The Blood rule is a rule used in many sports that states that an athlete that somehow gets a bleeding and/or non-bleeding open wound, is bleeding in any way, shape, or form, or who has blood on them or their clothes, must immediately get off the playing area to receive medical attention.^[1] Though they may be able to play again later, they cannot go back and play again until the would is taken care of, bleeding has stopped, and all contaminated equipment has been replaced.^[2] The main concern addressed by this rule is the spread of infectious diseases like Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis, and other diseases that can be spread through the contact of blood.^[2] Before this rule, the chance of spreading diseases through blood to teammates of the injured player, the opposition, the officials, and even the injured player himself/herself in some cases where it could be spread through contact of saliva, mucus, or blood from another injured player, was great since an injured player's wound may have ended up touching all the other players by the end of the game, because before most leagues had this rule, the player would continue playing unless they were bleeding enough for them to possibly die from a loss of a blood. Of course, sometimes, there are instances where the player refuses to leave even though an official requests he do so, if this occurs the official will stop play. In the case the player continues to stay after play has ceased, the official will enforce what ever the "player code of conduct" says to do for the accompanying league. Though there are two options that can be chosen, one is much more commonly used than the other. The first option is that the player be substituted and play then resume, or the official can halt play until the player has returned, the former being the most commonly chosen.^[3] Some sports where this is used are Australian Rules Football^[3], NCAA Baseball^[4], as well as all major sports leagues like the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, National Football League, and Union of European Football Associations.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Blood Rule". Melbourne City Sports. http://www.melbournecitysports.ymca.org.au/index_general.asp?menuid=100.220. Retrieved 2007-07-02. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "The Blood Rule". Smartplay. http://www.smartplay.net/ouch/injuries/blood/bloodinfo.html. Retrieved 2007-07-02. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Frequently Asked Questions about Australian Rules Football". Footy.com.au. http://www.footy.com.au/dags/FAQ1v1-5.html. Retrieved 2007-07-02. 
4. ^ "2004 Baseball Rules Changes and Points of Emphasis". NCAA. http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/champadmin/baseball/umpiring/2004/RulesChanges04.pdf. Retrieved 2007-07-02.