What happens if I get injured or start bleeding during a match?
Rule- South Africa
- Squash South Africa
- World Squash Singles Rules 2025
- League squash
- Open
- 2026
- Players
World Squash Singles Rule 13 sets the recovery time by what caused it. The clock starts once the referee accepts the injury is genuine and decides its category.
Injury
| Cause | Recovery time |
|---|---|
| Self-inflicted (e.g. muscle tear, sprain, hitting a wall, falling) | Up to 3 minutes, then concede the game and use the game interval if available, then play on or concede the match |
| Contributed (accidental, by both players) | Up to 15 minutes, then play on or concede the match |
| Opponent, accidental | Up to 15 minutes; if you still can't continue, you are awarded the match |
| Opponent, deliberate or dangerous | If you need any recovery time, you are awarded the match |
Illness (cramp, nausea, a blister, breathlessness, asthma) gets no recovery time: play on straight away, or concede the game and use the game interval, then play on or concede the match.
Blood injury (enough blood to transfer to the opponent or court) means you must leave the court:
- Uncovered pre-existing wound: concede the game, treat it in the interval.
- Self-inflicted (fall, lunge, nosebleed): up to 5 minutes, then concede the game.
- Contributed or caused by your opponent: reasonable time set by the referee.
Cover any existing wounds before you go on court. A graze with no blood flow isn't a blood injury. It's always your choice whether to resume.
Added 21 Oct 2026