Checking Blood Sugar--A Rule That Needs Immediate Clarification

When a rule book is written the authors try diligently to address every situation imaginable and then deal with those situations--but there is one issue that needs further clarification for everyone's benefit--and that is the area of a player using a device to check their blood sugar and then how to remedy that problem.

This issue is relevant to both the USTA and UIL because it directly affects the playing ability and physical welfare of junior players.  Remember that if there is not a specific UIL rule, then they revert to USTA rules so that will guide our discussion.

The rule book says that taking time out to check blood sugar is not a medical time out so it does not fall under the time guidelines for a medical time out but where are the specific guidelines for this issue.  I have consulted numerous experienced referees and none of them have a concrete answer for this issue.  One referee had a letter from the USTA saying basically "just take care of the problem" but that doesn't help in reality--just leads to more confusion on the part of players, parents, and officials.  Here are some things to consider in this discussion:

*  Since checking blood sugar and treating it, are not a MTO, then what is it?
*  The maximum time allowed for a bleeding timeout is 15 minutes but what is the maximum time to treat low blood sugar?  It may take 3 to 4 minutes but it may also take up to 45 minutes.

Here is what the Friend at Court has to say:

FAC, Page 100:

E.  Medication timeout and bleeding timeout.
     4.  Non-treatable medical conditions.  Players may not receive a medical timeout or treatment
          any time during a match, a warm-up, or rest period for the following medical conditions:
          c.  Any medical condition requiring injection (other than insulin injection.  DIABETICS
               WHO USE DEVICES TO CHECK BLOOD SUGAR, ADMINISTER SUBCUTANEOUS
               INJECTIONS OF INSULIN, OR USE BATTERY-POWERED INSULIN PUMPS MUST
               NOT BE DEFAULTED.

Now that we know they cannot be defaulted, how much time can and should be allowed for treatment of this issue????

Why Not Have Running Linesmen?

One of the latest and most interesting questions facing the ITA is the use of running linespeople in a dual match.  FYI, "running linespeople" means linespeople at each end of the court who move to cover the center service line as well as the sidelines. 

Here are the different views:

1.  No linespeople at all.  Sure can't understand this one since we have the officials to cover the lines in a dual match and they provide great help.

2.  Only one linesperson per match.  Not sure where the logic is on this one since the more eyes you have, the better job you will do.

3.  Running linespeople used whenever possible.  This is by far the best way to cover the center service line--and college men serve way harder than the human eye can see so why not use their help. 

Some conferences forbid their use, some use only one, and some use two.  What is your opinion?

There are also those who think the chair can and should overrule the linesperson if they disagree with their call and then there are those who believe that once the chair goes to the linesperson for their call, they give up the right to overrule the linesperson.  But then, that is a discussion for another day...