The referee of the tournament will give a "Walk Over" (WO), synonymous of defeat, to the players who are not on the court, ready to play, 10 minutes after the official start time of the match. Except in cases where the arbitrator considers that there is a case of "force majeure".

Case No. 1: When the matches are scheduled one after the other, the next match is deemed to begin 5 minutes after the end of the previous match.

A warm up of 5 minutes between players is mandatory. The match can not be interrupted between the beginning (first serve) and the end of the match. Therefore, the match can not be suspended or delayed to allow a player to recover, receive instructions or advice. The maximum allowed time between two points is twenty (20) seconds. The maximum allowed time between side changes is 90 seconds. After the first game of each set and during the tie-break, the game will be continuous and the players will change sides without taking a rest. A maximum rest period of one hundred and twenty (120) seconds is allowed at the end of each set. The aforementioned rest periods start at the end of a point and end at the beginning of the next point

If, due to circumstances beyond the player's control, his clothing, shoes or equipment are to be replaced, an additional (reasonable) delay will be allowed to find a solution.

Before the match, it may be agreed upon the number of permitted toilet breaks or breaks to change clothes.

The allowed time to change sides during a tie-break is 20 seconds.

If a match has to be interrupted due to rain, lack of light, accidents, etc., the players will be entitled to a warm-up time according to the following rules before starting the match:

  1. Up to 5 minutes of interruption. No warm up.
  2. Between 5 and 20 minutes of interruption. 3 minutes of warm up.
  3. More than 20 interruption minutes. 5 minutes of warm up.

The match will start again exactly as before the break while respecting the rules of the game, the score, the order of the player to serve, the same positions on the court and the same order of service and return. If the interruption is due to a lack of brightness, the match must be stopped at an even number of games played in the set, so that at the resumption of the match both teams reach the same side they occupied when the match was interrupted.

In case of injury or treatable medical problem, a medical 3 time-out will be granted to the player for treatment, which may be repeated during the next two side changes but within normal time.

If a player gets injured during the change of side, he may receive medical attention during the said 3 minutes and repeat the treatment at the next two side changes but respecting the prescribed time.

Medical care is only given to a player and can not be transferred to his partner. In case of an accident that does not result directly from the game but affects one of the players, the tournament referee is entitled, according to his judgment, to grant a treatment period not exceeding 15 minutes. If a player has a bleeding injury, he will not be allowed to continue the match.

Case No. 1: In the event of an indirect accident caused to a player who then needs medical treatment, does this medical time-out count as one of the authorized time-outs? Decision: NO.

Case # 2: How much time of rest or interruption can be allowed between the first and the second service? Ruling: None, the game must be continuous.

Source: FIP regulations translated by the French-speaking association of padel Belgian

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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