It’s a simple fact in Sports that if there are no rules and
regulations then the games that are played become a free for all. So with this
in mind the rules have to be upheld, and that where the officials come into
play. Of course it takes a special type of person to uphold the laws of the
game, and in the game we love it takes a few at a time. The so called “zebras”
are the very backbone of the game. Without them the game just simply would not
exist.
In the British game there are many specifics that the people
in Black and White stripes have to undertake on a Game day, but more of that
later. What exactly does it take to be the person that is often used an excuse
for a loss, or lauded for that great pass interference call in the end zone?
We had the opportunity to speak to a member of British
American Football Referees Association – more commonly known as BAFRA – and
from humble beginnings she is now putting the spotlight firmly on the people
that we take for granted but cannot function without.
Susannah Taylor was a self-confessed swot at school. When it
came to team games or sport in general she fell a little short. It wasn’t for
the lack of effort, it just wasn’t her thing. Then along came the mid-80s and a
new TV channel that went out of its way to be different.
As we all know the original boom of Gridiron on these shores
was down to Channel 4 and their weekly highlights package that leapt out of the
screen with all its glitz, glamour and men in shoulder pads which the ladies of
soap opera Dynasty would have been proud of. The young Miss Taylor was captured
by this new niche sport and from there has never looked back.
Going slightly against the grain she chose to follow the
Tennessee Titans, a team that doesn’t have a particularly large following here,
but almost had the last laugh when they come up half a yard short in one of the
best Super Bowls in history. Realising there was more to the sport than just
the Titans, her interest broadened and became a general fan of the game,
counting down the days to the next season by going over old games time and
again.
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| Photo courtesy - One Lone Tree |
At this time there was no real way for Women to participate
in the game and so Susannah acted upon an article she read at halftime during
one of the early International Series games at Wembley. It was just perfect and
grabbed her attention. Refereeing was not something she had thought of before
but just a couple of weeks later after contacting BAFRA she was shadowing
officials during a Surrey Stingers game.
Any new referee gets a mentor to help them through the tests
and training. Even when fully qualified BAFRA insist on annual tests that
implement new rule, mechanics and administration. This keeps even the most
experienced referee on their toes. Susannah can be called up for many differing
types of games, from 5v5 Women’s and flag games to the Adult BAFA games. She
will meet up with the assigned game crew around 90 minutes before kick-off to
address certain issues that may occur during the game. This will also include
inspection of the pitch, markings and goalposts. She will discuss with her
colleagues about game decisions that could include the fine details of how to
mark forward progress if there are no inside hash marks, and even how other
members of the crew like to communicate – hand signals or verbal – the small
things we don’t often see but make such a difference to the fluidity of the
game.
Currently Susannah is one of three qualified female
officials in BAFRA but stressed that this no by no means down to any
discrimination. She is made to feel part of the BAFRA family as much as anyone
else and has recently volunteered to make sure the close knit group of zebras
gets bigger by undertaking a Social Media recruitment drive for BAFRA.
Currently there are only 130-150 members and this number clearly needs to grow
as the game evolves in many ways. More teams = more players = more referees
needed.
Any new recruit will get the full “unrivalled help, support
and encouragement” to make the grade. Susannah is on a mission to raise
awareness of BAFRA as it is ideal for those that “want to contribute without
getting hit!”
If this sounds like the ideal for you as it did for Susannah
then apply directly here http://www.bafra.org/info/application.php
Contact them on twitter @BARAOfficial
I’d like to thank Susannah for her time, and for all she
does in promoting the game here in the UK.
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