Section 4: Players & Officials
Players (Laws 4–5)
Law 4 – Toss
Before play commences, a toss shall be conducted. The side winning the toss shall exercise one of the following choices:
- (a) to serve or to receive first;
- (b) to start play at one end or the other.
The side losing the toss shall then exercise whichever choice remains.
Law 5 – Scoring, Service, and Ends
Players change ends at the start of the second game. In the third game (if any), players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points (Law 8.4). In doubles, the pair that wins the toss on service decides which partner shall serve first. Thereafter, the order of serving follows Law 10 (doubles service rules).
Player Conduct
Players must conduct themselves in accordance with the BWF Code of Conduct. Players may not receive coaching from outside the court during a match except during the intervals described in Law 16 (Intervals and Suspension of Play). Players are responsible for knowing the Laws of Badminton and for verifying their own service actions, positions, and equipment compliance.
Match Officials
BWF-sanctioned events shall appoint the following officials to administer a match:
Referee
The referee is responsible for the overall control of the tournament and has overall authority over all umpires and service judges. The referee's decisions are final on matters of fact and on matters within the referee's jurisdiction under the Laws of Badminton. The referee may adjudicate on matters of conduct and on questions not provided for in the Laws.
Umpire (Law 17)
The umpire is appointed for a match and has responsibility for that match. The umpire's specific duties include:
- Conducting the toss.
- Calling the score in the prescribed manner.
- Deciding faults that occur in the umpire's field of vision (generally the net and above).
- Calling "let" when required.
- Overruling a service judge's call when the umpire has a clearer view.
- Where a service judge has not been appointed, exercising the authority of the service judge.
- Reporting to the referee any misconduct or injury of a player.
Service Judge (Law 18)
The service judge calls faults made by the server or receiver from the first motion of the server's racket to the completion of the service action. The service judge is positioned at the receiver's end of the court, seated at court level. Service judge responsibilities include:
- Calling faults related to foot positions of server and receiver (Laws 9.6–9.7).
- Calling faults related to the service action (Laws 9.1–9.5).
- Calling faults related to the shuttle position at the moment of striking (Law 9.1).
Line Judges
Line judges are appointed to indicate whether shuttlecocks are "in" or "out" in relation to the lines they are assigned to judge. Line judges shall be positioned directly behind the line they judge. In major BWF events, the Hawk-Eye instant review system may supplement or replace human line judges.
Intervals and Suspension of Play (Law 16)
- A maximum of 90 seconds between games is allowed (Law 16.2).
- A maximum of 5 minutes is allowed between the second and third games (Law 16.3), during which players may leave the court. Players may also receive coaching during this interval.
- When the leading score reaches 11 points in the third game, players are entitled to a 60-second interval (Law 16.4).
- Play shall not be suspended to allow a player to recover his/her physical condition. Law 16.5 specifies that only injury time (as defined) may be granted, and such time is at the discretion of the umpire and referee.