[fletch_irwin_m]

A team must begin the game with five players, but if it has no substitutes to replace disqualified or injured players, it must continue with fewer than five."

The difficulty in this situation is that, IMHO, EITHER way she handled it would have been fine.
Three problems that need to be looked at:

1. A team MUST begin the game with five players. It does not say that the team can NOT play with less, just that it must START the game with 5. Fairly clear on the surface, but a deeper look makes you wonder (see point 3)

2. Who is the arbitor of "substitute"? Should it be the official or the coach? Situation last year with my wife's team. Girl gets lippy with an official and then her. Sits her tail down for the rest of the game. Would an official MAKE her play if later in the game everyone was either injured or fouled out but 4? She was clearly NOT injured and had fouls to give, therefore "eligible" to play. What if a coach is punishing a player for something in practice and is making the player sit on the bench for the game to teach a lesson? Where does it say we as officials are arbitors of who MUST play.

3. Let's say in this situation that the player did not go in because the coach said she wasn't eligible. (For whatever reason) Now the game gets tighter and obviously having this player on the floor would make the difference. Horn sounds and ready to come in the game is our "ineligible" player. Do you let them in?

My two cents, if the coach says the player is not going to play, for whatever reason, that is fine. They are the coach, I am not. BUT once the players status has been determined, that is the end. I would NOT let the player in (situation 3) to play because the coach told me they were not ready. (To REALLY throw a monkey wrench, what if the 5th player was injured and could not get back into the game right away)?
I will side with those who say the coach should decide if they are going to play with 5 or not. BUT if they have a player who can play and does not, that is it for the rest of the game.