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The rule book backs you up on this one: Team B must have five players participating as long as it has that number available. Several members in their posts touched on what was brought up by our interpreter. If they are in the book, they are eligible to play. Disciplinary probation doesn't mean anything to us as officials. If they are on probation, they shouldn't be dressed or in the book. That makes them ineligible. Our interpreter was very concerned about liability issues. If we did not allow them to play and someone got hurt on the floor (possibly overplaying to compensate for a shortage of players) we could be liable for allowing the situation to arise in the first place. If the coach insists his players are not coming out onto the floor, suspend the game and let the powers that be handle the situation. Injuries are a totally different situation where once again the rule book backs us up. They can play with less than five after starting a game with at least five. The rule book backs us up! Use it and abide be it and stay out of trouble. Anything else that you do may get you into hot water. Thanks for your thoughts.
[Edited by eventnyc on Feb 3rd, 2002 at 11:38 AM]
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