Everybody's had this happen. I would not force a time out on the coach if he didn't request one: it's an IW, go to POI and play on.

Had a coach a few years back at the JV level tell me before the game that he had a play called "Tide Out" and that it might sound like "Time Out". I wish he would have listened to himself and realized that he was not making things easy on himself. Obviously, it had been a problem before and he did not change the name of the play.

in that case you should tell him that based on that I may not hear him ask for a legit time out... so don't get mad at me when I don't give it to you... you're calling a play - so I would strongly suggest you change it or I'm probably going to miss your request. Merry Christmas!

I figured if he looked stupid long enough he would figure it out on his own. I am not going to get into discussions about his play names. Actually, the JVB coach with the play called "Fuschia" was worse. I am sure his players cringed every time he called it.

Side Out ???
 

5.8.3 SITUATION E: A1 is dribbling the ball in his/her backcourt when: (a) the
Team B head coach requests and is erroneously granted a time-out by an official;
or (b) the Team A head coach is yelling “side out” offensive instructions to his/her
team and the official stops play believing the coach requested a time-out. RULING:
In (a), Team B is entitled to use the time-out since it was requested and
granted; once granted it cannot be revoked and is charged to Team B. All privileges
and rights permitted during a charged time-out are available to both teams.
Play will resume with a Team A throw-in nearest to where play was stopped. In
(b), an accidental whistle has occurred. Team A was not requesting a time-out,
and therefore, should not be granted or charged with one. Play is resumed at the
point of interruption. (4-36-1; 4-36-2a)

And what about NCAA? Thought the rule/case was same but can't seem to find it.

This happens to all of us. In heated situations near the end of a game, we want to grant the time out as soon as possible sometimes. We just have to slow down, make sure the head coach is calling the time out, and make sure his team has player control. 3 seconds could go by in this time.

I have seen this happen in D1 college games
 

The coach gave a signal like a triangle to designate a play he wanted ran and the official thought he was giving the time out signal and blew his whistle giving him a time out. The coach says no I was calling a play I wasn't calling time out so they disregard the time out and put the ball in play again and resume play. I have seen this happen more than once.

That's not the OP. OP was a coach actually requesting a TO at a time when he was not truly allowed to have one. It should be ignored, but if it's granted by error, it should be granted.

Unless you did what I did the other night and grant a timeout that I was convinced that I heard but clearly knew I screwed up. I have no problem if people when people go with an IW if they clearly messed up. But if the coach or player is calling for a timeout and is not in the right situation to have one, that is a different story.

Peace