STOPPAGES - INFORMATION FOR UMPIRES
The following applies to both 2 min and 30 second stoppages:
1. For play to stop an on court player has to appeal to the controlling Umpire who must be satisfied that
the stoppage is justified. If a stoppage is NOT justified then play will continue. The Umpire controlling
play decides if play should stop.
2. In most cases it will be the injured/ill player who appeals.
3. The whistle to stop play for injury/illness is a medium whistle roll.
4. The Umpire is responsible for applying the Rules to ensure the safety of players. The Umpire may stop
play if confident a player is injured and requires treatment, even without an appeal (e.g. the injured
player is knocked unconscious). The stoppage is classified as an injury, NOT an Umpire’s stoppage.
5. During stoppages, the Umpires’ maintain oversight of the; court, players, Team Benches and the incident
for which play was stopped.
6. The Umpires allow BOTH teams to make subs/team changes, however, the injured player MUST be
involved. Coaches are permitted to communicate with players and Team Officials about subs/team
changes that are to be made. This is NOT considered ‘coaching’. Note: Coaches may NOT approach the
Side Line; however, they may stand close to their Team Bench. If there is a regulation run-off area,
Coaches should NOT enter it.
7. No coaching may take place at ANY stoppage (injury, illness, blood, emergency). If coaching occurs
during a stoppage, the offending team will be penalised when play restarts. A Free Pass is awarded to
the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped. If the non-offending team has possession
of the ball when play restarts, the Umpire may advance the play. If it persists a warning could be issued
to the Coach.
8. Team Managers may hydrate players at the Side Line and provide tissues/towels. Umpires ensure drink
bottles are kept off the court and ensure the floor is dry prior to the restart of play.
9. Umpires check that players (other than the injured/ill and substituted players) remain on court. Bench
players may NOT approach the Side Line.
10. Teams should not call a stoppage when no injury/illness has occurred. Such calls could be ruled ‘not in
the spirit of the game’. They also reflect badly on the team. This is a discipline matter, and as such the
Umpire can rule any penalty deemed appropriate, this may include a warning.
11. A player not on court when play restarts must remain off court until; after a goal is scored (must play in
the vacant position), a stoppage for injury/illness, or the next interval.
12. The Umpire may extend a regular stoppage if blood is present or there is an emergency, including if a
player is too badly injured to be moved within the specified time limit. In such a situation the controlling
Umpire signals promptly to the official bench if ‘Umpire’s time’ applies and confirms verbally when
convenient.
13. At the 10 second warning whistle, players immediately return to their positions ready to restart.
14. The Umpires’ ensure play restarts as soon as conditions are correct and within any time limits that
govern the stoppage.
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The following applies to 2 min stoppages:
1. The controlling Umpire walks to a position on the Team Bench Side Line in order to have a clear view of
the injury area, as well as one of the teams, and its Team Bench. The co-Umpire moves to an opposite
position on the same Side Line in order to provide adequate visual coverage of the rest of the court, the
opposing team and its Team Bench. This is to ensure that all the Rules of the stoppage are being adhered
to. The controlling Umpire has ‘right of way’.
2. The Umpires allow only PCP onto the court to treat the injured/ill player (more than one designated PCP
may go onto the court). Other players (from either team) who are injured/ill may receive treatment, but
the length of the stoppage is determined by the treatment required by the player for whom play was
stopped.
3. The PCP moves quickly to the injured/ill player as soon as play stops, and then communicates with the
Coach if a sub is needed (perhaps via hand signal).
4. The injured/ill player may be treated on or off the court. More than one PCP may treat a player provided
they are registered as Team Officials.
5. The injured/ill player MUST be involved in any subs/team changes.
6. Umpires have a responsibility to ensure play restarts as soon as possible after treatment is completed or
when 2 minutes has elapsed. (Umpires allow reasonable time for subs/team changes to be completed).
If the controlling Umpire has not already restarted the game, the Timekeeper notifies the closest Umpire
when 30 seconds and 10 seconds remain of the maximum of 2 minutes allowed. PLAY MUST RESTART AT
THE END OF 2 MINUTES (unless there is an emergency or the Umpire extends the time to deal with
blood).
The following applies to 30 sec stoppages:
1. Both Umpires remain on their respective Side Lines during this stoppage and they work together to
ensure that conditions are correctly maintained.
2. The injured player MUST leave the court. The team can either put on a substitute, or play with the
position vacant. BOTH teams may make subs/team changes.
3. The controlling Umpire ensures the injured/ill player leaves the court to receive treatment within the
time allowed (30 seconds).
