Clarification of Injury Time procedures in T&W League for Umpires, Coaches and Players
If a player sustains an injury during a match the relevant player or if the player is incapacitated then a member of the team must ask the umpire to stop the match. Either umpire may be asked to hold time regardless of where the ball is at that time. It is fine for an umpire to briefly hold the match in order to ensure a player is okay, perhaps after they have been knocked over by an opponent. In these circumstances the player who was injured does not have to leave the court.
If a player sustains an injury during a match the relevant player or if the player is incapacitated then a member of the team must ask the umpire to stop the match. Either umpire may be asked to hold time regardless of where the ball is at that time. It is fine for an umpire to briefly hold the match in order to ensure a player is okay, perhaps after they have been knocked over by an opponent. In these circumstances the player who was injured does not have to leave the court.
Having stopped the match there are now 30 seconds within which the injured player MUST leave the court – the player can’t change their mind and decide they are okay now. During the stoppage both teams may make substitutions and/or team changes. Any player who is not on court with a bib and ready to play within the 30 seconds will have to remain off court until an appropriate stoppage occurs and they can retake the court. Umpires will need to roughly time the 30 seconds themselves.
During an injury stoppage umpires should also bear in mind that unlike National and Regional events most teams do not have a bench of substitutes, physio’s and general helpers to step in and assist. So some assistance may have to be provided by other team mates – for example helping the injured player off the court. Players helping in this manner should not be penalised. So it may be that more than 30 seconds is required in order to sort things. This if fine but do try and keep the stoppage to the minimum time possible.
Note the following:
In the event that the Centre is the injured player another player must fill this position it is the one position which can’t be left vacant.
A substitute or the injured player returning must fill the vacant position (they can’t go back into the Centre position) after advising the umpire and waiting for an appropriate stoppage. An appropriate stoppage is an interval, stoppage for injury or after a goal. A throw-in is not an appropriate stoppage time in these circumstances.
NOTES:
If an injured player leaves the court voluntarily without calling for an injury stoppage they should be considered as a Player ‘Outside the Court’ and dealt with as per 8.3.2 (v) – A player who leaves the field of play without the permission of the umpires may not be replaced…….. see Rule book for full rule. Note also that having left the court this player then can’t request an injury stoppage as this can only be done by a player on court!
Other things to note are that all on court players should remain on court throughout the stoppage; Coaches can approach the side line and coach; if the stoppage is for blood then umpires should make sure the players, ball and court are cleaned up before restarting the match.
Remember in the event that an injury is serious you will need to work with you co-umpire and apply common sense.
Finally this application of injury time applies to T&W County League only other leagues and events will have their own rules relating to injury stoppages.
During an injury stoppage umpires should also bear in mind that unlike National and Regional events most teams do not have a bench of substitutes, physio’s and general helpers to step in and assist. So some assistance may have to be provided by other team mates – for example helping the injured player off the court. Players helping in this manner should not be penalised. So it may be that more than 30 seconds is required in order to sort things. This if fine but do try and keep the stoppage to the minimum time possible.
Note the following:
In the event that the Centre is the injured player another player must fill this position it is the one position which can’t be left vacant.
A substitute or the injured player returning must fill the vacant position (they can’t go back into the Centre position) after advising the umpire and waiting for an appropriate stoppage. An appropriate stoppage is an interval, stoppage for injury or after a goal. A throw-in is not an appropriate stoppage time in these circumstances.
NOTES:
If an injured player leaves the court voluntarily without calling for an injury stoppage they should be considered as a Player ‘Outside the Court’ and dealt with as per 8.3.2 (v) – A player who leaves the field of play without the permission of the umpires may not be replaced…….. see Rule book for full rule. Note also that having left the court this player then can’t request an injury stoppage as this can only be done by a player on court!
Other things to note are that all on court players should remain on court throughout the stoppage; Coaches can approach the side line and coach; if the stoppage is for blood then umpires should make sure the players, ball and court are cleaned up before restarting the match.
Remember in the event that an injury is serious you will need to work with you co-umpire and apply common sense.
Finally this application of injury time applies to T&W County League only other leagues and events will have their own rules relating to injury stoppages.
