If an athlete is bleeding and other participants are at risk of exposure to his/her blood, the athlete's participation in the match must be interrupted until the bleeding has stopped, and the wound has been cleaned with an antiseptic solution and securely covered. A one-minute technical time-out would be applied by the referee in order to rectify the situation and stop the bleeding before a legal substitution, exceptional substitution, or injury time-out would become necessary. The players are to remain on the court while the situation is being rectified. The technical time-out is not charged to either team. The technical time-out may occur only once for the same player in the match and is recorded on the scoresheet under remarks.
31.1.1 Legal Substitution
If possible, a legal substitution would be used. The bleeding player may return to the set once the bleeding has stopped, and the wound has been cleaned and covered providing the return is legal. (Rule 15.6)
31.1.2 Exceptional Substitution
If a legal substitution is not possible then the referee would authorize an exceptional substitution. The blood-injury player cannot return for the remainder of that set. The blood-injury player may play in subsequent sets providing the bleeding has stopped and the wound has been cleaned and covered. (Rule 15.7)
Recovery Time
If a blood-injury injured player cannot be substituted, legally or exceptionally, this player is given a three-minute recovery time in order to stop the bleeding and to cover the affected area. This may occur only once for the same player in the match. If the bleeding cannot be stopped, his/her team is declared incomplete. (Rule 17.1)
All team uniforms soiled with blood must be either replaced or cleaned prior to the blood-injury athlete resuming the competition. Uniforms are to be cleaned until the stain is completely removed.
31.2.1 Domestic Competition
If a replacement uniform is not available, a player with a jersey soiled with blood would be allowed to wear a different numbered jersey or to change jerseys with a player on the bench. The referee would change the number(s) of the player(s) involved on the scoresheet. The procedure to be used would be Rule 15.6, Rule 15.7, Rule 17.1, or a time-out.
The one-minute technical time-out applies. - Record on the scoresheet under remarks.
NOTE: This rule also applies to the Libero player if the team has an additional Libero uniform that can be used.