# Law 16: Continuous Play, Misconduct and Penalties (BWF Laws of Badminton)

Badminton · Law 16: Continuous Play, Misconduct and Penalties · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/badminton/laws/law-16-continuous-play-misconduct-and-penalties/)

Continuous play, intervals and suspensions, delay, advice and leaving the court, misconduct and the warning, fault and disqualification that follow.

## 16.161 Continuous Play and Intervals

Continuous play, the intervals at 8 points and between games, and suspensions.

### Test 1: Continuous play, intervals and suspensions

- Play is continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except as Law 16 allows. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.1)
- Intervals during each game come when the leading score reaches 8 (it was 11 before 2027). (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.1)
- Intervals between games may not exceed 120 seconds. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.2)
- For a televised match the Referee may decide this before the match. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2)
- The umpire may suspend play for as long as necessary when circumstances require it. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.1)
- If play is suspended, the existing score stands and play resumes from that point. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3.3)
- 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)
- An interval at 8 in each game and one between games. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2)
- Law 16.3: suspension, then a resumption with the score as it stood. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.3)
- The interval during a game, when the leading score reaches 8, may not exceed 60 seconds. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.2.1)

## 16.162 Delay, Advice and Leaving the Court

No delay to recover, when advice is allowed, and leaving the court.

### Test 1: Delay, advice and leaving the court

- Play shall not be delayed to let a player recover strength or wind or receive advice. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4.1)
- The umpire is the sole judge of delay. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.4.2)
- 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)
- 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)
- Law 16.5.2 excepts the intervals of Law 16.2. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.2)
- One additional interval, with a BWF-appointed technical official accompanying the player. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.3)
- 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)
- The window opens when the rally ends and closes once both sides stand ready. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.1)
- Leaving outside the intervals needs the umpire's permission and must not delay play. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.2)
- Walking off mid-game, outside an interval, is something only the umpire can allow. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.5.2)

## 16.163 Misconduct and Penalties

What counts as misconduct, and the warning, fault and disqualification.

### Test 1: Misconduct and how the umpire penalises it

- Deliberately modifying or damaging the shuttle to change its speed or flight is misconduct. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.6.2)
- The umpire administers a breach by a warning to the offending side. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.1)
- A side previously warned is faulted. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.2)
- In cases of flagrant offence the umpire may fault the side without a prior warning. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.1.3)
- On faulting a side, the umpire reports the offending side immediately to the Referee. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.2)
- The Referee, on the umpire's report, may disqualify the offending side. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7.2)
- 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)
- Warning, then fault and report, then the Referee's decision. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7)
- Law 16.7: a warning, a fault, and the Referee's power to disqualify. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 16.7)
- 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)

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)

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral