Where is it in the book?

[Bull Run Ref]

A good example is to explain this if A1 was chasing a loose ball and batted it onto the court before he went out of bounds then he could legally be the first to touch it when he came back inbounds because he did not control the ball. If he had controlled it before he went out of bounds he cannot be the first to touch it when he came inbounds

[bob jenkins]

Originally posted by Bull Run Ref
A good example is to explain this if A1 was chasing a loose ball and batted it onto the court before he went out of bounds then he could legally be the first to touch it when he came back inbounds because he did not control the ball. If he had controlled it before he went out of bounds he cannot be the first to touch it when he came inbounds

Sigh.

As long as he wasn't in control of the ball *while* he was out of bounds, it's a legal play.

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Bull Run Ref
A good example is to explain this if A1 was chasing a loose ball and batted it onto the court before he went out of bounds then he could legally be the first to touch it when he came back inbounds because he did not control the ball. If he had controlled it before he went out of bounds he cannot be the first to touch it when he came inbounds

Heavy sigh!

Bull Run Ref, your play that you describe as a violation is on the NFHS website. I've pasted it below.

SITUATION 10: A1 jumps from inbounds and gains control of the ball in the air. While in the air, the player tosses/drops the ball inbounds and momentum then carries them out of bounds. A1 then returns to the court and is the first to touch the ball inbounds. RULING: The ball never touched out of bounds and the player returned in-bounds and re-established him/herself before touching the ball. Therefore, the play is legal and play continues. (7-1-1; 7-1-2)

As long as he doesn't have control of it when he steps OOB, the play is legal. The fact that he had player control prior to going OOB has absolutely nothing to do with it.

We're making this so much harder than it is. Unless he is dribbling when he touches the line, or steps on the line while holding or touching the ball, the ball is not OOB.

The ball is not OOB if there is an interrupted dribble and the player goes OOB.

You can't decide that it's not an interrupted dribble because you don't like the way the play looked. Whether the ball accidentally gets away from him or he lets it get away, it's still an interrupted dribble.

Whether he went OOB voluntarily or involuntarily has nothing to do with it. The only issue to consider with regards to this is whether he intentionally went OOB to deceive or gain an advantage.