Page 16 of the ITA official rule book says, "If a player (female DI player) asks to use the bathroom during a time other than changeover or set break and if that player chooses to use the bathroom, this is treated as the player's one medical timeout. If a player uses a bathroom break at a changeover, set break, or as a medical timeout and returns late from that changeover, set break or medical timeout, returning late results in Time Violation penalties until the player is ready to play."
SCENARIO
Player A (in a women's DI dual match) asks for a bathroom break in the middle of a game--and they have already taken their medical timeout. What do you do???
1. Nothing. Just let her go and be glad she asked.
2. Let her go and treat it the same as if she had gone on a changeover or set break and penalize her with time violation penalties.
3. It becomes a code violation and should be treated that way.
Another question... If it becomes a code violation so you issue a code every 20 seconds or just what do you do???
REMEMBER: The player has already used their MTO.
7 comments:
Unfortunately, the player cannot take the emergency bathroom break as stated in the rules. She has to either suck it up and play, retire, or be assessed Code Violations every 20 seconds (i.e. Point, Game, [call Referee to Court]Default).
This is no difference than a player being coded out of the match for cramping after already receiving a MTO.
it goes into the Code, no other way. Really stinks but it was the D1 coaches that made the rule allowing only one Medical Timeout and the Bathroom Break Rule is pretty clear.
Same as a recurring injury - if she is unable to play, then she must withdraw unless both coaches made previous arrangements regarding bathroom breaks.
The rule is clear. She must retire or play.
She is under the code, but not necessarily every 20 seconds. If the game penalty make it an odd game, she will get the 90 second changeover time.
Great insight by Joe Buys. A great way to work her way through a most difficult situation.
Hi there !
I want to ask a new question regarding Toilet Break , if can you please answer according to the ITF rules and regulations.
The player(man or woman) leaves the court for a Toilet Break , the line umpire(If we have on court officiating) or the off court umpire follows him/her . We witness that the player washes his/her face or just uses the break to calm down , but does not use the toilet .
Is that a Code Violation , Unsportsmanlike conduct ? What defines a Toilet Break ?
Thanks in advance
Nikos
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