Authorized ???
 

.. not even for the halftime intermission?

Now, just exactly what are these authorized reasons? Halftime intermission? Intermissions between periods one, and two; and between periods three, and four? Timeouts? And just exactly who authorizes these reasons? NFHS? Officials? And just where in the rulebook, and/or casebook, are these authorized reasons listed?

Another poorly written rule change not taking into account all the details, it seems.

My take, then:
The intent matters. Obviously, the committee wasn't trying to stop teams from going to the locker rooms at half time, so that would be an "authorized reason." A coach leaving the bench during a quarter intermission is different, though.

So, a right after they made this change, I had a coach have his players run sprints after the first quarter. I didn't think about it until it was practically over with, but decided I should have stopped him by rule. Maybe I was accidentally right?

Where is the restriction for timeouts laid out? Does that include the time following the odd-numbered quarters?

Timeout Restrictions ...
 

1-13-3: The time-out area shall be the area inside an imaginary rectangle formed by the boundaries of the sideline (including the bench), end line, and an imaginary line extended from the free-throw lane line nearest the bench area meeting an imaginary line extended from the coaching-box line.

Changes (David Bowie, 1971) ...
 

What exactly is this change that you speak of? What's the before, and what's the after?

Inquiring Minds Want To Know ...
 

Where in the rules/caseplays does it say that, and where does it say that the halftime intermission is an authorized reason, while the other two intermissions are unauthorized reasons?

I guess that tradition, and common sense, trump the rules, or lack of rules, in this case.

so far I'm not issuing a T.

Casebook 10.4.1B certainly implies that teams going to their dressing rooms at halftime is authorized. Just don't disrespect the officials while doing so. As for the coach taking his team out in the hall after the first quarter, theoretically, I guess he could say he just wanted his players to be able to remove their jerseys (without being penalized: 10.4.1C) to cool off a bit while also to hear some "choice" words of instruction. :)

In several of our discussions, here on the forum, and elsewhere, the understanding that - "If it isn't prohibited, it must be legal." - has been used for justification for points not specifically covered by the written rules.

2-4-4 REFEREE'S PREGAME DUTIES states "The referee shall be responsible for having each team notified three minutes before each half is to begin."

Case Book 2.4.4 infers that the team returning to the dressing room is permitted, with the stipulation that, having been notified three minutes prior to the start of the game, if the team delays the start by more than one minute, with "no excusable reason" a technical foul is charged, with reference to 10-1-5a.

That inference is also used regarding the team "returning to its dressing room" at halftime.

10-1-5b refers to the RoP procedure, as it pertains to a "time-out or intermission between quarters". There is no reference to where the teams must be, during the intermission between quarters, but the designation of a "time-out area" is strong inference that they are to spend a time-out in the designated area.

So, a Technical foul assessed to a team, for not being ready to start a 2nd or 4th quarter would be governed by the RoP procedure, with no consideration as to where the team must spend the intermission between the quarters.
As irregular as it may be, a team going out into the hallway during the intermission between quarters, and not delaying the start of the subsequent quarter, seems not to be prohibited.
JMHO - as wordy (sp) as it may be . . .

Seems like another good reason to go to halves. ;)

Where's The Like Button ???
 

Good citation, certainly better than citing tradition, or common sense.

We're close guys. We've got citations for halftime intermission (authorized), and citations for timeouts (not authorized), so lets put our heads together and close out the other two intermissions controversy and put this baby to bed.

What would be the purpose of prohibiting a team from leaving the room? Is it so they won't sneak in new players or switch shirts? (Like for instance switching a shirt from a player in foul trouble to another.)

I'm not sure there is a good reason to prohibit this ... they could attempt to do this at halftime so that can't be it. The reality is that they would have about 45 seconds away from the bench as they would have to be back before the 1 minute intermission is over. If they want to sprint to a hallway, I don't know why we would want to make that "unauthorized".

Honestly, I don't see any reason (certainly not rules based ... but also not rulesmaker intent based either) to prevent them from spending their allotted time between quarters in a nearby hallway. As long as they are ready to go when they are supposed to - I don't know why we'd want to make an issue of this.

To those mentioning timeout, I think we see in the book that the time between quarters is an intermission, and not a time out. Time outs are very specifically defined. Rules regarding timeouts do not apply during intermissions.