BAFRA Newsflash

http://www.bafra.org

Issue: 14/10

5^th May 2010

2010 EXAMINATION

The examination period is now over. In total nearly 100 BAFRA officials returned their paper, including some associate officials (even two who have yet to step onto the field). Regrettably, four qualified officials failed to return their exam. They will be contacted individually about this but it means they lose their qualified status and will need to sit a competency exam before they can take the field as an associate official in the future. In addition, our colleagues in Ireland also sat the exam. All results will be in the post by Saturday.

The statistics below relate to BAFRA officials only. One question, 86, was answered correctly by everyone attempting the exam. There were five questions where less than half of the candidates got the correct answer. By far the worst answered was question 62 which only 23% of candidates got correct. I can only assume people did not check Rule 2 before answering the question! Others were questions 23 (36%), 14 (47%), 29 (47%) and 3 (49%). The Exam Committee have particular concerns about question 3 since this related directly to the safety of participants and was included as a question again this year because it was only correctly answered by 47% of candidates last year. At least the message has got through to someone!

A small number of people got question 83 wrong. The Committee accept that the wording of the question was potentially misleading but a statement was put in Newsflash to clarify this during the examination period; the same statement was personally sent to any who queried this question. After discussion, the Committee has decided not to award a mark to those who got this incorrect but will add a note of those officials affected to the scores given to the Selection Committee so that they can make appropriate allowance for those officials as they see fit.

The overall score was around 78.5% which is slightly lower than last year and almost exactly the average score for the period 2002 to 2009. However, for current officials only, it represents and improvement of around 4 points over the same period.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking my colleagues on the Exam Committee, Tzvi Lindeman, Will Marriage and Pete Parsons for all of their hard work on the exam going back to November last year and to Robert Friel who sat the paper as our tester in February and subsequently recommended improvements we were able to incorporate into the published exam.

Finally there are two special mentions. The highest score this year was 98% by an official who all of whose previous scores were in the 80s and one official sitting the exam for the first time scored 92%. I will not embarrass these officials by naming them (they will know who they are) but well done to both.

Paul Sutton

exam2010@bafra.org

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Congratulations to Lee Wood on completing the Induction Training Programme. Thanks to Steve Tonkinson who helped with Lee’s training.

Davie Parsons

president@bafra.org

ROSTER FORM RETENTION

A quick reminder that referees need to keep the roster forms for at least 7 days after a game before disposing of them. This is in case a query (e.g. about whether a player was properly registered) arises after the game.

Jim Briggs

BAFA Disciplinary Officer

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT ARTICLE

My attention has been drawn to a recent article by Rogers Redding, Editor of the NCAA Rules and

SEC Coordinator of Football Officials. Since it accurately reflects the attitude we want BAFRA officials to take towards dealing with unsportsmanlike conduct, I thought it would be appropriate to reproduce here. The original can be found at

http://www.profootballreferee.com/1077/understanding-unsportsmanlike-conduct-by-rogers-redding/

The following excerpt is particularly close to what we in BAFRA are looking for:

“When such a situation [possible unsportsmanlike conduct] arises, I encourage officials to wait a count, take a deep breath, and assess what they feel about what they have seen. If it feels OK, let it go. If it feels wrong, flag it.

It will never be possible to be totally specific in writing what should and should not be allowed. But we trust our officials to be men of good judgement who know in their hearts what should and should not be allowed in the heat of an emotional game.”

Jim Briggs

Chair, BAFA Rules Committee

rules@bafa.org.uk

RESULTS

BAFA Premiership

Bristol Aztecs 15 - 14 London Cobras

BAFA Division 1:

Colchester Gladiators 10 - 7 Peterborough Saxons

Merseyside Nighthawks 2 - 14 Doncaster Mustangs

Tamworth Phoenix 48 - 12 Nottingham Caesars

Dundee Hurricanes 20 - 28 Gateshead Senators

East Kent Mavericks 0 - 20 Ipswich Cardinals

Oxford Saints 7 - 0 South Wales Warriors

BAFA Division 2:

Maidstone Pumas 0 - 8 Bedfordshire Blue Raiders

Cornish Sharks 10 - 13 Hampshire Thrashers

Essex Spartans 0 - 6 Norwich Devils

Gloucester Banshees 2 - 39 Watford Cheetahs

London Olympians 47 - 7 Lincolnshire Bombers

Staffordshire Surge 29 - 0 Sheffield Predators

BAFA Youth:

Bristol Aztecs 12 - 12 London Blitz

Colchester Gladiators 0 - 0 Peterborough Saxons

East Kent Mavericks 0 - 21 Cambridgeshire Cats

Reading Rebels 12 – 0 London Warriors

Tamworth Phoenix 22 - 6 Nottingham Caesars

BAFA Flag:

Glasgow Hornets 12 - 45 Kirkcaldy Bulls

BUAFL Playoffs:

Northern Inter-Conference Title

Loughborough Aces 35 – 0 Glasgow Tigers

Southern Inter - Conference Tile

Hertfordshire Hurricanes 12 – 28 Birmingham Lions

DISCIPLINARY CASES

NAME	#	TEAM	CODE	Q		OFFENCE	SUSPENDED
New this week - None
James Rodden Pyke	81	Highland Wildcats	FPF	3	After the play was dead the player kicked an opponent		08/05/10 v Edinburgh Wolves
Previous weeks (from last season)
Cornelius Walker	??	Cambridgeshire Cats	BGD	-		At the end of an abandoned game, the player threw a water bottle that struck an official.	16/05/10 v Ipswich Cardinals
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.

GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS

HOME TEAM	REPORT	NEXT HOME GAME
New this week
Oxford Saints	Official's room was probably the smallest I have seen. Another room next door is larger but full of clutter and made showering difficult. Brian Yates #29	30/05/10 v Birmingham Bulls
Bristol Aztecs Youth	Very well marked out field - only problems were that one of the team areas was marked only as far as the 30-yard line. Also, there was a "spare" 3-yard mark 3 yards from the end line in each end zone. Chain crew and ball boys provided very late and game kicked off a few minutes late as a consequence. Dean Wright #553	09/05/10 v Hampshire Thrashers
Bristol Aztecs	Field marked as above. Some members of chain crew changed at half-time, but all were OK. Excellent game (1 point in it), decided in the last minute after two failed field goal attempts. Jim Briggs #31	16/05/10 v Sussex Thunder
East Kent Mavericks	Crew arrived at 10.30am expecting to work a youth game as part of a double header. No sign of teams on field at either 10.30 or 11.30. Member of senior team later informed us that they had cancelled fixture 4 weeks ago. After checking with Director of Operations the fixture was still on the schedule. Field had following incorrect markings: top of numbers only 6 yards from sideline, inbounds lines a further 6 yards from sideline (ball was spotted well inside these during game). Field surface degenerated into swamp during game due to heavy rainfall. Chain crew tardy in returning after halftime and were partially replaced. Ball persons slow and inattentive (one also changed). Balls supplied late and of poor quality (not new and therefore no half-white stripe). Teams almost both played in white kit until home team realised that they could get black shirts. Game management generally very poor! Dan Bridgland #506	16/05/10 v Peterborough Saxons
Cornish Sharks	Although the game was played on the same field as previous years, it had been wrongly marked this year. 90yards field, NFL hashes, numbers too close to sideline, no team area lines. Biggest problem is that the tuning-fork posts were damaged and rugby posts used, but 4yards deep in endzone. Endlines were remarked and goal-line moved up to the 5 yard line, making an 80yard field with 9 yard endzones. All other aspect of management excellent as usual. Simon Ryan #408	16/05/10 v Watford Cheetahs
Outstanding items from previous weeks
Hampshire Thrashers	No numbers or 9 yard marks. No sideline markers to indicate yard lines. Home team only had a down box - fortunately one of the officials had a chain set in the boot of his car! Chain crew changed at half-time. Game kicked off 5 minutes late due to late arrival of ambulance. However, offsetting the above, we had an officials changing room with leather armchairs and a private bar! Jim Briggs #31	23/05/10 v Gloucester Banshees
Shropshire Revolution	It was reported to me with 50 seconds remaining that the down box operator had a two way radio, which he had used to update the scoreboard operator and the commentator errors on the board. Lancashire had objected claiming an unfair advantage. By rule no offence had occurred, unless the league has sanctions. This was a great game with a 50yard field goal, and both sides playing good hard football. Charlie Dean-Young #258	06/06/10 v Sheffield Predators
Gateshead Senators	Field 90 yards, chain crew were changed at half time (and poor standard), goal posts located well behind back line. Mark Snow #430	09/05/10 v East Kilbride Pirates
Gateshead Senators (Youth)	Game reduced to 10-minute quarters due to late arrival of away team. Home Team only provided 1 ball-person, away team provided the other. Chain Crew changed at half-time. Home team coach observed coaching from behind end zone, he was asked to return to the team area. There were Soccer and hockey markings on the field. No team areas, no 3-yard mark, no 9-yard marks. One Goal Post half-way up a hill. Ben Griffiths #228	09/05/10 v Forth Valley Fusion
London Blitz	Kickoff delayed 10 minutes due to both teams' indecision about whether to conduct a card check. Any crews working at Finsbury Park this season should be aware that London Blitz are now supplying a microphone for the Referee. Alan Dobson #308	20/06/10 v Coventry Jets
Note: it is possible that any game may be cancelled, or any team may arrange additional games. Any dates mentioned here are intended only as a guide.

END ZONE

PLAY OF THE WEEK:

New this week

Play: A's ball, 4th and 19, on the 50. A's punt is rolling on B's 4 when B41 bats the ball through B's end zone.
Ruling?

Previous week's play

Play: Third and 6 on A's 34. While running the option, A18 is hit on A's 33 and fumbles. The ball is rolling on A's 36 when muffed by A66. The ball rolls backward to A's 32 where A19 picks up the ball and immediately passes the ball to A84 who catches the pass on A's 37 and advances to A's 49 where he is downed. Play Clock?
Ruling? A's ball, 1st and 10 on the 49. The forward pass is legal since the ball was not possessed by a team A player in advance of the line of scrimmage.

CALENDAR

Date	Event	Contact for details
2009
May 8^th (Sat)	BAFRA board meeting	president@bafra.org
May 9^th (Sun)	BUAFL Final
July 24^th (Sat)	BAFRA board meeting	president@bafra.org
October 31^st (Sun)	Broncos @ 49ers, Wembley
November 20^th (Sat)	BAFRA board meeting	president@bafra.org

BAFRA Directors
President	David Parsons	president@bafra.org	General Secretary	Paul Sutton	secretary@bafra.org
Finance	Andrew Lovell	finance@bafra.org	Operations	Pete Johnson	operations@bafra.org
Recruitment	Ben Griffiths	recruitment@bafra.org	Training	Post Available	training@bafra.org
Director without Portfolio #1	Martin Cockerill	dwp1@bafra.org	Director without Portfolio #2	Steve Tonkinson	dwp2@bafra.org

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