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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 45/08 |
26th November 2008 |
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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 45/08 |
26th November 2008 |
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MECHANICS MANUAL HITS 500!
Orders from overseas for our mechanics manual have recently topped the 500 mark, with a big order coming in from EFAF. While orders for this edition don't yet match the 1000 copies we sold in the US in the mid-1990s it does show a tremendous respect for BAFRA's training materials across Europe. BAFRA's copyright in the manual is a valuable asset for the association and we are taking legal steps to protect it from unauthorised copying. If anyone asks you to provide them with a copy, please let me know.
Jim
Briggs
president@bafra.org
DISCIPLINARY MATTERS
Three cases have recently been referred to BUAFL or BAFCA for investigation or action. Details will be provided when they are resolved.
Jim
Briggs
president@bafra.org
SITUATIONS VACANT
Firstly, I'm sad to report that Davie Parsons has asked to stand down as Director of Training. Davie's day job has been expanding for some time and has now reached the point where he is finding it difficult to keep up with the duties of his BAFRA post. He has indicated that he is willing to carry on with various things, including the organisation of next year's Convention, but he feels that it is an appropriate time to find someone else to take on the main part of the job.
Davie will be a hard act to follow. In the year before he took over, there were zero BAFRA training events. This year there have been six. Attendance at the Convention has been approaching 100% among active members, and the feedback we've received has been unanimously positive. That's down to Davie's hard work and leadership. We all hope that he will continue to be involved, even if it is in a lesser role.
A job spec for Director of Training can be found at http://www.bafra.org/info/handbook/jobs/training.htm
The other post that we would like to fill is also in the training area. For some time, the BAFRA board has been considering ways to increase the development opportunities for BAFRA members. With this in mind, we are working on a programme of improvements that (over time) will see a new process in place for members to develop their officiating skills and achieve their officiating goals.
We are addressing this from two directions: bottom up for rookies and top down for Elite Programme officials. Eventually the two will meet up to cover all members.
We are reviewing the Induction Training Manual to ensure that it is completely up to date and meets the needs of our rookie members as effectively as possible. This will include the introduction of new modules that will be suitable for team judges as well as fully-fledged officials. Once this is completed, we will look to improve the processes around rookie training and the ongoing development of our officials after they become qualified.
In parallel, we are keen to ensure that our Elite Programme officials are also offered further development opportunities. To facilitate this, and to make the operation of the Programme a little more effective, we are looking to appoint an Elite Programme Development Coordinator.
A job spec for this post can be found at http://www.bafra.org/info/handbook/jobs/epdc.htm
The Board would like to invite applications for both these roles. These should be submitted by email to directors@bafra.org before 12th December 2008 and should include an officiating CV and a perspective on why the applicant believes they are a good fit for the role for which they are applying. Informal discussions about either post can be had with either Pete Johnson or me.
Jim
Briggs
president@bafra.org
RESULTS
Huddersfield Hawks – 6 Sheffield Hallam Warriors – 42
Warwick Wolves - 0 Plymouth Blitz – 16
Paisley Pyros – 30 GCU Roughriders – 0
Greenwich Mariners – 0 Southampton Stags – 40
BNU Buccaneers – 12 Bristol Barracuda – 48
Essex Blades – 29 Royal Holloway Bears – 6
UCH Sharks – 8 Liverpool Fury – 6
Oxford Cavaliers – 0 Reading Knights – 6
Napier Mavericks – 19 Stirling Clansmen – 14
UT Cougars – 48 Durham Saints – 6
Tarannau Aberystwyth – 0 Bath Killer Bees – 40
Sunderland Spartans – 0 Newcastle Raiders – 48
Portsmouth Destroyers – 14 Surrey Stingers – 0
Leicester Longhorns – 0 Leeds Celtics – 27
Brighton Tsunami – 13 UEA Pirates – 19
UWE Bullets – 21 Cardiff Cobras – 0
Staffordshire Stallions – 35 Derby Braves – 0
Loughborough Aces – 40 Lincoln Colonials – 8
Hertfordshire Hurricanes – 63 Anglia Ruskin Phantoms – 0
Sheffield Sabres – 13 Nottingham Outlaws – 2
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NAME |
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TEAM |
CODE |
Q |
OFFENCE |
SUSPENDED |
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No new items this week |
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Previous weeks |
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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. |
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HOME TEAM |
REPORT |
NEXT HOME GAME |
