Five fouls and allowed to continue.

[Smitty]

When I first read this post I thought that there's no way I'd agree that letting a player with 5 fouls stay in the game is the right thing to do in any situation. Then I started thinking of other rules we let slide on lower level games. How many of us have let slide the 10 minute rule for having names, numbers and starters in the book at lower level games? Is letting the 5 fouls rule slide any less significant than that. Ultimately I decided, for me at least, that you can't let the 5 foul rule slide under any circumstances. What you could do is, if you were aware the kid had 4, not call a fifth unless it was a really obvious one. Or you could remind the coach that one of his kids has 4 and he better be careful not to pick up a fifth. But if a kid does get a fifth, he's gone. Blame it on the coach for letting one of his kids get into foul trouble when he only has 5 players. But it's not my fault. Find a way to try and prevent it from happening, but if it does happen, we have no choice.