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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 12/08 |
09th April 2008 |
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New season
Here's a reminder of things you need to know for the new BAFL season.
1. New rules. Everyone who was in Coventry has the new rulebook; it's in the post to everyone else. Pay particular heed to the Points of Emphasis. See http://www.bafra.org/rulesctee/docs/2008/BAFARulesChanges2008.htm for a summary reminder of the changes. Remind teams that everyone not in full equipment in the team area needs credentials.
2. New mechanics. Everyone who was in Coventry has the new Manual of Football Officiating; it's in the post to everyone else.
3. New regulations. Actually we don't think that BAFL have changed any of its regulations that affect the rules, but they haven't yet confirmed that. The list at http://www.bafra.org/rulesctee/docs/leagueregs.htm will be updated if they do.
4. Slightly new Terms & Conditions (replacing the copy in the rulebook). See http://www.bafra.org/rulesctee/rulebook/2008/terms.pdf for the new version. The only changes are to reduce the period of time a team has to cancel a game from 72 to 42 hours, and to allow us to take action against teams who don't give adequate assurances about fixing their game management problems.
5. Revised Annex to the Terms & Conditions. They remind everyone that qualified officials still earn £40 per game (up to the normal crew size; and £25 for associate members) and that the BAFRA administration fee is £60 for senior games and £30 for youth/junior ones. The Annex also clarifies what officials may claim in the way of travel expenses. See http://www.bafra.org/info/handbook/tcannex2008.pdf.
6. John
Slavin Award. This season, BAFRA is basing the John
Slavin Award on the Field Audit (as we did in 2006). A form must be completed
for every league game and sent in with the game report. Normally, the Line
Judge 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. Remember that if there is more than one problem
relating to a line of the form, tick the box that scores the highest. Note, we are not running the Game Management Audit
this season.
7. The game
day paperwork looks slightly different but is basically the same. Everyone
in Coventry should have received copies; regular referees should have received large
stocks. More copies are available from Davie or from http://www.bafra.org/members/paperwork/index.htm
where you will also find a guide to filling them in. Please dispose of out of
date forms.
8.
Game report form. 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.
9. Be sure to report any and all breaches of mandatory game management standards as an incident report.
10. Lots of teams seem to have changed head coaches for this season, and some have changed venues. Check the venue before you travel.
11. 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. We are also encouraging referees to assign topics to members of their crew for the pre-game conference each week.
12. Have
a good season and if you
have any questions, contact me or one of the other directors.
Jim Briggs
president@bafra.org
2008 Convention
Firstly I would like to thank everyone who came along to the Convention this year. Attendance figures were up on last year again and initial feedback would suggest everyone enjoyed themselves and learned from the experience
It takes a lot of people to help make the Convention successful and I would personally like to thank everyone who gave presentations, took break-out sessions, managed the welcome desk and provided additional support throughout the day.
You will find attached a Convention Feedback Form. I would ask that you all take the opportunity to complete the document and return it to training@bafra.org. Let’s hear about your likes and dislikes. What did you think about the speakers and what you would like to happen next year? We want to tailor the Convention to meet the needs of BAFRA and its members so please take this opportunity to put forward your thoughts and opinions.
Davie Parsons
training@bafra.org
Annual General Meeting
Elections for Directors were held during the AGM and as a result of these the Executive Board of BAFRA Limited is now as follows:
President - Jim Briggs (to 2010)
General Secretary - Paul Sutton (to 2010)
Director of Finance * - Charles Dean-Young (to 2009)
Director of Operations - Pete Johnson (to 2009)
Director of Training - Davie Parsons (to 2010)
Director of Recruitment - Alun Price (to 2009)
Directors without Portfolio - Keith Wickham (to 2009); Dan Bridgland (to 2010)
* The post of Director of Finance was not required to be elected at this AGM; the appointment was from the 2007 AGM.
The minutes of the AGM will appear in the Member’s Area of the website in about a week or so.
Annual Examination
The annual examination was distributed to those present at the Convention over the past weekend.
For those not present who are either qualified or associate members, it has been posted out (along with the 2008 rule book and mechanics manual). If you have not received your examination paper by this Saturday, please contact me as a matter of urgency.
