Section 8: Safety Considerations
Pre-match hazard checks (Rule 4.6.a, 4.6.h): Before every match, the referee duo must confirm that the hall, field of play, material, and equipment satisfy the specifications in Sections 1–3, and must not tolerate non-compliance; dangerous obstacles in the hall or a very slippery floor are explicit grounds to cancel the game. Referees also check players for dangerous items per Rule 4.1.
Prohibited dangerous items (Rule 4.1): Players may not wear objects that could be considered dangerous — the rules specifically name rimless glasses, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, wristwatches, and rings — unless the item is taped or otherwise fixed so it no longer poses a hazard. Fingernails must be kept closely cut and smooth.
Dangerous play and contact (Rules 6.12, 6.13, and Glossary): The rules separately prohibit pushing, clinging to, or holding off an opponent (6.12) and playing "in a dangerous manner" (6.13), defined in the glossary simply as "manner of playing which is dangerous to another player." The glossary further distinguishes "controlled" contact — where neither player gains an unfair advantage — from "uncontrolled" contact, where one player does; only controlled contact is admissible under the rules.
Stopping play for player welfare (Rule 4.6.b): The referee duo must stop the game whenever a player is bleeding, or when a player who falls or is injured without contact cannot stand up immediately and remains in a position that poses an injury risk to themselves or others.
Treatment of injured and bleeding players (Rule 5.10): An injured player may be assessed and treated for up to one minute, starting when the medical attendant reaches them. If, after that minute, the player is not fit to continue and it is safe to move them, they must be removed from the field immediately and substituted. A bleeding player must leave the field of play immediately and may not return until the bleeding has stopped, the wound has been covered, and any blood has been removed from the playing surface or equipment.