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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 17/08 |
14th May 2008 |
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BAFRA Newsflash |
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Issue: 17/08 |
14th May 2008 |
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BAFRA STATEMENT ON EVENTS OF SUNDAY 11TH MAY
It has been reported that BAFRA failed to provide officials for three games on Sunday, namely those at Hull Hornets, Farnham Knights Youth and Tamworth Phoenix Youth.
In the case of the two youth games, BAFRA informed BAFL on 1st May that we did not have sufficient officials available to cover the Farnham game unless the kickoff time was revised, and on 6th May that we were no longer able to cover the Tamworth game due to officials' unavailability. We are currently reviewing ways in which we can improve the reliability of the system by making such information
available to teams via additional channels.
In the case of the Hull game, two officials from the 4-man crew assigned to that game became unavailable on Sunday morning. There was no one else available and it was not practical at short notice to attempt to reassign officials from other games. Since a game cannot start with only 2 officials, a decision was made that BAFRA could not cover the game at Hull and the league were notified immediately.
I have written to Hull Hornets and Tamworth Phoenix (seniors) to apologise for the late cancellation of their fixture. BAFRA regrets the inconvenience caused to Farnham Knights Youth, London Warriors, Tamworth Phoenix Youth and Bristol Aztecs Youth.
Jim Briggs
TRAVEL EXPENSES
At our meeting on Saturday, the BAFRA directors reviewed our travel expenses policy, particularly in the light of recent increases in petrol and diesel prices.
We decided that the mileage rate should be increased to 23p per mile, backdated to 1st May. BAFRA will amend game forms already submitted for the last couple of weeks. Please use the new rate from next week.
We will monitor expense claims over the next 3 months and review the rate again at our next meeting in August.
In view of the above and the effect it will have on BAFRA's budget, it is likely that the administration fee we charge teams will have to go up from 1st October 2008. I have written to the leagues to warn them of that.
There is no change to the 100 mile threshold before expenses can be claimed, nor to claims for rail/bus travel or tolls, etc.
As usual, please be sensible and economical about the expenses you incur and claim. Please make every effort to car share.
If you have any questions about this, please contact me or Charlie.
Jim Briggs
ASSESSMENT WORKING PARTY
At the BAFRA directors meeting on Saturday some issues with assessments were noted and the following steps agreed:
1. We will henceforth assess all bowl games (possibly by 2 independent assessors per game).
2. We will assess as many elite games as possible.
3. We will ask our current full-time assessors to travel more to view more crews.
4. We will appoint a working party to come up with an assessment scheme that measures accuracy of calls (but retains some measure of mechanics), and is capable of either in-person or on-video application.
5. We will start paying people to do video assessments.
6. We will establish a training and qualification scheme for assessors.
Keith Wickham was appointed to chair the Assessment Working Party. We are looking for 5-6 volunteers to join him on it. If you are interested in helping out, please contact him. The Board is especially keen to include 1 or 2 people on this working party who have not been involved in BAFRA in this way before.
Jim Briggs
NEW GROUND
The South Wales Warriors have moved their home ground for the 2008 season.
The address of the club is:
Sully Sports & Leisure Club
South Road, Sully
Vale Of Glamorgan
CF64 5SP
Tel: 029 20530629
Directions to the club (from the M4 Westbound) can be found at this website on the ‘Find Us’ page.
Pete Johnson
ELITE PROGRAMME
Now that the exam is over and we have the results, the Selection Committee will be considering applications to the Elite Programme.
The minimum requirement for new and existing Elite Programme members will normally be:
Three years continued active BAFRA membership
A score of 80% or more on this year's exam.
Agreement to attend at least 1 Elite Programme training event during the year.
The Selection Committee reserves the right to vary the exam criteria if this year's exam turns out to be harder or easier than previous ones.
If you wish to join and believe you meet the minimum requirements then please send your CV to selection@bafra.org.
There is no need for existing Elite Programme members to re-apply, though the Committee will be considering the continued involvement of those members who do not meet the minimum requirements.
Deadline for applications is 5pm Friday May 30th
Pete Johnson
CORNISH SHARKS HOME GAMES
The Cornish Sharks have home games on the 15th and 22nd June. Are there any crews or officials who could work either of these games?
Overnight expenses will be paid by BAFRA and Charlie has advised that we will be able to cover airfares for anyone who can fly into and out of Newquay on the day. I will confirm this with Charlie if anyone is able to do it.
If anyone is available and could they please let me know by Friday 16th of May.
Pete Johnson
FUTURE TRAINING EVENTS
I am delighted to confirm that 3 training events will take place over the coming 6 months. Full details will be available shortly; however the dates have already been confirmed and are included in the calendar at the bottom of Newsflash for your information.
Steve Tonkinson, Charles Dean-Young and Pete Johnson have already offered to assist in the organising of the Northern and Southern events. If anyone else would like to help out please let me know. Also, if you have any ideas on the type of training you would like to see included, please drop me an email or give me a call to discuss.
Davie Parsons
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
I will be on holiday from Monday 19th May until Sunday 25th May. Pete Thom has kindly agreed to deputise for the duration, he will receive a copy of any email sent to the normal address during my absence.
Pete Johnson
PLAUDITS TO COLCHESTER AND CAMBRIDGE
This is just a quick mention of the standard of game management and field markings in my neck of the woods so far this season. Plaudits go to the Colchester Gladiators game management for their excellent organisation this last Sunday. They have set a standard for many other teams to aspire to. As for field markings, I've been to Cambridge twice now and both times they've scored a perfect zero.