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23/11/08 |
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Huddersfield Hawks |
The game was shortened to 10 minute quarters after a delay due to a lack of padding around the posts. The field markings were dark blue and difficult to see against the green grass. The field was slightly wider than prescribed. Both teams shared one side of the field, as the other would not allow for a team area and coaching box between sideline and team area. The chain crew had to be changed half way through the first quarter because of improper conduct - though game management were very helpful and effective in doing this. The referees' changing area is very small. Tim Vickers #129 |
25/01/09 vs Lancaster Bombers |
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Portsmouth Destroyers |
Very small and vague numbers, no 9-yd marks. Quality of markings much improved on previous week. Goals too wide and too short (improvised from soccer goal and temporary goal). Game kicked off 27 minutes late due to late arrival of medical personnel. Jim Briggs #31 |
30/11/08 vs Anglia Ruskin Phantoms |
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BNU Buccaneers |
No team areas or coaching boxes. No access to changing room until 45 mins before kick off. Game abandoned with 1.48 remaining in the 4th quarter following an injury to a BNU player and failing light. Brian Yates #29 |
25/01/09 vs Oxford Cavaliers |
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Greenwich Mariners |
Field still 94 yards long (despite previous report) with 8 yard end zones. No numbers or 9-yard marks. Coaching boxes too small and no team areas. Field surface undulates, was on a slope and became extremely muddy. Game kicked off at 13.30 due to Southampton arriving late. One of Southampton's balls was used as a game ball (Greenwich only had 2 legal balls). Chain crew very slow. Game abandoned with 0.27 left in 4th quarter due to injury and failing light. Dan Bridgland #506 |
07/12/08 vs Essex Blades |
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Brighton Tsunami |
No 10 yard lines,
5 yard lines, numbers/9 yd marks, team areas or coaches
areas. Steve Tonkinson #99 |
07/12/08 vs Surrey Stingers |
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Loughborough Aces |
Late arrival of medical cover, kick off delayed by 35 minutes. Game reduced to 12 minute quarters as a result. Alun Price #377 |
30/11/08 vs Staffordshire Stallions |
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Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
Goal posts were soccer goals with extended uprights. Pete Thom #200 |
07/12/08 vs UEA Pirates |
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U.T.Cougars |
No Goalposts, no Team area markings, no 9 yard marks (numbers only 5 yds from sideline). Astroturf pitch covered in snow, full marks to home team for doing a spectacular job of clearing the snow away by KO. Tzvi Lindeman #381 |
30/11/08 vs Stirling Clansmen |
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UWE Bullets |
Field only 80 yards. No hashmarks. One set of goal posts. No team or coaches areas marked. No numbers on field; numbers on sideline constantly blew over. Mike LeFevre #341 |
08/02/09 vs Bristol Barracuda |
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Sunderland Spartans |
No 9 yard marks
or numbers, NFL Hashmarks, yard lines only every 10 yard lines, no
team areas marked, hashmarks unevenly spaced. No Goal posts. No
Yardage markers or Pylons. Field Surface was very uneven and in
places very boggy. Grass was very long, and unevenly cut. One
game ball deflated during 4th quarter and game management was
unable to reflate it. Ben Griffiths #228 |
25/01/09 vs Napier Mavericks |
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Paisley Pyros |
With 2:24 left in the 1st half, there was an injury to a Roughriders player. The ambulance crew told us they would take him to hospital, which left no medical cover. Both coaches were consulted about calling the half, the Caledonian coach refused and insisted he would refuse any further requests for shortening the game. The game was suspended between 2:35pm and 3:30pm while the ambulance was absent. We finished the 1st half and went straight into the 2nd half. With 4:35 gone in the 2nd half – at about 4pm – it was decided by the officials that due to diminishing light and concerns for player safety the game should be abandoned. The score at the time was 30-0 to Paisley. Les Connor #152 |
07/12/08 vs Sunderland Spartans |
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Outstanding items from previous weeks |
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Plymouth Blitz |
Crew were not paid, team need to submit the invoice to the university. Keith Wickham #423 |
30/11/08 v UWE Bullets |
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ARU Phantoms |
Game suspended with 6:30 left in the 4th quarter due to ARU player injury. Ambulance had to leave to take the player to hospital. By the time it would be likely to return, it would be dark. After consultation with the teams, it was agreed to call the game. Steve Tonkinson #99 |
07/12/08 v Kent Falcons |
