Seriously
 

I hate the play -- dribbler goes endline (baseline is in baseball), defender steps in and makes minor contact, dribbler goes OOB.

My practice (or intent) is to look for where the contact was. If the dribbler was past the defender (or not moving), I call the foul. The contact may have been light, but it definitely created a disadvantage if the dribbler is now OOB.

If the dribbler moves into the defender (who is obviously also moving or it is easy), then I'll call the OOB. We're back to the 3' case book explanation (which I wish I could find in the actual rule book!)

Flames? Agreement? Contrary practices?

I still get hung U.P.
 

Richard,
I'm still stuck on calling, or not calling, similar contact as one thing or another, regardless of how close to the sideline the contact is made. Hard contact is easy. Almost-nothing contact is gonna be outa bounds for me.
mick

In the case I described, it was easy. Even you could have done it, Mick!! The dribbler really just stepped out to avoid contact. And it was clear she wasn't keeping close track--it was easy to see it was her fault.

Padgett, thanks for the historical context. I guess his remark wasn't as "out in left field" (ha, ha!) as I thought. I had never heard this before and I was speechless! literally!! Can you imagine?!?!

You are dead on right, and I did not connect DiVencio's point with this rule. The rule on w/i 3 feet of the sideline is under incidental contact, and also covers double teams. Trying to split double teams is another sitch where players receive a lot of contact, but there usually is no foul. They always feel like they got fouled, but they really just exercised bad judgment.

Knowing you and having worked with you - in a word - NO.

Oh,,, yeah
 

Jewel,
Absolutely!
On those easy, no-brainer calls, I'm nearly 60% right on... perfect.
mick