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Chess Ref,
Advantage/Disadvantage is an important concept in basketball officiating, and I try to be consistent with my foul calls regardless of the level, but it can come into play - as Blindzebra intimated, contact that may not create a disadvantage at a higher level could definitely do so at a lower level where the players are not yet capable of playing through the contact. Therefore with respect to fouls/incidental contact, lower level games may need to be called tighter at times than higher level games would be.
With violations it can be almost the opposite & this is where you might cut them a little slack at lower levels (GS & maybe some MS). Think back to some of the ball handling discussions we had on volleyball - same principle applies. As the age/level of play increases, so does the "height of the bar" the players skills must meet. By the time they hit HS there shouldn't be any allowance.
Part of our job is to keep the game flowing as smoothly as possible. You have to call the obvious, but in marginal situations, the proper use of the advantage/disadvantage concept is a big part of making that work.
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