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Durham Saints |
No goal posts were available. At one end the trees were less than 2 yards from the field, this meant we had to reduce the pitch to 90 yards, with 10 yard end zones. In future the pitch should be 90 yard long. NFL hashmarks were marked, so cones in the correct position. No team areas due to no room on one side. The netting for the astroturf came up to the 30 yard mark. Overall it was a good set up, and the game was competitive with good game management. The ambulance was a long way from the field. Charlie Dean Young #258 |
07/12/08 v Newcastle Raiders |
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Bristol Barracuda |
The field was 106 yards. Two sets of lines had been marked on the field, one set had 2x10yd end zones and 2x43-yard halves, another had 2x8yd end zones and 2x45-yard halves. No 9yd marks. Coaching box lines only 4ft outside sideline, and team area lines only 10ft from sideline. Team areas marked between the 17yd lines. Very muddy conditions, home team did not provide any towels for the balls. All credit to both teams for playing through some appalling conditions. Jim Briggs #31 |
30/11/08 v Birmingham Lions |
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Lancaster Bombers |
Game played on an 80 yard pitch with faint blue markings which were hard too see. Field goals were poles attached to fence outside pitch. No coaches area, limit lines or hash marks at sidelines. No pylons, flat cones were used instead. Officials had to wait 15 minutes after the game for the changing rooms to be unlocked. Ben Griffiths #228 |
07/12/08 v Loughborough Aces |
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Derby Braves |
All field markings were so faint as to be almost invisible. No team or coaches areas marked. No chains for 1st quarter, only stakes. Two derby players did not have proper id cards at the card check. Brian Yates #29 |
30/11/08 v Sheffield Sabres |
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GCU Roughriders |
No team area marked, no limit lines, no hash marks at inbound lines. Henry Richardson #358 |
30/11/08 v Glasgow Tigers |
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Southampton Stags |
90-yard field, 8-yard end zones, goals attached to fence about 2 yards off the end lines. Game suspended for 6 minutes in the 3rd quarter to treat an injured player. Alan Dobson #308 |
01/02/09 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
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Note: it is possible that any game may be cancelled, or any team may arrange additional games. In addition, the large number of game cancellations this week means that the fixtures listed here are highly likely to change. Any dates mentioned here are intended only as a guide. |
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PLAY OF THE WEEK:
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New this week |
Play:
A's ball, 2nd and 7, on B's 32. A17 throws a legal forward pass to
A84. A84 jumps from B's 24, controls the ball while airborne, and
flips the ball to A21 before returning to the ground. A21 catches
the ball on B's 19 and advances to B's 14 where he is
downed.
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Last week's play |
Play:
A's ball on A's 45, 4th and 15. A4 punts the ball.
A16 is running downfield and catches (gains possession of) the
untouched punt on B's 3 yard line, A16's original momentum then
carries him into B's end zone. Ruling? |
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Date |
Event |
Contact for details |
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2008 |
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February 7th (Sat) |
BAFA Board Meeting |
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February 21st (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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April 4th (Sat) |
BAFRA AGM |
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April 25th (Sat) |
BAFA Board Meeting |
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May 9th (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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July 18th (Sat) |
BAFA Board Meeting |
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July 25th (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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October 24th (Sat) |
BAFA Board Meeting |
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November 21st (Sat) |
BAFRA board meeting |
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BAFRA Directors |
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President |
Jim Briggs |
General Secretary |
Paul Sutton |
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Finance |
Charles Dean-Young |
Operations |
Pete Johnson |
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Recruitment |
Ben Griffiths |
Training |
David Parsons |
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Director without Portfolio #1 |
Dan Bridgland |
Director without Portfolio #2 |
Keith Wickham |
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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