8.3 Medical Assistance Protocols

This protocol is applied if a player gets injured or falls ill. Following this protocol ensures the regular procedure.

The explanation will be done using a fictional example. The steps taken in case of an injury or illness are identical.

At the moment of the injury/illness

Once a player gets injured or becomes ill, it is the duty of the second referee to approach the player and request the nature of the injury or illness.
He should ask: ‘Can you continue playing or do you need medical assistance?’
In case medical assistance is requested, the next question has to be: ‘Do you need a medical doctor?’
If the player is able to continue play in foreseeable time (about 15 seconds), the play can continue without the necessity of any actions to be taken.
If the player requests medical assistance or wants to deal with the injury himself, a recovery time of up to five minutes is granted. If necessary, the medical team is called to the court.
The first referee leaves his stand and the opponents move to their players’ bench.
The head referee or delegate has to be informed. In case a medical team is requested, the recovery time starts once the medical personell arrives at the court. If not, the recovery time starts at the moment the medical time out is granted by the second referee.

With the permission of the first referee, the injured player might leave the court, accompanied by the second referee.
All relevant information has to be noted on the score sheet.
Once the treatment is finished, or no further treatment is needed, the recovery time has to be stopped.

Once the injured player is ready to continue playing the second referee calls all players back to the court.
If the injured player cannot continue play at the end of the recovery time, the team has to be declared incomplete.
Every player is granted a maximum of one medical time out per match.'

Remarks on the score sheet

If a medical time out is granted, the following details have to be recorded on the score sheet: Name, number and country code of the player, time and score (set number and points).

In case the official medical team has to be called, the time of the arrival of the team has to be recorded as well. Once the recovery time has ended the time of the continuation of the match has to be recorded.

If the official medical team is called, the time of the request by the second referee and the time of the continuation of the match has to be recorded.

Example

10:40:15, 2nd set, 15:17 Team A serving, Player #1 of team B requests medical assistance

10:41:35, accredited medical staff arrived on the court

10:45:10, match resumed. Duration 04:55.

Blood injuries

Blood injuries have to be treated immediately due to hygienic reasons. If the bleeding can be stopped immediately, no medical time out has to be initiated. If the bleeding is severe or takes longer to stop, a medical time out has to be applied.

In any case, all equipment, including balls and uniforms have to be checked for blood. If blood is found on one of these items, the item has to be replaced.