10.A. Standard Time-Out.
A player or team is entitled to two time-outs for 11- or 15-point games and three time-outs for a 21-point game.
10.A.1. Each time-out period may last up to 1 minute.
10.A.2. Play may be resumed early if all players are ready.
10.A.3. If a team has any remaining time-outs, any player on that team may call a time-out before the next serve occurs.
10.A.4. Before the serve occurs, if a team calls a time-out while having no time-outs remaining, no penalty shall be called.
10.A.5. The referee will announce when there are 15 seconds remaining. At the end of the time-out period, the referee shall call “time in” and then call the score when all players are (or should be) ready to play.
10.B. Medical Time-Out.
A player needing medical attention during a match should request a medical time-out from the referee. Once the medical time-out has been requested, the following guidelines shall be used:
10.B.1. The referee shall immediately summon on-site medical personnel, or the Tournament Director if no medical personnel are present, to assess the situation and render appropriate first aid.
- 10.B.1.a. When medical personnel or the Tournament Director arrive, the referee shall start the 15-minute timer.
10.B.2. If medical personnel, or the Tournament Director if no medical personnel are present, determine that a valid medical condition exists, then that player will be allowed no more than 15 minutes for the medical time-out.
- 10.B.2.a. The time-out must be continuous and shall not exceed 15 minutes. If medical treatment is rendered off-court at another location at the venue, the time to transport the player to and from the offcourt location shall be excluded from the 15-minute time period.
- 10.B.2.b. If the player uses fewer than 15 minutes, the remaining time is lost and no additional medical time will be available to the player during the match.
- 10.B.2.c. If the player cannot resume play after the 15-minute medical time-out period, the match will be declared a retirement. The player may use their available regular timeouts after the medical timeout has expired to allow more time before the match must be retired.
10.B.3. If medical personnel, or the Tournament Director if no medical personnel are present, determine that no valid medical condition exists, the player or team will be charged a standard time-out, if available, and issued a technical warning.
- 10.B.3.a. If a standard time-out is not available, then a technical foul will be issued.
- 10.B.3.b. The medical time-out is no longer available to that player for that match.
- 10.B.3.c. A player may be granted only one player requested medical time-out per match.
10.B.4. Rule 10.A.5. shall be used to continue play.
10.B.5. Presence of blood. If blood is present on a player or on the playing surface, play may not resume until the bleeding has been controlled and blood on clothing and the playing surface has been removed.
- 10.B.5.a. Issues relating solely to blood cleanup or control will be considered a referee timeout.
- 10.B.5.b. Rule 10.A.5 shall be used to continue play.
10.C. Continuous Play.
Play should be continuous, although players are permitted to quickly take a drink or towel off in between rallies as long as, in the judgment of the referee, the flow of the game is not adversely impacted. The referee shall call the score when play should be resumed.
10.D. Equipment Time-Outs.
Players are expected to keep all apparel and equipment in good playable condition. If the referee determines that an equipment change or adjustment is necessary for fair and safe continuation of the match, the referee may award an equipment time-out of reasonable duration. Rule 10.A.5 will be used to continue play. In non-officiated matches, players will work out a reasonable accommodation among themselves for equipment malfunctions.
- 10.D.1. Apparel and equipment adjustments that can be accomplished quickly are allowed between rallies (e.g., tying shoelaces, cleaning glasses, adjusting hat).
10.E. Time Between Games.
The standard time between games is two minutes. Rule 10.A.5 shall be used to continue play.
10.E.1. In between games of a match, players may take one or both of their upcoming game’s timeouts. The players must inform the referee, or their opponents if there is no referee. If a team returns to play before one (or both) requested time-outs have started, the team retains the time-out(s) for the upcoming game. The normal two minutes in between games will be used before any team allotted timeouts.
10.F. Time Between Matches.
The standard time between matches is 10 minutes. If all players are ready to play prior to 10 minutes, the match may be started early
10.F.1. In a championship match with a tie-breaker match: If the winner of the loser’s bracket defeats the winner of the winner’s bracket, then a tiebreaker match to 15 points must be played. The standard time between the championship match and the tie-breaker match is 10 minutes.
10.G. Suspended Games.
A game suspended due to extenuating circumstances shall be resumed with the same server, score, and remaining time-outs as when interrupted.
10.H. Other Time-Out Rules.
10.H.1. Before a Match or Between Games. Neither medical nor regular time-outs may be taken before a match starts. A match cannot begin until all players are present and the starting score is called. Time-out(s) may be used before the start of the second and subsequent games in a multiple-game match.
10.H.2. Extenuating Circumstances. The referee may call a referee time-out to address extenuating circumstances that may require an extended interruption of play.
- 10.H.2.a. In the interest of safety, if the referee determines a potential medical situation exists, (for example, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, etc.) and the player is unable to or refuses to call a medical timeout, the referee is authorized to call a referee time-out and summon medical personnel or the Tournament Director. Referee requested time-outs will not be charged against the player.
- 10.H.2.b. Active bleeding shall be addressed in accordance with Rule 10.B.5.
- 10.H.2.c. Foreign substances on the playing surface, such as debris, water, or other fluids, shall be removed or cleaned up.
- 10.H.2.d. Rule 10.A.5 shall be used to resume play.