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BAFRA Newsflash

http://www.bafra.org

Issue: 42/07

14th November 2007

REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

The following teams are now prepaid for the season:

Birmingham University

University of The West of England

Bristol University

Anglia Ruskin University

Essex University

University of Greenwich

Loughborough University (first three games only)

Hertfordshire University have made arrangements to pay in advance; however the money is not yet cleared into our account. Treat them as prepaid, but they will be charged for late payment.

The following teams did not pay last weekend. If money is not received by Thursday 15/11/07 they will not be covered on Sunday or subsequent home games.

Surrey University.

Nottingham University.

Plymouth University - still not paid from 4/11/07 and not covered this week.

Napier University - not covered due to debt from 2006-7 season.

Surrey and Nottingham will go to the bottom of the list for allocation of officials.

I am still awaiting the game day paperwork for the following games on the 4/11/07:

Portsmouth destroyers

Plymouth Blitz

I would also like to congratulate Steve Silver, Dan Bell, Ben Griffiths and our Aussie recruit Mark Snow for finishing their first game(s), I hope you enjoyed it and keep up the good work.

Travel expenses will be going out with next week’s payments.

Charlie Dean Young
finance@bafra.org

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Congratulations to Chris Rodgers on completing the Induction Training Programme. Thanks to Chris Jarvis for helping Chris with his training.

Davie Parsons

training@bafra.org

NEW RECRUITS

Over the years I have heard various opinions with regards to which position we should start off new recruits. Some people believe Umpire is the best place whilst others regard Line Judge as the more suitable option. Good arguments have also been put forward for both cases.

Notwithstanding the above, I have quite a few new recruits in training at the moment. Some are being trained as Umpire and some as Line Judge, Pete has been made aware of this for scheduling purposes.

As such, if you have a Rookie assigned to your game at a certain position, please do not move them to a different one because you believe it's better. We recently had a guy go through a lot of off-field training as a Line Judge, yet the crew at his first game decided to re-assign him as Umpire.

I’m sure some may disagree with the above, however I would ask for your help in maintaining some consistency as we bring on board the 20 plus new recruits we have in our ranks.

Davie Parsons

training@bafra.org

UNIVERSITY RULES TALK

I was recently invited to Essex University to give a talk to players and coaches on the rules of the game.
My planned 45 minute talk lasted more than double that when the Q & A session went off on several tangents. It went very well and Essex seemed pleased with the answers they received. If any other officials are asked to do a similar talk I can pass on a copy of my notes.

Steve Tonkinson

#99

PLAUDITS TO READING AND ROYAL HOLLOWAY

We'd like to offer plaudits for the spirit in which Reading and Royal Holloway played their game on Sunday. Despite the game being very one sided, both teams were playing good hard football right to the final whistle and there were very few major penalties which made it a pleasure to officiate.

Phil Clarke

#372

RESULTS

Friday November 9th

Portsmouth Destroyers 7 @ Brighton Tsunami 8

Saturday November 10th

Warwick Wolves 0 @ Birmingham Lions 49

UEA Pirates 33 @ Essex Blades 6

Sunday November 11th

Paisley Pyros 8 @ Glasgow Tigers 16 (OT)