May I remind people that it is a requirement for those wishing to officiate in the coming year that they take the annual examination. To those relatively new officials who have not sat the exam before, the object is to get you to read the rule book and mechanics manual, and to help you to understand the areas where you need further understanding. For those present at the Convention, I think at least ¼ of the answers were given at some point during the weekend by one speaker or other or in one of the breakout sessions.
Examination papers must be returned to me in hard copy by 10th May at the latest. If you think that you will not be able to meet that deadline, please approach the Director of Training to see if you can negotiate and extension. Please note that Davie is the only person who may grant an extension; members of the Examination Committee do not have that authority.
Paul Sutton
secretary@bafra.org
DISCIPLINARY CASES
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Name |
# |
Team |
Code |
Q |
Offence |
Suspended |
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6th April 2008 |
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None |
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Outstanding items from previous weeks |
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Gareth Price |
69 |
Bedford Blue Raiders |
FGT |
1 |
After a fumble pile-up, the player
attempted to free himself from the pile by repeatedly striking an opponent's
arm with his fist |
13/04/08 vs. Colchester Gladiators |
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Adam Winder |
94 |
Hampshire Thrashers |
TUF |
4 |
Two instances of abuse directed at officials |
13/04/08 vs. Plymouth Admirals |
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Jason Osei |
79 |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes (possibly London Olympians) |
FPF |
4 |
Lifted an opponent into the air and dropped him on his head |
Next regular season or playoff game he is eligible for (possibly 20/04/08 vs. Coventry Jets) |
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Outstanding items from last season |
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None provided the following served their suspensions at the end of last season as required… |
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Brian Williams |
29 |
East Midland Saxons |
FGT |
1 |
Threw a punch at an opponent during the down. |
2/09/07 vs. Dundee Hurricanes |
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Jim WAITT |
77 |
Gateshead Senators |
FGT |
1 |
Punched an opponent after the ball was dead. |
19/08/07 |
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Oluwarotimi ALADEWOLU |
70 |
Maidstone Pumas |
TUF |
2 |
Two unsportsmanlike fouls - the first was to throw his
helmet to the ground whilst on the field of play, and the second was a threat
to an opponent to get him after the game. |
19/08/07 |
DISCIPLINARY CASES – LONG TERM
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NAME |
TEAM |
CODE |
SUSPENDED |
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Mark CARTER |
Cornish Sharks |
BGD |
Life Ban from 02/09/07 |
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Nigel DWYER |
St Helens Cardinals |
BGD |
Life Ban |
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Cliff GODDARD |
Sutton Coldfield |
BGD |
Life Ban |
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Mark WILLIAMS |
Birmingham Bulls |
BGD |
Life Ban |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
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Home team |
Report |
Next home game |
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6th April 2008 |
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None |
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Carried forward |
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Hampshire Thrashers |
Numbers were only 7yds from sideline. Jim Briggs #31 |
13/04/08 vs. Plymouth Admirals |
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Lincolnshire Bombers |
No team areas, no numbers, no hash marks on one side of
field, no goal posts. Pete Thom #200 |
20/04/08 vs. Leicester Falcons |
Newsflash
This week's Newsflash was a Jim production. Dean Wright will be resuming normal service when he gets back from his business trip.
CALENDAR
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Date |
Event |
Contact for details |
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April 13th (Sun) |
BAFL season starts |
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April 26th (Sat) |
BAFA Board meeting |
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May 10th (Sat) |
BAFRA Board meeting |
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June 27th-29th (Fri-Sun) |
BAFCA Convention |
n/a |
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July 26th (Sat) |
BAFA Board meeting |
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August 9th (Sat) |
BAFRA Board meeting |
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September 20th & 21st (Sat/Sun) |
BritBowl weekend |
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October 18th (Sat) |
BAFA Board meeting |
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October 26th (Sun) |
NFL game at Wembley |
n/a |
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November 22nd (Sat) |
BAFRA Board meeting |
Send updates to newsflash@bafra.org
Contacts
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BAFRA Directors |
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President |
Jim Briggs |
president@bafra.org |
General Secretary |
Paul Sutton |
secretary@bafra.org |
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Finance |
Charles Dean‑Young |
finance@bafra.org |
Operations |
Pete Johnson |
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Recruitment |
Alun Price |
Training |
David Parsons |
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Director without Portfolio #1 |
Dan Bridgland |
dwp1@bafra.org |
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 2359 Tuesday.