Steve Tonkinson
#99
RESULTS
BAFL Premier
London Blitz 48 v Gateshead Senators 0
BAFL 1
Redditch Arrows 25 v South Yorkshire Mustangs 0
Kent Exiles 7 v Sussex Thunder 6
Ipswich Cardinals 6 v Southern Sundevils 33
Yorkshire Rams 28 v West Coast Trojans 6
BAFL 2
Peterborough Saxons 25 v Bedfordshire Blue Raiders 0
Tamworth Phoenix 0 v Hull Hornets 0 - Postponed - no officials
East Kent Mavericks 7 v Hampshire Thrashers 20
Cambridgeshire Cats 76 v Milton Keynes City Pathfinders 0
Chester Romans 12 v Manchester Titans 39
London Cobras 34 v Colchester Gladiators 0
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NAME |
# |
TEAM |
CODE |
Q |
OFFENCE |
SUSPENDED |
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New items this week |
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Danny Wright |
55 |
West Coast Trojans |
FPF |
2 |
Player kicked an opponent who was lying on the ground. |
01/06/08 vs Staffordshire Surge |
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Ben Williams |
87 |
Milton Keynes Pathfinders |
TUF |
4 |
After committing an unsportsmanlike foul in the 2nd quarter and with 8 minutes left in the 4th, the player was tackled near the sideline. He then threw the ball at the tackler. |
17/05/08 vs Bedfordshire Blue Raiders |
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Outstanding items from previous weeks |
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Jason Osei |
79 |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
FPF |
4 |
Lifted an opponent into the air and dropped him on his head. |
Next regular season or playoff game he is eligible for |
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Jonathan Varney |
80 |
Sheffield Tomahawks |
FPF |
2 |
Ran 10 yards to block defenceless player, using helmet to lead his block |
18/05/08 vs Yorkshire Rams |
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Maliki Hidar Saad |
79 |
Bolton Bulldogs |
TUF |
2 |
Two unsportsmanlike fouls. Shouted "see you" and blew a kiss at ejected Sheffield player, then shouted profanity at official who threw first flag. |
18/05/08 vs Lancashire Wolverine Colts |
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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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11/05/08 |
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West Coast Trojans |
Coaching & team area's marked down to the 15yd lines. Game was abandoned at half time when the Trojans ran out of linemen. Les Connor #152 |
08/06/08 vs Redditch Arrows |
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Milton Keynes Pathfinders |
No 9 yard marks, team areas marked to 30 yard lines Brian Yates #29 |
17/05/08 vs Bedfordshire Blue Raiders |
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Gateshead Senators |
No team area or coaches box. No numbers or 9 yard marks. The chains broke and had to be repaired, some of the chain crew vanished at half time and had to be replaced. Pete Thom #200 |
22/06/08 vs East Kilbride Pirates |
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Hampshire Thrashers |
Start of game delayed for 12 minutes due to the late arrival of the ambulance. The game was suspended for 15 minutes for the ambulance crew to attend to an injured player. Mike LeFevre #341 |
29/06/08 vs South Wales Warriors |
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Southern Sundevils |
No numbers or 9yd marks. One team area line was more than 12ft from sideline. Goals were different sizes - both wide and low, but differently so. Chains looked brand new but came off the stakes a couple of times. Two reasonable balls provided, but the third was in poor condition. Sundevils had not received any sideline credentials. Ipswich coaches had received their credentials but forgotten to bring them with them. Jim Briggs #31 |
18/05/08 vs Oxford Saints |
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Sussex Thunder |
Sussex originally thought that they might have pre-paid but when I informed them before the game that they had not, they said that they would sort out cash after the game. We waited 30 minutes after the end of the game but no-one came to find us in the changing rooms, so we left. I had a call this evening from Tony Miller to say that they had tried to get cash from three ATMs but could not manage it. They have promised to pay BAFRA electronically. Dan Bridgland #506 |
01/06/08 vs Ipswich Cardinals |
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Outstanding items from previous weeks |
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Shropshire Revolution |
Game was delayed for 20mins due to an injury to Revolution's #67 who suffered a broken leg. The crew wish him well with his recovery and congratulate both sides for their patience and effort during a hard-fought game. Keith Alldritt #323 |
08/06/08 vs Lincolnshire Bombers |
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Bolton Bulldogs |
No team areas, ten yard lines only. The second half started late 30 minutes due to the ambulance taking two injured players to hospital. Charlie Dean Young #258 |
01/06/08 vs Highland Wildcats |
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Gateshead Senators Youth |
The chains broke
6 times during the game. The game was scheduled for an apparent
11am kick off, however the officials were informed that the KO was
12.00. Plaudits to Highland Warriors who travelled for 8 hours and
were a credit to Scottish Football! Thanks go to both teams for an
excellent game. |
22/06/08 vs Sheffield Tomahawks |
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Lincolnshire Bombers |
No nine yard marks or numbers, team areas too small, crew had to change in two separate changing rooms as one was too small for all 5 of us. This was not Lincolnshire's usual field and they did well to get it marked out at short notice. Pete Thom #200 |
22/06/08 vs Tamworth Phoenix |
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London Blitz |
Chain set provided included a down box that was detached from the stake and could not be attached. This resulted in the box operator having to carry the box for the duration of the game. Richard Vernon #103 |
01/06/08 vs Farnham Fast Lane Knights |
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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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Date |
Event |
Contact for details |
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2008 |
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June 27th - 29th (Fri - Sun) |
BAFCA meeting |
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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August 16th (Sat) |
Southern Training Event (Chelmsford) |
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September 13th (Sat) |
BAFRA Elite panel clinic (Heathrow) |
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September 20th & 21st (Sat/Sun) |
Britbowl weekend |
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October 4th (Sat) |
Northern Training Event (Manchester / Stoke Area) |
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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 |
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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 |
Alun Price |
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. |