Stirling Clansmen 56 @ Napier Mavericks 0

Huddersfield Hawks 0 @ Sheffield Sabres 71

Leeds Celtics 52 @ Lancaster Bombers 0

Durham Saints 0 @ Newcastle Raiders 50

Sunderland Spartans 18 @ UT Cougars 34

Derby Braves 20 @ Nottingham Outlaws 40

Leicester Longhorns 28 @ Lincoln Colonials 8

Staffordshire Stallions 39 @ Loughborough Aces 6

Tarannau Aberystwyth 7 @ Oxford Cavaliers 28

Royal Holloway Vikings 45 @ Reading Knights 0

Southampton Stags 60 @ Surrey Stingers 0

Greenwich Mariners 11 @ Hertfordshire Hurricanes 22

Kent Falcons 19 @ Anglia Ruskin Phantoms 0

Plymouth Blitz 14 @ Bristol Barracuda 34

UWE Bullets 7 @ Cardiff Cobras 0

HOME TEAM	REPORT	NEXT HOME GAME
09/11/07 - 11/11/07
Brighton Tsunami	The field had no 5-yard lines and no marked team areas. The changing rooms were not lockable and were shared with the teams. Peter Parsons #321	25/11/07
Reading Knights	Reading advised us that they have not yet received their balls from the league, therefore they had to use some of their practice balls for the game. Royal Holloway were asked if they could provide game balls, but they do not have any yet either. Phil Clarke #372	09/12/07
Glasgow Tigers	No team areas, coaching box or 9yd marks. There was only one nearly new ball, one was borrowed from away team. The officials were not paid until 45mins after the end of the game. Les Connor #152	25/11/07
Lancaster Bombers	The pitch was only 80 yards long and there were no hash marks on the sidelines. The goal posts were made of drainpipe and connected to the fence approx 10 yards from the endzone. Tony Newsham #302	18/11/07
Surrey Stingers	Chains had no "heads" on markers. We borrowed some corner flags which we taped to the stakes and this served. The balls needed pumping up quite a bit and the ambulance turned up late – both of which resulted in the game starting late. The officials were not paid due to "university not paying for officials in advance for whole season." - (note, see CDY's announcement above) Dan Bridgland #506	18/11/07
Nottingham Outlaws	Chain crew and ball person supplied by away team (Derby). The game played by both teams with excellent attitude. We approached the treasurer after the game, he stated that they were having problems with the Student Union and were not able to pay officials. We confirmed that he had the game-day invoice and ensured he was aware of the increased fee which is now payable. Keith Alldritt #323	25/11/07
Loughborough Aces	Staffordshire supplied one ball as Loughborough could only provide two balls (which were worn). The changing rooms were locked when crew returned to them after the game, so we had to get changed in the open or travel home in kit. Pete Thom #200	18/11/07
Birmingham Lions	Plaudits to Birmingham for yet another fantastic evening of football and fireworks which was enjoyed by everyone. Muz Gibson #268	02/12/07
Lincoln Colonials	The field markings were inadequate. Muz Gibson #268	09/12/07
Outstanding items from previous weeks
Tarannau Aberystwyth	No pylons. Footballs provided by the away team. No separate changing room. An official's bag was stolen from the team changing room it had been left in prior to kick-off. Alan Dobson #308	25/11/07
Royal Holloway Vikings	Groundsmen had tried to mark a 100 yard field on a 90 yard rugby field. This resulted in there being fewer than 10 yards between the each 10 yard line, while the endzones were only 7 yards deep. There were no hashmarks at all, 2 cones were placed at either end of the field to indicate where the ball should be spotted laterally. The numbers were less than 9 yards from the side lines. There was no room for the crew to change in – the home team changing room was used after the team had cleared it but could not be used after the game. Crew waited 25 minutes after the end of the game to get paid. Chain crew (except box operator - who was with us) and one ball person changed at half time. Balls and assistants provided very close to kick off time. Dan Bridgland #506	18/11/07
Plymouth Blitz	The crew arrived late as we had to be met at a previous venue and shown the way to today's venue. The changing room had no light. The game kicked off 40 minutes late due to lack of ambulance. After the game, we waited outside the changing room for half an hour, before the player with the key came down from field. After changing, we were told that the treasurer did not have the money with him. So, the officials and BAFRA have not been paid. It was an excellent game played in an excellent spirit. Mike LeFevre #341	18/11/07
UWE Bullets	Although an Ambulance had been requested by the University of West of England admin office it did not appear on the day. After consulting it was found that a Doctor was present (the parent of a player) and a stretcher and first aid kit with splints was located. The game kicked off at 1:45 and the quarters were reduced to 12 minutes. Keith Wickham #423	25/11/07
Huddersfield Hawks	End Zones were six and five yards long. Field boundary lines were extremely uneven. There were no inbounds hash marks, three yard lines, ten yard lines, nor five yard lines. No official balls were provided by the home team - the away team's balls were used instead. Some of problems were corrected before game kicked off. Crew advised the home team to lengthen end zones for future games and shorten the field of play. Mike Cavanagh #465	18/11/07
Derby Braves	The pitch was only 80 yards and the markings inadequate. The start of the game was delayed 25 minutes while goalpost padding was found, it was decided to reduce the game to 12 minute quarters as a result. Only one match ball was used as the others were old and worn and not suitable. The chain broke on at least three occasions and the game was stopped to repair it. Despite all of this the game was played in great spirit. Muz Gibson #268	18/11/07
Note: it is possible that any game may be cancelled and also any team may arrange additional games, and so any dates mentioned here are intended only as a guide.

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: A's ball, 3rd and goal on B's 3. The score is A28-B28 with nine seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. A8's field goal attempt is blocked. A78 recovers on B's 9 and advances to B's 2 where he is downed. The kick does not cross the neutral zone. Three seconds remain on the clock.

Ruling / Clock?

Last week's play

Play: A's ball, 4th and 2, on A's 24. Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation. A38 takes the short snap and advances to A's 49 where he is downed. Team A had six players on the line at the snap. A78 clipped B96 on A's 36 during the down.

Ruling: A's ball, 4th and 7, on A's 19. The result of the play is a first down inbounds for Team A. There are two live-ball fouls on the play, both against Team A: illegal formation and clipping. Team B may accept one of the penalties and must decline the other. The 15-yard penalty for clipping would be enforced from the spot of the foul, A's 36, and would place the ball on A's 21. The 5-yard penalty for illegal formation would be enforced from the previous spot, A's 24, and would place the ball on A's 19. In either case the 4th down would be repeated, the Referee should attempt to ensure that Team B accepts the illegal formation penalty, as it is the most advantageous. The Referee shall start the clock on the ready-for-play.

This week's kudos goes to Alan Dobson – his emailed response is printed above. Partial kudos to Tzvi Lindeman who also emailed the correct answer, but 30 minutes after Alan.

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

Outstanding items from previous weeks

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.

Date	Event	Contact for details
2007
November 24^th (Sat)	BAFA board meeting	president@bafra.org
December 8^th (Sat)	BAFRA board meeting	secretary@bafra.org
December 9^th (Sat)	Last full weekend of BUAFL fixtures before Christmas	operations@bafra.org
2008
January 20^th (Sun)	Examination Committee Meeting	secretary@bafra.org
January 20^th (Sun)	BUAFL season resumes after Christmas break	operations@bafra.org
February 2^nd (Sat)	Training Day for new recruits	training@bafra.org
March 16^th (Sun)	BUAFL bowl game	operations@bafra.org
April 5/6 (Sat/Sun)	BAFRA Convention	training@bafra.org
September 20^th & 21^st (Sat/Sun)	Britbowl weekend	operations@bafra.org

BAFRA Directors
President	Jim Briggs	president@bafra.org	General Secretary	Paul Sutton	secretary@bafra.org
Finance	Charles Dean-Young	finance@bafra.org	Operations	Pete Thom	operations@bafra.org
Recruitment	Vacant	recruitment@bafra.org	Training	David Parsons	training@bafra.org
Director without Portfolio #1	Vacant		Director without Portfolio #2	Vacant

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

All Incident Reports to be submitted via www.bafra.org.

Deadline for articles submitted by email (newsflash@bafra.org) is midnight Tuesday.

Editor: Dean Wright - Email: newsflash@bafra.org