Playing with 4

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by OKREF

3-1-1 case book.

A team must play with 5 as long as that number is available. Doesn't say anything about "eligible" player.

Same thing (well, same issue).

Does "I'm holding the player for the V game" mean the player is "not available for this game"?

Might be worth a report to the state / assignor just in case there's some pattern of this and the coach is (or is trying to) get an advantage.

[iubirdman]

It was def not a case of them doing this all the time to try and gain an advantage, and I am pretty good friends with the other teams coaches, just wondering what the rule was.

Not sure what the convo was with the officials and the coach, but the official told us "they are choosing to play with 4 the rest of the half". It was the word choosing that did not seem to fit, if the explanation was they have 2 hurt right now and only have 4 that can play that is a lot different to me than they are choosing to play with 4.

I guess we will see a bunch of answers unless we actually know what an available player means. We have always taken it to mean a healthy player who has not fouled out and has quarters available to play and is on the bench as kids that are available

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by iubirdman

We have always taken it to mean a healthy player who has not fouled out and has quarters available to play and is on the bench as kids that are available

...what if...

...that "healthy" player just cussed the coach and/or said he wanted to "quit this lousy team"?

You could whack the team, you could try and MAKE the coach play the player, you could do a host of things...many of them wrong IMO.

If the coach tells me the player is not available...then the player is not available...simple as that.

In my area...I would be supported...do what ya gotta do in your area.