14.1. Illness
14.1.1. A player who suffers an illness that involves neither an injury nor bleeding must either
continue play immediately or concede the game in progress and take the 90-second
interval between games to recover. This includes conditions such as a cramp, nausea,
and breathlessness, as well as asthma. Only 1 game may be conceded. The player
must then resume play, or concede the match.
14.1.2. If a player’s vomiting or other action causes the court to become unplayable, the
match is awarded to the opponent.

14.2. Injury
The Referee:
14.2.1. if not satisfied that the injury is genuine, must advise the player to decide whether to
resume play immediately, or to concede the game in progress and take the 90-second
interval between games and then resume play, or concede the match. Only 1 game
may be conceded;
14.2.2. if satisfied that the injury is genuine, must advise both players of the category of the
injury and of the time permitted for recovery. Recovery time is permitted only at the
time the injury takes place;
14.2.3. if satisfied that this is a recurrence of an injury sustained earlier in the match, must
advise the player to decide whether to resume play immediately or concede the game
in progress and take the 90-second interval between games, or concede the match.
Only 1 game may be conceded.

Note: A player who concedes a game retains any points already scored.
14.3. Categories of injury:
14.3.1. Self-inflicted: where the injury is the result of the player’s own action. This includes a
muscle tear or sprain, or a bruise resulting from a collision with a wall or falling over.
The player is permitted 3 minutes to recover and, if not then ready to resume play,
must concede that game and take the 90-second interval between games for further
recovery. Only 1 game may be conceded. The player must then resume play or
concede the match.

14.3.2. Contributed: where the injury is the result of accidental action by both players. The
injured player is permitted 15 minutes to recover. This may be extended by a further
15 minutes at the discretion of the Referee. If the player is then unable to continue,
the match is awarded to the opponent. The score at the conclusion of the rally in
which the injury occurred, stands.
14.3.3. Opponent-inflicted: where the injury is caused solely by the opponent.
14.3.3.1. Where the injury is accidentally caused by the opponent, Rule 15 (Conduct)
must be applied. The injured player is permitted 15 minutes to recover. If
the player is then unable to resume play, the match is awarded to the
injured player.
14.3.3.2. Where the injury is caused by the opponent’s deliberate or dangerous play
or action, if the injured player requires any time for recovery, the match is
awarded to the injured player. If the injured player is able to continue
without delay, Rule 15 (Conduct) must be applied.

14.4. Blood Injury
A Blood Injury is defined as being when bleeding occurs, and the blood flow is sufficient that
blood can be transferred from a player to their opponent or the court.
A scrape, graze or nick with no blood flow does not constitute a Blood Injury and play must
continue. Visible blood through a bandage, dressing or covering is not considered a Blood
Injury. Once a Blood Injury occurs, the injured player must leave the court and it is the referee’s
responsibility to ensure that the injured player returns to the court in the shortest time possible,
according to the following rules;
14.4.1. Self-inflicted: where the Blood Injury is caused by a player’s own action or condition,
such as a fall, lunge, dive, crowding, nosebleed or similar, the player is permitted 5
minutes to stem the flow of blood and cover the bleeding. The referee is in charge of
starting the timer, which will start from when the injured player’s treatment begins. If
the injured player is not ready to resume play after 5 minutes has elapsed, the player
must concede the game and take the game interval, if available, for further recovery.
If the same Blood Injury reoccurs, no further recovery time is permitted, and the
injured player must concede the game and take the next game interval, if available,
for further recovery. If the injured player cannot resume play within the permitted time allowed, the
referee will award the match to the injured player’s opponent.
14.4.2. Contributed: where the Blood Injury is caused by both players’ actions, the injured
player has reasonable time to stem the flow of blood and cover the bleeding.
Reasonable time is determined by the referee, who can be assisted by the on-site
medical personnel, if available. If the same Blood Injury reoccurs, through no fault of either player or by both players’ actions, the injured player shall have further reasonable time to address the Blood Injury.
If the same Blood Injury reoccurs, due to an action solely by the injured player, the
player shall have no further time to address the Blood Injury and must concede the game and take the game interval, if available, for further recovery. If the injured player cannot resume play within the reasonable time or extended periods allowed, the referee will award the match to the injured player’s opponent.
14.4.3. Opponent inflicted: where the Blood Injury is caused solely by the opponent;
14.4.3.1. Where the Blood Injury is solely caused by the opponent’s accidental
action, the injured player has reasonable time to stem the flow of blood
and cover the bleeding. Reasonable time is determined by the referee, who
can be assisted by the on-site medical personnel, if available. If the injured
player cannot resume play in the reasonable time allowed, the referee will
award the match to the injured player.
If the same Blood Injury reoccurs, through no fault of either player or by
both players’ actions, the injured player shall have further reasonable time
to address the Blood Injury. If the blood flow cannot be stopped in a
reasonable time the referee will award the match to the injured player.
If the same Blood Injury reoccurs, due to an action solely by the injured
player, the player shall have no further time to address the Blood Injury
and must concede the game and take the game interval, if available, for
further recovery. If the injured player cannot then resume play within the
reasonable time or extended periods allowed, the referee will award the
match to the injured player’s opponent.
14.4.3.2. Where the Blood Injury is caused by the opponent’s deliberate dangerous
play, Rule 15: Conduct must be applied, and the referee will award the
match to the injured player.
14.4.4. Where there is a stoppage in play, the court must be cleaned, and bloodstained
clothing replaced.

14.5. An injured player may resume play before the end of any permitted recovery-period. Both
players must be given reasonable time to prepare to resume play.
14.6. It is always the injured player’s decision whether or not to resume play.