4. PCP MAY NOT TREAT OTHER PLAYERS DURING A 30 SEC STOPPAGE (applies to both teams). PCP may
enter the court if the injured/ill player needs assistance to leave the court. PCP should communicate if
additional assistance is needed.
5. PLAY MUST RESTART AT THE END OF 30 SECONDS (unless there is an emergency, or the Umpire extends
the time to deal with blood).
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STOPPAGES FOR BLOOD - INFORMATION FOR UMPIRES
As stated in the Rule Book:
7.2 Blood Policy
(i) An Umpire is required to hold time when a player who is bleeding is noticed and no on court player
has called time.
(ii) To stop play the Umpire shall blow the whistle and signal the Timekeepers to hold time.
(iii) The Umpire shall decide the length of time for the stoppage and shall ensure that play is restarted as
soon as possible. Normal injury procedures shall apply as per Rules 7.1(v), 7.1(vii) and 7.1(viii). Other
than PCP, no other Team Official from the Bench is permitted on court.
Note:
7.1 (v) states both teams may make subs/team changes. Injured player must be involved.
7.1 (vii) talks about where the game is continued from when it restarts.
7.1 (viii) talks about leaving the position of the injured player vacant, and when/how a player can enter
the court.
In addition:
(a) the wound must be adequately covered;
(b) blood stained clothing shall be removed or cleaned;
(c) the ball and the court shall be cleaned if necessary.
(iv) To restart play the Umpire shall signal to the Timekeepers and blow the whistle for play to be
resumed.
Comments regarding blood:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Blood and body fluids are considered to be potentially dangerous to other persons. Hence, when
blood is observed, play should stop at the earliest opportunity so that the bleeding may be stemmed,
covered and/or cleaned.
During play an Umpire may not notice a player is bleeding and this may pose a potential risk to other
players. In such cases, it is recommended that players draw the Umpire’s attention to the bleeding
(suggest call ‘blood’). The Umpire can then stop the game.
This is NOT a 2 min or 30 sec stoppage, it is an ‘Umpire’s stoppage’.
A stoppage called for blood differs from an injury stoppage in that; the decision to stop the game is
made because blood has been observed and MUST be dealt with, the Umpire decides the length of the
stoppage, the bleeding player is not required to leave the court, (common sense would say that if
covering/cleaning of the blood is not able to be done in a reasonable time frame then the player
concerned would be required to leave the court).
Both teams may make subs/team changes. Injured player must be involved.
If a player lands heavily on the floor and requests time, then subsequently blood drips from his/her
nose, this is an injury stoppage, not a blood stoppage. The player’s original request was made because
of injury. It may still be necessary for the Umpire to extend the time so that blood on the; court, ball,
uniform or player can be cleaned/covered. If this occurs at a subsequent (i.e. 30 second) stoppage the
player concerned must leave the court, however, clean up of the ball or court may still be required and
the Umpire will determine any extra time needed.
Umpires check that players (other than the injured/ill and substituted players) remain on court.
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Umpire Called Stoppages
1. Umpire called stoppages can be for; blood, emergency (e.g. related to equipment, court, weather).
2. An Umpire called stoppage may be called for blood when no on court player has called time. In this case,
‘normal injury procedures’ apply (including PCP being allowed on court and substitutions/team changes
being permitted). The treatment from PCPs must be limited to blood (clean-up or covering). Players
from both teams may need attention in this regard. Please ensure that the treatment is in regards to
blood issue and not for an injury.
3. If there is an Umpire called stoppage for an emergency no subs/team changes are allowed, and no Team
Official is allowed on the court.
4. The Umpires’ decide the most appropriate positions from which to observe the court, the players and
Team Benches as well as the incident for which play was stopped. The ‘controlling Umpire’ takes right
of way in position.
5. The Umpires’ decide the length of such stoppages and ensure that play is restarted as soon as possible.
6. Wherever possible, the Timekeepers and the Team Officials are informed at the earliest opportunity of
the expected length of such a stoppage.
Bench Officials
Bench Officials (Timekeepers and Scorers) are an important part of any stoppage.
1. Timekeepers are responsible for ensuring a record is kept of all stoppages to ensure the correct
stoppage length for the team is applied.
2. They hold up a paddle showing the maximum length of the stoppage or one indicating the Umpire is
controlling the length of the stoppage.
3. Paddles are raised as soon as possible once play stops. Sometimes a ‘30’ or ‘2’ paddle may be replaced
by ‘U’. This will happen either if the stoppage has been extended by the Umpire or if the Umpire rules
the stoppage is not for injury/illness. It is hoped the use of a signal will facilitate this.
4. Timekeepers signal when play should restart (a 30 sec and 10 sec warning is given for 2 min stoppages
and a 10 sec warning is given for 30 sec stoppages).
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