CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Formal Notice of Referendum
In accordance with paragraphs 34 and 36 of the BAFRA Constitution (http://bafra.org/info/handbook/constitution.htm), I hereby give formal notice to all members of the British American Football Referees' Association of a postal referendum to alter the constitution of the association as proposed by the Executive Board.
The details of the change are on the members' area of the website (http://bafra.org/members/legal/company.htm).
More details will be issued shortly via Newsflash, and voting will take place between 6 and 12 weeks from the date of this Newsflash.
Roger Stangroom
secretary@bafra.org
BAFRA BOARD REPORT
The BAFRA Executive Board met for its regular (normally quarterly) meeting on 19th May.
Here are some of the topics discussed:
- We had a presentation from Ken Walters, the BAFA Whole Sport Plan manager, on aspects of the Plan and what BAFRA can contribute to it and get from it. There is a big opportunity for us to develop our training and progression systems to mirror those for players, coaches and administrators, which may open up avenues of funding. BAFA's new "Play Smart" system will provide a means of measuring progress for all aspects of the sport.
- It was agreed that the new constitution is now ready to be put to a referendum.
- Inputs into our health and safety guidelines for members were solicited.
- Roger is going to liaise with BAFA about BAFRA's part in the Central Registration System.
- Membership now stands at 105 (69 of whom are qualified members).
- Pete reported on problems with officials pulling out of games at short notice.
- Tony Newsham and Alan Ward were appointed to the Selection Committee to replace Charlie Dean-Young and Steve Tonkinson, who had resigned to assist in the infusion of new blood onto the Committee.
- The BAFRA Convention came in slightly under budget.
- This year's exam was considered a success. However, two active members had not taken it and will now need to re-qualify.
- We will pursue with BAFA the poor quality of some copies of the rulebook.
- We still haven't heard anything definite from the NFL about involvement in the Dolphins-Giants game at Wembley.
Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org
BAFRA AT THE BAFA CONVENTION
More training for our new recruits
Following the success of our training day for new recruits held in Coventry earlier this year, I have organised another similar event.
Coming under the title “Training Day for New Recruits” the event is being held on Sunday 1st July and will form part of BAFA’s inaugural convention taking place at Leicester University.
Training will be tailored mainly towards new recruits and officials who have taken up the stripes within the last year or so.
However, an open invitation is extended to anyone who would like to come along.
The programme will include some presentations, a practical session, video review and plenty of discussions on Rules and Mechanics.
Please give me a call if you want to discuss the days programme further.
So what happens next? Well all you have to do is register your intentions to attend by sending me an email and be there on the day for a starting time of around 9:30 - 10:00am.
We should finish around 4:00pm at the latest.
I will confirm details on the location within the University and directions in next weeks Newsflash.
We had around 30 attend the last event and it turned out to be a very enjoyable day.
So, if you can make it along you will be made more than welcome.
BAFRA Elite training day
As announced in Newsflash last week, the next meeting of the Elite Programme Officials will be held on Saturday 30th June 2007 at the University Of Leicester.
All Officials who have been selected for the programme are expected to attend.
If you cannot, please let me know as soon as possible.
As the event forms party of the BAFA Convention I need to register everyone who is attending.
So please let me know whether you are coming along or not.
Accommodation
If you are attending any of the above events and require accommodation you can reserve a room at the University of Leicester priced £29.90 per night.
To book call 0116 221 2032 and quote “BAFA Convention”.
Registration
Remember, all members of BAFRA are welcome to attend any of the above training events; however I require to register your name with the BAFA Convention Manager.
As such, you need to send me an email confirming which events you will be attending.
We already have some members confirmed they will be coming along to both.
Davie Parsons
training@bafra.org
NCAA RULES TEST
NCAA (through USA Football) have made available a rules test on 2007 rules (note - not what we are currently playing in Britain). If you want to look at it you can access it online at http://www.usafootball.com/resource-center/officiating/2007-exam/.
