that a kicking tee for kickoffs cannot be more than 1-inch. Players with tinted visors can no longer play.
5. At the Convention, we agreed the following mechanics for implementing the timing rules changes:
   1. After a change of possession, the Referee should signal the ready for play (and wind the clock) when the new offense breaks their huddle. If the offense goes directly into their formation from the team area, start the clock then. If the offense delays in the huddle, start the clock. Unless there are fewer than 10 seconds left in a period, it would be expected that at least one play should be run unless the offense takes their time. Of course, never declare the ball ready for play if the officials, chains, ball and the defense are not ready.
   2. If a team deliberately commits a foul on a kickoff to illegally consume time, the appropriate penalty should be administered and the Referee should order the clock stopped long enough for the offended team to be able to run one or more plays that they would have been able to run if the foul had not occurred. This applies whether the penalty is accepted or declined. The Unfair Acts rule should not generally apply (since the fouls will normally be covered by the rules), nor is Unsportsmanlike Conduct warranted unless the illegal consumption of time is accompanied by another unsportsmanlike act.
   3. There is no need for anyone to signal "start the clock" on a kickoff.
6. As far as we know, BAFL have not changed any of their league regulations concerning the rules they are allowed to vary. The list is on the website at http://www.bafra.org/rulesctee/docs/leagueregs.htm.
7. Be sure to report any and all breaches of mandatory game management standards as an incident report. Leagues now have enhanced powers to sanction teams who offend.

   Game day paperwork

8. This season, BAFRA is basing the John Slavin Award on the Game Management Audit.
1. A form must be completed for every league game and sent in with the game report.
2. Normally, the Umpire should be responsible for completing the form, but it is the Referee's responsibility to ensure that it is done, and for sending it in.
3. Remember that if there is more than one problem relating to a line of the form, tick the box that scores the highest.
9. We are not running the Field Audit this season.
10. Referees need to ensure that the Crew Grade is completed on the game report after every game. This should reflect a fair assessment by every member of the crew on each official's performance. Last season, one or two referees omitted to do this, which hindered the work of the Selection Committee. This season the Committee reserves the right to record a mark of 0 for Referees who repeatedly leave this off the form.

    Operations

11. Please keep Pete up to date with your availability, either via the members' area of the website (http://www.bafra.org/members/index.htm) or by email (operations@bafra.org) or phone. Bear in mind that our ability to cover games depends on him knowing who is available and who isn't. If your availability changes, then let him know as soon as humanly possible. We will put out as many 4-man crews as we can, topping them up with fifth, sixth and even seventh officials when our numbers allow.
12. A handful of teams have changed venues this season. Be sure to check that you know where you're going before you set off to a match. Links to teams' websites can be found at http://www.bafra.org/teams/index.htm.
13. Please remember to confirm to your referee that you are OK for each game. This should normally be done by Thursday evening (for a Sunday game) at the latest.

    Finally

14. I think if we have an officiating point of emphasis this season, it is that in unusual plays or situations we will all communicate with each other more. The more unusual or extreme the situation, the more important it is that everyone volunteers the information they know, and that they don't wait to be asked. This applies to all officials – veterans and rookies.
15. Have a good season and if you have any questions, contact me or one of the other directors.

Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org

EMAIL RECEIVED

Dear Sir (?)

It has been brought to my attention that you have used a photograph of me in your most worthy publication.

Whilst I realise that you are fully within your rights to use this picture at our [sic] discretion, the photograph was submitted by myself to BAFRA, I am, however, a little disappointed that it has been wrongly attributed to someone other than me, namely John Harrington.

This individual may well be a fine, upstanding member of the footballing community they may possibly be a little concerned to be mistaken for me a "fine, upstanding" ex-member of the footballing community.

I'm sure I don't need to remind you of the BAFRA motto and look forward to your correction in this matter.

Wishing you well with future issues of BAFRA Newsflash.

Regards

Stephen Harrison #134 (retired)

DISCIPLINARY CASES

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

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