Reprimand giving players one way out (9)
I believe the answer is:
castigate
'reprimand' is the definition.
(I know this)
'players one way out' is the wordplay.
'players' becomes 'cast' (group of actors).
'one' becomes 'I' (Roman numeral).
'way out' becomes 'gate' (I've seen this in another clue).
'cast'+'i'+'gate'='CASTIGATE'
'giving' is the link.
(Other definitions for castigate that I've seen before include "Slap down" , "Blast" , "Chastise - tacit sage (anag)" , "Take to task" , "Take a piece out of" .)