The USA Football website also contains a variety of other officiating resources, but take care with those that refer to high school rules.
Jim Briggs
rules@bafra.org
QUALIFIED MEMBERS
Congratulations to Adrian Briggs and Gordon McJannett on completing the Induction Training Programme.
Thanks to Steve Tonkinson and Keith Alldritt for helping with their training.
Davie Parsons
training@bafra.org
AUGUST FLAGDOWN
Colin tells me that he has only two contributions from members for the August edition. Come on guys, it is the members' magazine, for the members and by the members.
Colin says it would be nice to have some input from them, and I agree.
It does not have to be War & Peace, or even highbrow - just something about football.
The story of a game, or a particular play that sticks in your mind.
Roger Stangroom
secretary@bafra.org
ROGER'S RHETORIC
| From last week |
Play:
Ruling:
|
|---|
| New this week |
Team A attempts an on-side free kick from its own 20-yard line following a safety.
B2 blocks A1 into the ball at the A 28-yard line, then the ball rolls to the A 31-yard line where B3 muffs the ball out of bounds at the A 26-yard line.
A4 was off-side on the kick.
Ruling?
|
|---|
PLAUDITS
Doncaster Mustangs and Chester Romans
The crew would like to offer plaudits to Doncaster Mustangs and Chester Romans for the excellent way they played their match on a hot and clammy day.
The game was a tough, well fought battle, closer than the score line might indicate and a superb advert for American Football at a tremendous new venue for the sport.
Keith Alldritt #323
Ipswich Cardinals
Just wanted to mention in Newsflash how superbly marked the Ipswich field was today, probably the best I've ever seen it.
Steve Tonkinson #99
For the crew
You guys often give plaudits to teams in your Newsflash but I have one for one of your crews.
Yesterday, we took our youth team to play Essex and it turned out to be a great game. Your crew deserve some of the thanks for that.
I don’t know the names of the officials involved (Messrs. Cockerill, Baker, Baker, Pearce and Rigby Ed.) but they demonstrated just how good a crew can be.
It cannot be easy running a youth game with the right mix of enforcing the rules, warning the players where appropriate rather than throwing flags and letting the kids play but these guys have found the balance and gave a fine example of how to run a youth game. It you need people to provide instruction or guidance on how to run a youth game, they could all do it.
After the game, the officials lined up on the field and watched as the teams shook hands on the half way line. A short while later, the referee came to our huddle and gave the players a short pep-talk. This was greatly appreciated.
I have been in Britball since 1984 and I can honestly say that I have never seen a crew do a more professional job. Nice guys too.
Philip Green
Youth Manager
London Blitz American Football Club
TEAM PAYMENT STATUS
| TEAM NAME | LEAGUE | STATUS | COMMENT |
| Sussex Thunder
|
BAFL
|
Pre-paid
|
Referee contact Director of Finance on Thursday before the game to arrange payment.
|
DISCIPLINARY CASES
| NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED |
| 3 June |
| Eric WATTS
|
8
|
Coventry Jets
|
FPF
|
2
|
He was on top of an opponent at the sideline. They were having words when I saw him strike the other player with his fist.
|
17/06/07
|
| Lenny SMITH
|
92
|
Coventry Jets
|
FPF
|
4
|
In obvious anoyance at something done to him, he hit an opponent with his fist three or four times.
|
17/06/07
|
| James KOTCHERANS
|
45
|
Cambridgeshire Cats
|
FGT
|
3
|
A brief blocking confrontation between #45 and #1 from Chiltern ended with with #45 Cambridge swinging a punch at #1 Chiltern.
After the game #1 Chiltern ask that BAFL review the disqualification as he felt that no punch had connected with him.
I agreed to put this statement into my post-game report.
