Section 8: Safety Considerations
Player Welfare and Medical Provisions
The BWF and member associations are responsible for player welfare at sanctioned events. All major BWF events must have qualified medical personnel available courtside or in the venue. The following protocols are observed at BWF World Tour and above:
- A physiotherapist or sports medicine professional must be accessible during all match sessions.
- Players suffering injuries during match play may request an injury time-out at the umpire's discretion (Law 16.5). Medical personnel may attend to the player on court during an authorized stoppage.
- Bleeding injuries must be treated before play resumes. If a player is bleeding, the umpire shall call a let immediately.
- In the event of a serious medical emergency, the referee has authority to suspend or abandon play.
Court and Venue Safety
- Floor surface: Courts shall have non-slip surfaces. Wet or slippery courts must be dried or treated before play commences. Players may request a delay if they consider the court surface unsafe, and the umpire shall consult the referee.
- Lighting: Adequate and uniform lighting is required across the entire court. Minimum recommended illuminance levels for international competition are published in BWF Tournament Regulations. Shadows, glare, or blinding light directed at players shall be corrected before match commencement.
- Ceiling clearance: A minimum recommended ceiling height of 9 m (29.5 ft) above court level is specified for international play. Lower ceilings may require local rules to govern shuttle contact with the ceiling.
- Surroundings: Sufficient buffer space around the court perimeter (minimum 2 m / 6.6 ft recommended on each side and end) must be maintained free of obstructions, equipment, and spectators.
Warm-Up and Shuttle Testing
Players are entitled to a warm-up period prior to the start of a match. At BWF World Tour events, a standard warm-up of 5 minutes on the match court is provided. Shuttle speed testing (as described under Law 2.3) should be conducted prior to the start of the match. If shuttles are found to be inconsistent in speed during the warm-up period, the umpire shall consult the referee and arrange for new shuttles to be tested.
Heat and Environmental Conditions
BWF Tournament Regulations include guidelines for play in high-temperature or high-humidity environments. If indoor venue temperatures exceed recommended thresholds, the tournament director and medical officer may invoke heat policy provisions, including extended interval times or match suspension. Players are encouraged to maintain adequate hydration throughout competition. The 90-second between-game interval (Law 16.2) and the 5-minute interval before the third game (Law 16.3) allow for rest, hydration, and toweling down.
Equipment Safety
- Rackets found to be broken, cracked, or structurally compromised must be replaced before the next rally. Players are responsible for maintaining their equipment in a safe condition.
- Shoes worn on court must be appropriate badminton footwear providing adequate lateral support and grip for the court surface, to reduce the risk of ankle and knee injuries.
- Protective eyewear is strongly recommended for doubles play due to the proximity of partners and the speed of the shuttlecock (which can exceed 400 km/h / 249 mph in elite men's singles smashes). At the junior level, BWF encourages member associations to mandate eyewear for players under a specified age.
Anti-Doping
All players competing at BWF-sanctioned events are subject to the BWF Anti-Doping Regulations, which conform to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. Testing may be conducted in-competition or out-of-competition. Violations result in sanctions as specified in the BWF Anti-Doping Regulations, which may include disqualification, suspension, and return of prize money.