When an Injured Athlete Needs the Game Stopped
Knowing what to do if an athlete is injured and you need to stop the game is a core responsibility for every official. The immediate priority is the athlete’s safety, followed by a calm, organised response that allows trained medical personnel to assess the situation without creating further risk.
Good officiating in these moments protects more than the injured participant. It gives coaches, players, spectators and volunteers clear information, prevents people from crowding the scene, and supports a safe restart under the applicable rules. For Australian competitions, the venue’s emergency action plan and the relevant sporting code should always take precedence over general guidance.
Recognise when play must stop
Use the official’s discretion when an injury appears serious, the athlete cannot continue safely, or normal play would worsen the condition. The whistle may come from a referee, umpire or court official, depending on the sport, and support from another official should never be required before stopping play.
Red flags include severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, confusion, difficulty breathing, chest pain, suspected neck or spinal injury, uncontrolled pain, or signs of heat illness. Suspected concussion also requires prompt removal from play and assessment by appropriately trained personnel. If the situation is uncertain, stop the game; a short delay is preferable to allowing a preventable injury.
Preparation starts before an emergency. SAOANC guidance on anticipating game situations can help officials understand player movement and where an injured participant may end up. That knowledge improves positioning, communication and control of the surrounding area.
Control the scene and protect the athlete
Stop the clock as soon as play is stopped and make a clear announcement such as “Game stopped—medical assistance required.” Ask players, substitutes and spectators to remain back. Do not rely on the whistle alone, particularly at a busy suburban club or school oval where people may be focused on the match rather than the official.
Keep the area around the athlete clear. Do not move someone with a suspected spinal injury unless there is immediate danger, such as fire, traffic or a falling object. If bleeding is present, use available protective equipment and apply firm, direct pressure while waiting for medical assistance.
Assign specific roles instead of relying on general appeals for help. One person should call Triple Zero on 000, another should meet the ambulance, and another should bring the first-aid kit or defibrillator. At many Australian community venues, the AED is stored near the clubrooms, main gate or administration desk, so its location should be confirmed during the pre-match briefing.
Call for help and provide appropriate care
Only provide care within your training and the venue’s emergency action plan. An official’s role is to recognise a problem, stop play, summon assistance and support the response; it is not to diagnose an injury. Reassure the athlete where possible, keep them still when appropriate and explain what is happening in straightforward terms.
Call 000 immediately for loss of consciousness, abnormal breathing, suspected spinal injury, severe bleeding, chest pain or rapidly deteriorating symptoms. If the athlete is unresponsive and not breathing normally, trained responders should begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use the AED according to their training. Record the approximate time of the incident and the time emergency services were called.
Heat illness, asthma attacks and dehydration require prompt attention, particularly during hot, humid Australian summers. Follow the athlete’s asthma action plan, assist with prescribed medication when authorised, move the person to shade or a cooler area if safe, and call for an ambulance if symptoms are severe. The value of community blood donation illustrates the same broader principle: emergency responses improve when people know their role before a crisis occurs.
Communicate decisions and coordinate responders
Give short, unambiguous directions. “Make way for the medic,” “Keep the gate clear” and “Stay behind the line” are more effective at a noisy Australian club ground than vague requests for everyone to help. Identify yourself when speaking to a responder and report what you have observed without exaggerating or diagnosing the injury.
The official remains responsible for controlling the match, while medical staff lead the clinical response. One official should remain with the athlete and the medical team, while another manages the boundary, substitutes and spectators. If communication is difficult, use the agreed radio channel, hand signals or a designated runner rather than sending several people in different directions.
Official structures differ across Australia. Rugby league clubs, including grassroots NRL competitions, commonly provide sideline trainers, while major competitions have dedicated medical teams. Australian football uses umpires rather than referees, and community competitions often rely heavily on trained volunteers. A short pre-game briefing can confirm the emergency plan, medical contacts, AED location and method of contacting an ambulance.
Apply the sport-specific restart rules
Do not restart until the athlete has been assessed, the scene is controlled and the relevant sporting code permits play to continue. Some competitions require a formal medical clearance, while others allow an injured player to be substituted. Record any stoppage and apply injury time, possession rules or penalties exactly as written in the competition regulations.
Sports such as rugby and rugby league generally remove a player with suspected concussion for assessment. Australian football has its own medical substitution and return-to-play requirements. Basketball, netball and volleyball may allow substitutions or the use of additional time, but the local association’s rules determine the procedure. Local competitions should not rely on assumptions borrowed from professional leagues.
For volleyball, the SAOANC volleyball resources provide relevant officiating guidance for substitutions, stoppages and sport-specific procedures. Whatever the code says, the official should keep players informed, avoid unnecessary delay and explain any ruling involving the injured athlete.
Use a dependable game-day response checklist
A brief rehearsal before each match can prevent confusion when an emergency occurs. The checklist should cover the following actions:
- Review the venue emergency action plan, first-aid contacts and AED location.
- Stop the clock, sound the whistle and secure the immediate area.
- Assess whether the injury requires an emergency call on 000.
- Assign people to call, meet the ambulance and bring equipment.
- Note the time, symptoms, actions taken and people involved.
- Restart only when medical staff, officials and competition rules permit it.
Brief coaches and team staff about who can enter the playing area and how substitute players should be managed. This prevents spectators and players from moving equipment, grabbing a stretcher or offering unassisted assistance. It also keeps normal match operations ready to resume without leaving officials without instructions.
Preserve the record and support recovery
Complete the venue’s injury or incident report as soon as practical. Record observable facts, including the apparent mechanism, symptoms, times, first aid provided, witnesses and decisions made during the stoppage. Keep medical information confidential and share only what is necessary for the athlete’s care and the official’s report.
Debrief with the supervising official, medical staff and venue personnel. Equipment failures, poor access, delayed treatment or unclear procedures should be addressed before the next event. The athlete should follow qualified medical advice and applicable return-to-play requirements, particularly after concussion, fracture, spinal injury or heat illness.
What every official should remember is simple: protect the athlete first, control the scene, communicate without ambiguity, document what happened and resume only when it is safe and permitted.
