201205_Rules-of-Singles-Squash-2020-.pdf (worldsquash.org)
5 December 2020 – Changes as follows:
Rule 14.4 Blood Injury updated to read: “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”.