Badminton · Laws of Badminton
Law 16: Continuous Play, Misconduct and Penalties
3 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Under Law 16, play is continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except where the Law allows a break. It also defines misconduct and its penalties.
Each game has an interval when the leading score reaches 8, a change in 2027 from the earlier 11, and it may not exceed 60 seconds. Intervals between games may not exceed 120 seconds. The umpire may suspend play for as long as necessary, the Referee may instruct a suspension (in Para badminton, repairing a wheelchair or crutch may be such a case), and after a suspension the existing score stands.
Play may not be delayed for a player to recover strength or wind or to receive advice, and the umpire is the sole judge of delay. Advice is allowed only when the shuttle is not in play, until the players take position to serve and receive. No player may leave the court during a match without the umpire's permission, except in the intervals.
Deliberately causing delay or suspension, or modifying or damaging the shuttle to change its speed or flight, is misconduct. A first breach brings a warning, shown with a yellow card; a side already warned is faulted, and a flagrant offence can be faulted without warning. The umpire then reports the side to the Referee, who may disqualify it. The facts below cover each stage.
16.161Continuous Play and Intervals
Continuous play, the intervals at 8 points and between games, and suspensions.
Test 1Continuous play, intervals and suspensionsTake a test
Play is continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except as Law 16 allows.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.1 · recall
Intervals during each game come when the leading score reaches 8 (it was 11 before 2027).
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.1 · recall
Intervals between games may not exceed 120 seconds.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.2 · recall
For a televised match the Referee may decide this before the match.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2 · applied
The umpire may suspend play for as long as necessary when circumstances require it.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.1 · applied
If play is suspended, the existing score stands and play resumes from that point.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.3 · applied
Law 16.3.2 lets the Referee instruct a suspension; in Para badminton a repair of a wheelchair or crutch may be such a case.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.2 · recall
An interval at 8 in each game and one between games.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2 · applied
Law 16.3: suspension, then a resumption with the score as it stood.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3 · applied
The interval during a game, when the leading score reaches 8, may not exceed 60 seconds.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.1 · applied
16.162Delay, Advice and Leaving the Court
No delay to recover, when advice is allowed, and leaving the court.
Test 1Delay, advice and leaving the courtTake a test
Play shall not be delayed to let a player recover strength or wind or receive advice.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4.1 · recall
The umpire is the sole judge of delay.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4.2 · recall
Advice is allowed only when the shuttle is not in play, until the players take position to serve and receive.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.1 · applied
No player may leave the court during a match without the umpire's permission, except in the intervals.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.2 · applied
Law 16.5.2 excepts the intervals of Law 16.2.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.2 · applied
One additional interval, with a BWF-appointed technical official accompanying the player.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.3 · applied
Play may not be delayed to recover strength or wind; the umpire judges delay.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4; BWF ITTO 2025, 5.10.7 · applied
The window opens when the rally ends and closes once both sides stand ready.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.1 · applied
Leaving outside the intervals needs the umpire's permission and must not delay play.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.2 · applied
Walking off mid-game, outside an interval, is something only the umpire can allow.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.2 · applied
16.163Misconduct and Penalties
What counts as misconduct, and the warning, fault and disqualification.
Test 1Misconduct and how the umpire penalises itTake a test
Deliberately modifying or damaging the shuttle to change its speed or flight is misconduct.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.6.2 · recall
The umpire administers a breach by a warning to the offending side.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.1 · recall
A side previously warned is faulted.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.2 · applied
In cases of flagrant offence the umpire may fault the side without a prior warning.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.3 · applied
On faulting a side, the umpire reports the offending side immediately to the Referee.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.2 · applied
The Referee, on the umpire's report, may disqualify the offending side.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.2 · recall
Deliberately causing delay in, or suspension of, play is misconduct under Law 16.6.1.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.6.1, 16.7 · applied
Warning, then fault and report, then the Referee's decision.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7 · applied
Law 16.7: a warning, a fault, and the Referee's power to disqualify.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7 · recall
A first breach is administered with a warning, shown with a yellow card.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.1; BWF ITTO 2025, 5.17.3 · applied
Questions people ask
- When is the interval in a badminton game?
- When the leading score reaches 8, since 2027; before that it was 11. It may not exceed 60 seconds.
- How long is the break between games in badminton?
- Intervals between games may not exceed 120 seconds.
- Can a badminton player receive coaching during a game?
- Only when the shuttle is not in play, from the end of the rally until the players take position to serve and receive.
- Can a player leave the court during a match?
- Not without the umpire's permission, except during the intervals.
- What counts as misconduct in badminton?
- Examples include deliberately causing delay in, or suspension of, play and deliberately modifying or damaging the shuttle to change its speed or flight.
- What is the penalty for misconduct in badminton?
- A warning first, then a fault for a side already warned, with a report to the Referee, who may disqualify the side. A flagrant offence can be faulted without a prior warning.
- What happens to the score when play is suspended?
- The existing score stands and play resumes from that point.
Sources
BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 16 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.24
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.12
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.22
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.12
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.22
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.72
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4; BWF ITTO 2025, 5.10.71
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.6.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.6.1, 16.71
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.1; BWF ITTO 2025, 5.17.31