NAME

#

TEAM

CODE

Q

OFFENCE

SUSPENDED

Happie Singh Poonian

59

Sheffield Hallam Warriors

FPF

4

After the whistle was blown, player came into pile and punched opponent on side of helmet.

Huddersfield Hawks (02/12/07)

  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.

HOME TEAM

REPORT

NEXT HOME GAME

25/11/07

Birmingham Lions

Plaudits to the game management for Birmingham for producing a 100 yard and very well marked pitch which was a pleasure to officiate on.

Muz Gibson #268

02/12/07

Staffordshire Stallions

NFL style hash marks were the only problem on 100yd grass pitch. Cones used to mark wider NCAA type markings.

Keith Aldritt #323

03/02/08

Bath Killer Bees

Field of play was only 79 yards long (there was 9 yards between the opposing 40 yard lines and the half way line was badly marked between them). The field was adequate in all other respects so agreement between the coaches to play was ascertained prior to the kick off.

Colin Edwards #76

27/01/08

Lancaster Bombers

Field was an 80yrd astroturf pitch. Field goals were poles attached to the fence around the pitch. The game started 15 minutes late due to late arrival of the Referee. Other then that, it was a nice game with both teams in good spirit.

Ralph Lenoire #523

09/12/07

Southampton Stags

End zones only 8yds deep. Goals attached to fence which was about 2yds beyond the endline. Chains became detached from stakes twice during game, causing short delays. Two wires stretched across the field about 8ft above the ground. Teams were notified that inadvertent whistle rules would apply if the ball touched the wire, this happened once during the game. Plaudits to Christian, Drew and Gareth who, despite this being their first time doing the job, worked an absolutely perfect game as chain crew.

Jim Briggs #31

03/02/08

Sheffield Hallam Warriors

Field 80 yards in length, marked every 10 yards, endzones measured 15 yards from goal line to Posts.

Richard Samples #349

02/12/07

Stirling Clansmen

Field was marked with what seemed like 5yd lines over an 80 yd field, but they were 5 metres apart, so it was a 90 yd field marked in metres. No team areas marked. No 9 yd marks. Only 2 balls supplied. Stirling told us after the game that their student union needs the invoice before it can pay us, so we did not get paid.

Les Connor #152

09/12/07

Hull Sharks

Hull claim their Ambulance charges were increased significantly, to £400, due to change of Service Supplier, leaving them with insufficient balance to pay the Officials prior to sponsorship monies being received.

Richard Samples #349

03/02/08

Surrey Stingers

Home team provided three balls. Only two were suitable and we used one from the away team. Home team played in dark blue, away team in purple. Chain crew and ballboys changed multiple times. Game suspended 15 minutes in third quarter (which was ended with two minutes remaining and we proceeded to the fourth quarter by agreement of both head coaches) due to injured player. However, in spite of this, and the vile weather, the game was played in excellent spirit by both teams.

Alan Dobson #308

09/12/07

Brighton Tsunami

No 5 yard lines or 10 yard lines Interior hashmarks were present with hashmarks extended to double length where the 10 yard lines should be (but no extension on the 5 yard lines). End lines were coloured white, all the other lines were a dark red. Wires stretched across the field at the 30 yard point at each end. At the 31 yard mark of each end there is a solid yellow line that extended across the entire pitch. At the 41 yard mark there were yellow lines that extended to nearly the 9 yard marks. With the agreement of both coaches we relocated the kicking team restraining line to this solid yellow line at both ends which gave both teams and officials a visible marked line to use for lining up for kicks and to rule on infractions. The goalposts at both ends were mounted on the wire fencing surrounding the playing field and they were set back from the end line about 2 yards.

Phil Clarke #372

02/12/07

  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.
Alan Dobson #308

27/01/08

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

09/12/07

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.

Mike LeFevre #341

02/12/07

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

09/12/07

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 balls were provided by the home team - the away team's balls were used. Some of problems were corrected before game kicked off. The home team were advised to lengthen end zones for future games and shorten the field of play.

Mike Cavanagh #465

16/12/07

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.

Muz Gibson #268

02/12/07

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 paid 45mins after the ended.

Les Connor #152

02/12/07

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

17/02/07

Loughborough Aces

Chain crew and ball person unavailable until near kick off.

Keith Aldritt #323

09/12/07

Sunderland Spartans

Inadequate balls; the 2 balls presented by Sunderland were composite but ok to play, Hull provided a 3^rd – standard – ball The field markings were haphazard comprising NFL style hash marks, no nine yard marks with numbers at the side of the field, no coaching areas, end zones of dimensions 1 x 10 yards and 1 x 9 yards. There were no goal posts, all pat's were 2 points. There were no pylons and the kicking tee was too high despite the team being warned about this last week. Changing rooms were in a public swimming area with no chairs and no coat hooks. The Sunderland management said that they were not expecting officials, they were asked by BUAFL to provide team officials for this game! The crew and BAFRA were not paid.

Chris Jarvis #10

09/12/07

Portsmouth Destroyers

Game was played on a 90 yard field with improvised goals. One goal was a soccer goal with improvised uprights the other was a portable rugby goal. There were no yardage markers and the chain crew slowed the pace of the game considerably. The weather was awful (torrential, driving rain and strong winds) and all who were involved put in an exceptional effort to stage the game.

Simon Ryan #408

02/12/07

Paisley Pyros

A public toilet was situated in the changing room. No ball persons were supplied by the home team. There were no 9 yd marks and the team areas were marked to the 20 yard line. After a late hit by Paisley, the Stirling head coach started shouting foul and abusive language towards a Paisley player. Thirty minutes after the game the crew went looking for home team coach to get paid. She told us she did not realise we wanted to be paid on the day and did not have the money. She told me she would have to go to the student union to get the money during the week. Before the game, the crew asked her if they could be paid before the game, she said she would see if it was possible. There was no mention then that there may be a problem.

Les Connor #152

09/12/07

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:

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

New this week

Play: A's ball, try, on B's 3. A33 advances and fumbles on B's 2. The ball rolls into B's end zone where B57 bats the ball over the end line.

Ruling?

Andy Binns with daughter Millie

Last week's play

Play: A's ball on B's 41, 4th and 8. A4's punt is muffed by B47 on B's 10. The ball bounces and has broken the plane of B's goal line when A81 bats the ball back into the field of play. A2 recovers on B's 2 while grounded.

Ruling: A81 commits an illegal batting foul since the punt was touched by B47 after the punt crossed the neutral zone. The basic enforcement spot is the previous spot. Team B will accept the penalty. A's ball on A's 44, 4th and 23.

Date

Event

Contact for details

2007

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.