[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Is "voluntarily" considered synonymous with "on purpose" ... I would consider inadvertent as not voluntary, but I don't know if there's a case supporting that.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The rule (and the caseplays) doesn't make any reference to "voluntarily", "on purpose", "inadvertently", or "intentionally" ... 9-3-3: A player must not leave the court for an unauthorized reason.

Thanks Coach Bill. Your post gave me the impetus to make some language changes in my Misunderstood Basketball Rules list

If a player's momentum carries the player off the court, that player can be the first player to touch the ball after returning inbounds. That player must not have left the court for an unauthorized reason, and must immediately return inbounds. That player must have something in, and nothing out. It is not necessary to have both feet back inbounds. It is a violation for a player to leave the court for an unauthorized reason.

The intent of the three second rule is to not allow an offensive player in the lane to gain an advantage. There is no three second count between the release of a shot, and the control of an offensive rebound, at which time a new count starts. There is no three second count during a throwin. There is no three second count while the ball is in the backcourt. There is a three second count during an interrupted dribble. There is a three second count while an offensive player has one foot in the lane, and one foot outside of the lane, and the three second count continues if this player lifts the foot in the lane so that neither foot is touching inside the lane. To stop the count this player must have both feet touch the court outside of the lane. It’s a violation for a player to step out of bounds for an unauthorized reason in an attempt to avoid a three second violation. Allowance shall be made for a player who, having been in the lane area for less than three seconds, dribbles, or moves immediately to try for goal.