Oops, yes I do mean unauthorized.

First time I've seen this interpretation of the rule. I generally take it to mean "on purpose." If they wanted advantage written into the rule, they would have stated it that way, IMO.

Either way, I just don't see it often.

That's how I see it also Snaqs, intent is required but advantage not necessarily realized. That said, I haven't seen it yet but I haven't been calling basketball that long either.

You're correct on the interpretation. Much like 3-seconds, though, we try to talk them out of it first, and give the benefit of the doubt to the player on the first occurrence.

Thinking back, we did have it called in one HS game this season -- partner made the call from L, but I would have had it from C if he didn't.

Only time I've ever called it, A1 was trapped near the sideline at his FT line extended, but still had his dribble. He threw it behind his defenders, ran around them (OOB) to get to the ball.

I think we're splitting hairs here, but can you give me an example of when a kid would be out of bounds on purpose (and you would call this violation) when he wasn't somehow gaining an advantage? Maybe you can convince me that I am looking at it wrong.

I have never seen this interpretation, like the other posters have said.

I have called it a couple times in the last few years when an offensive player went OOB on the endline to get around traffic in the lane.

Maybe you can come up with an example of when a kid goes OOB on purpose and doesn't do it to (attempt to) gain an advantage?

(I think we all agree that the more egregious the violation, and the more an advantage is gained, the more likely it is to be called.)

Off the top of my head:

A1 runs OOB to cross the lane. He didn't need to, and it actually takes him longer to get across. Just as he gets across and stands wide open for a three point shot, A3 takes a three point shot from the opposite wing.

A1 didn't get any perceptable advantage, but he violated the rule.

That's the same question I asked - why are you asking me?

I just noticed that in HS it seems as though the defense & offense can be penalized for unauthorized leaving of the court, as it occurs.

In NCAA one has to be first to touch the ball, so that leads me to believe its a rule geared toward the offense.

If he stays out of bounds all the way from the other side of the lane to the opposite 3 point line, I would argue he did it to gain an advantage. If he just went as far as lane line to lane line, and wasn't doing it to get around a defender, I would likely have nothing.

Snaq's...great example...but, I'm probably just verbally telling the players to stay on the court in this example...no violation.

Of course, I don't remember the last time I called this violation so I could be missing an oportunity to blow my whistle.;)

Since I'm on a Dave Libby quoting spree today...he once said, "It's sometimes hard to tell the difference in an experienced official and a less experienced official...both may not blow their whistles much. An official that has enough experience to know all the rules...sometimes like to show what they know by blowing the whistle all the time."

I agree, but I would definitely let the player &/or his coach know to stay on the playing court as it could be a violation... by rule.

It depends - if his momentum takes him OOB for a few feet, no need to warn for anything. If it appears he might be trying to gain some sort of advantage by doing it on purpose, I may say something as well.