Rule 4.10 Timeouts

Any player may request a timeout, but not after the referee has announced the score, called “second serve” after a fault serve, or called “first/second serve, one screen” after a screen serve. Timeouts must not exceed one minute. Three timeouts are allowed each side per 21-point game. Two timeouts are allowed during an 11-point game. Timeouts may be called consecutively. Players may leave the court during a timeout.

At the discretion of the referee, equipment timeouts may be granted for shoes that come off during play, broken shoelaces, torn equipment, wet gloves, wet shirts, wet floor, or other reasons. Players are not charged for such timeouts, and two minutes is the maximum time allowed.

No timeout shall be charged to a player who is injured during the match. An injured player shall not be allowed more than a cumulative total of 15 minutes of injury timeout during a match. If the injured player is unable to resume play after a period totaling 15 minutes, the match may be awarded to the opponent. Preexisting conditions (including but not limited to injury and illness), fatigue or cramps do not warrant injury timeouts. For any injury, if the referee or tournament director determines the player cannot continue play the match may be terminated at that time, regardless of cumulative injury timeout minutes still available. (See Rule 3.4.B.).

1). Blood Borne Pathogen. When a player is bleeding, or when blood is detected on the court or on a player, play must be stopped, the player must be removed from the court, and play cannot resume until:

a) the bleeding is stopped;

b) the open wound is covered with a dressing strong enough to withstand the demands of continued play;

c) any player whose uniform is soiled with blood changes the part of the uniform affected;

d) and any surface contaminated with blood is cleaned. Cleaning, including disposal, shall be performed by the host facility. The occurrence of bleeding, by itself, shall not constitute an injury for the purpose of application of the injury timeout provisions of this rule.

Five-minute rest periods are allowed between games. Players may leave the court.