(G14)
16. BLEEDING, ILLNESS, DISABILITY AND INJURY
(see flowchart in Appendix 4.2)
16.1
Bleeding: The Referee shall immediately stop play when any
player has visible bleeding, an open wound or blood-stained
clothing. Before allowing play to continue the Referee shall
require that the bleeding be stopped, the wound covered and any
blood-stained clothing changed, allowing such time as is
reasonable and necessary and is available on the tournament
schedule.
If the
bleeding was caused solely by the opponent, the Referee shall
immediately award the match to the player.
16.1.1
Recurrence of bleeding: If the bleeding recurs, for which
recovery time has already been allowed, the Referee shall
allow no further recovery time except that the player may
concede the game in progress and use the 90 second interval
between games for recovery. If the visible bleeding continues
at the end of this 90 second interval the player shall concede
the match. A player may only concede one game for one 90
second interval.
If the
covering of the bleeding wound falls off or is removed during
the match, thereby exposing the wound, the Referee shall
consider this to be a recurrence of the bleeding, unless all
sign of bleeding has ceased.
16.2
Illness or Disability: A player suffering illness or disability
not involving bleeding has the following options:
16.2.1
resuming play without delay;
16.2.2
conceding the game in progress, accepting the 90 second
interval, or
16.2.3
conceding the match.
Symptoms of
tiredness, alleged illness, or disability not reasonably evident
to the Referee, or recurrence of pre-existing ailments,
including injuries sustained earlier in the match, shall be
dealt with under this Rule 16.2. This includes cramps of any
kind, actual or impending nausea and breathlessness, including
asthma. The Referee shall inform the players of the decision and
the requirements of the rules.
16.3
Injury:
16.3.1 If a
player claims that an injury has occurred, the Referee must be
satisfied that the injury is genuine and, if so, decide the
category of injury, informing the players of the decision and of
the requirements of the rules. The player is only entitled to
recovery time immediately after the injury occurred.
The
categories are:
16.3.1.1 self-inflicted, where the opponent did not
contribute to the injury;
16.3.1.2
contributed, where the opponent accidentally contributed to or
accidentally caused the injury. The Referee shall not
interpret the words "accidentally contributed to or
accidentally caused by" to include the situation where a
player is crowding the opponent;
16.3.1.3
opponent-inflicted, where the opponent solely caused the
injury.
16.3.2 If
the injury involves bleeding, Rule 16.1 shall apply until the
bleeding has stopped. Subsequently Rule 16.3.3 applies.
16.3.3 If
bleeding is not involved the following rules shall apply:
16.3.3.1 for a self-inflicted injury (Rule 16.3.1.1) the
Referee shall allow 3 minutes for the injured player to
recover. The Referee shall call "Time" at the end of the 3
minute period after giving a 15 second warning. If the
player requests additional recovery time beyond 3 minutes,
the Referee shall require the injured player to concede one
game, accept the 90 second time interval between games and
then resume play or concede the match. If the injured player
has not returned to the court when "Time" is called, the
Referee shall award the match to the opponent;
16.3.3.2
for a contributed injury (Rule 16.3.1.2) the Referee shall
allow one hour for the injured player to recover and such
additional time as the time-schedule of the competition
permits. The Referee shall call "Time" at the end of any
recovery time allowed. The injured player must, by the end of
this period, resume play or concede the match. If the injured
player resumes play, the score at the conclusion of the rally
in which the injury occurred shall stand;
16.3.3.3
for an opponent-inflicted injury (Rule 16.3.1.3) the Referee
shall apply
Rule
17 and if the injured player requires time to recover, the
Referee shall award the match to the injured player.
16.4 If an
injured player, having been granted a period of recovery time,
wishes to resume play prior to the expiry of that time, the
Referee shall permit the opponent sufficient time to prepare to
resume play.
16.5 If a
player claims injury and the Referee is not satisfied that an
injury has occurred, the Referee shall require the player to
resume play; or concede one game, accept the time interval
available and then either resume play or concede the match.
16.6 If
conceding the game, the player shall retain any points already
scored and at the conclusion of the 90 second interval between
games shall either resume play or concede the match. |
