Sick player unavailable, then available

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Here's something similar to the earlier "Substitution help ASAP" thread from one of my island games today.

MS girls, home team only has six players, one of which has fouled out.

After a time out in the fourth quarter, my partner tells me that one of the home players is sick, so the coaches agreed to play four-on-four. Now, I wasn't about to tell a coach that a sick kid must play (I found out later she was vomiting), but I had to tell the visiting coach -- who had 10-12 players -- that he must have five on the floor. I went as far, in this game, to advise that one player could stand off to the side, as long as she was on the court. I explained the same to the home head coach, and all was well.

Of course, another home player fouled out, and the sick kid suddenly became well enough to play. I made no issue of it.

Oh, it was a tie game in the last minute, but the visiting team scored twice in the last 20 seconds for a four-point win.

Bainsey:

Let us tweak your OP. Let us assume that the "sick" player H5) had left the game earlier because of an injury, say and ankle injury, that Team H did not have a shortage of players, and at some point later in the game (keeping in mind that Team H has made numerous substitutions since H5 initially the game), H-Trainer determines that H5 can now return to the game, would you question H5's return to the game?

While the rules require a team to have five players on the court if there are five eligible players are available, injured or sick players who are by rule eligible can not be forced to enter the game. If their condition changes, such that they can now enter the game by all means let them.

MTD, Sr.