21 EXCEPTIONAL GAME INTERRUPTIONS

21.1 INJURY
21.1.1 Should a serious accident occur while the ball is in play, the referee must stop the game immediately. The rally is then replayed.
21.1.2 An injured player is given a maximum of 5-minutes recovery time one time a match. The referee must authorize the properly accredited medical staff to enter the playing court to attend the player. Only the referee
may authorize that a player may leave the playing area without penalty. At the conclusion of the 5-minute recovery, the referee will whistle and request the player to continue. At this time, only the player can
judge whether he/she is fit to play.
If the player does not recover or return to the playing area at the conclusion of the
recovery time, his/her team is declared incomplete (Rules 7.4.3, 9.1).
In extreme cases, the doctor of the competition and the technical supervisor can oppose
the return of an injured player.
Note: the recovery time will begin when the properly accredited medical staff member(s)
of the competition arrives at the playing court to attend to the player. In the event that
no accredited medical staff is available, the time will begin from the moment the recovery
time was authorized by the referee.
21.2 EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE
If there is an external interference during the game, play has to be stopped and the rally
replayed.
21.3 PROLONGED INTERRUPTION
If unforeseen circumstances interrupt the match, the first referee, the organizer and the
Control Committee, if there is one, shall decide the measures to be taken to re-establish
normal conditions.
21.3.1 Should one or several interruptions occur not exceeding 4 hours in total, the match is
resumed with the score acquired, regardless of whether it continues on the same court or
another court.
21.3.2 Should one or several interruptions occur, exceeding 4 hours in total, the whole match
shall be replayed.