BUCS Share Statement re: American Football Knockouts - Adverse Weather 02/03/2018
With games dropping as fast as the snow over the past few days, BUCS have shared the following statement.
Analysis to follow.
American Football Knockouts - Adverse Weather 02/03/2018
Further to the recent statements regarding the continuing adverse weather and the effect on knockout fixtures, BUCS has reviewed the situation around the American Football knockout competitions.
The following options are now available for each level of competition:
Championship
BUCS regulations AMF 12.1 and REG 15 still apply to all fixtures, however as there is a ‘free’ week between the Semi Final and the Final, BUCS will accept institutions agreeing in writing with their potential opposition for the Semi Final to rearrange the Semi Final round to be rescheduled to Sunday 18 March 2018 and the Quarter Final round matches to span over Sunday 4 and Sunday 11 March 2018 as has been offered with other BUCS Championships.
Specific permission for each fixture does not need to be sought in advance from the BUCS office as a blanket agreement is being granted in these circumstances, but must be sought from the potential next round opposition and the date can only be changed with their agreement. However, the BUCS office should be sent a record of any agreement. Where such an agreement has been made, any fixtures not played by the Monday of the next round match scheduled for those teams, without the BUCS office having been notified of any other arrangements, will be decided by the method stated in AMF 12.1.
Institutions are also required to keep BAFRA updated on any fixture changes so that any already appointed officials are notified of any changes and to ensure that officials can be sourced for the new dates.
Trophy
As the Trophy is seeded and there are no ‘free’ weeks the following is an option to all teams.
All fixtures across the draw must be concluded by the same Monday deadline each time as the draw is seeded each round all the way to the final. BUCS has the following proposal which will only be put into place if all 16 institutions can reach mutual agreement by 17:00 on Monday 5 March:
• The Trophy Final is postponed from Sunday 25 March to a date to be mutually agreed by the eventual finalists. (Last possible date will be Wednesday 16 May)
• The Trophy Semi Finals can therefore be postponed to Sunday 25 March.
• The Trophy Quarter Finals can therefore be postponed to Sunday 18 March.
• The Trophy Last 16 round matches can therefore be played up until Monday 12 March.
Specific permission for each fixture does not need to be sought in advance from the BUCS office as a blanket agreement is being granted in these circumstances however the BUCS office must receive in writing agreement from all 16 institutions (AU or equivalent body) to this proposal.
Should agreement not be reached by 17:00 on Monday 5 March then all Trophy rounds will remain as they are and any fixtures not played by the Monday of the next round, will be decided by the method stated in AMF 12.1.
Institutions are also required to keep BAFRA updated on any fixture changes so that any already appointed officials are notified of any changes and to ensure that officials can be sourced for the new dates.
Conference Cups (North and South)
As the Conference Cups are seeded and there are no ‘free’ weeks ahead of the Finals currently scheduled for Sunday 18 March, a week earlier than the Championship and Trophy, the following changes to the scheduling of rounds is being applied by BUCS.
• The Conference Cup Finals date is being postponed to Sunday 25 March, or a later date to be mutually agreed by the eventual finalists. (Last possible date will be Wednesday 16 May)
• The Conference Cup Semi Finals round is being postponed to Sunday 18 March.
• The Conference Cup Quarter Final matches can therefore be played up until Monday 12 March.
Any fixtures not played by the Monday of the next round, will be decided by the method stated in AMF 12.1.
Institutions are required to keep BAFRA updated on any fixture changes so that any already appointed officials are notified of any changes and to ensure that officials can be sourced for the new dates.
All BUCS regulations can be found here.
Read more at https://www.bucs.org.uk/news.asp?itemid=27280&itemTitle=American%20Football%20Knockouts%20-%20Adverse%20Weather§ion=8§ionTitle=News#5Olwwoy2uWpPuSyO.99