Editor's note: Rule 2-32-1a defines fighting as "An attempt to strike an opponent with the head, arm(s), hand(s), leg(s) or foot (feet), whether or not there is contact." - therefore actual contact is irrelevant, just the intention.
|
10/06/07
|
| Outstanding items from previous weeks |
| Gary CHALMERS
|
57
|
East Kilbride Pirates
|
FGT
|
4
|
Kneed a prone opponent in the back.
|
10/06/07
|
| Stuart CROWLEY
|
53
|
Maidstone Pumas
|
FGT
|
3
|
Punched his opponent in the head.
|
17/06/07
|
| Note: it is the responsibility of the individual teams to ensure that their suspended players serve their suspensions in the proper game (according to the BAFA Disciplinary Code), and any dates mentioned here are intended only as a guide. |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
| HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
| 3 June |
| Chiltern Cheetahs
|
Path intersects endzone, covered this with a crash mat and declared it out of bounds. Stanchion near end line padded. 1 ball person provided by Cambridge. Kick off delayed 6 minutes due to late arrival of ambulance. Pitch and dressing room problems from last week rectified.
Brian Yates #29
|
15/07/07
|
| Sussex Thunder
|
Sussex provided the ball boy for their sideline but Colchester had to provide one for their sideline. Chain crew were provided only 5 minutes before kick-off. Chain crew were slow, but there were no willing replacements so we did not change them at half time.
Sussex ball boy is only 12 years old but he is good nonetheless.
Dan Bridgland #506
|
29/07/07
|
| London Warriors
|
Goals were soccer goals with uprights attached, thus too wide and too low.
Much confusion and a long wait before the officials' changing room was unlocked. It was a bit of a squeeze because it is really not designed for a 7-man crew: 2 of us changed in the toilet; 2 in the shower area. No coat hooks.
Jim Briggs #31
|
tba
|
| London Olympians
|
Goals were soccer goals with uprights attached, thus too wide and too low.
Officials' changing room was a bit of a squeeze because it is really not designed for a 7-man crew: 2 of us changed in the toilet; 2 in the shower area. No coat hooks.
Chain crew only provided about 6 minutes before kickoff. I believe they were plucked from the crowd, and had never attended an American football match before. They took a lot of effort to manage, but did their best.
One of the ball boys appeared to be under 14 years of age.
Jim Briggs #31
|
10/06/07
|
| Outstanding items from previous weeks |
| Cornish Sharks
|
Goal posts had been moved to give a full 100 yard pitch but unfortunately this meant that the fixing for the goalpost was left protruding above the surface of the pitch on about the 3 yard line.
Shortened the pitch to 80 yards to compensate for this and played the game. Both teams deserve credit for playing the game in a very sporting manner and Home team management deserve special merit for the way in which they looked after and made the crew feel very welcome. Despite the long journey after the treatment we received I would recommend the trip to any other official.
Henry Richardson #358
|
09/06/07
|
| Bristol Aztecs
|
Kickoff delayed 15 mins awaiting ambulance.
Jim Briggs #31
|
10/06/07
|
| Plymouth Admirals
|
No numbers on field of play. Team area and coaching area marked but too close to sideline. Officials changing room wet and dirty.
Despite this both teams deserve credit for playing a good hard game of football in a very sporting manner.
Also plaudits to Home team management for the manner in which they made the officials feel welcome.
Henry Richardson #358
|
10/06/07
|
| East Kilbride Pirates
|
Yard line markings were 9 foot from sideline not 9 yards. No team area or coaching box. There were no inbound lines (hash marks). The home team provided 3 balls but these were old, worn, and not fit for purpose. Fortunately the away team were able to provide suitable game balls. Payment was also not made until we were leaving the changing area (45 minutes after the conclusion of the game).
Ian Sneddon #427
|
17/06/07
|
| Norwich Devils
|
90yd pitch . No Game balls presented until we had to chase them again just prior to kick off. Crew waited 40 minutes to be paid , finally paid by a member of the team so we didn't have to wait anymore. No Changing room available had to wait for teams to move out to get changed. Change to chain crew at half time.
Martin Cockerill #345
|
08/07/07
|
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