NFHS

The other night my partner and I had a peculiar situation. The home team coach approached us before the match about only having six players, one of whom was not feeling well. She asked if that player had to leave, would the match continue. We told the coach she had to have 6 to start, and then if one went down she could continue to play with five, but every time that spot was to serve, it would be side out-point opponent. Half way through the first game, another player was not performing well, coach wanted to sub her out and discuss the problem leaving five players on the court with no one in that position. Then sub her back into the game, prior to her serving, or sooner.

Both I and the other official, stated no that if she went out, she was out for the rest of the game, even though it was not injury or other listed exception, she would still have to stay out for the restof the game. Between games we looked up the rule book and case book for possible scenarios to see if we were correct in our analysis. We found what we had stated, that the exceptions to having less than 6 players on the court all dealt with injuries, not becuase only started with 6 and wanted to play with five for a while and sub number 6 back in later.

Anyone know if there is another exception to playing with 5 for a while, and then substituting the sixth back into the same game?

Don, there is no other exception to the rule for playing with less than six players on the court. The only way that a team can play with less than six players is if they started with six and are reduced to less than that number due to illness, injury or disqualification (See Rule 6-1-2).

As to the coach wanting to play short-handed so that she can talk with a poorly performing player, that is not allowed. Check out your Casebook - pages 17 and 18, 6-1-2 SITUATION: "COMMENT: The rule which permits play with fewer than six players does not permit a team to choose to play with less when it can do otherwise." In your scenario, the team has six players available and there is no option for playing with fewer than six other than the three that have already been mentioned (illness, injury or DQ).

Hope that clarifies things for you.