When do you bounce and when do you hand it off?

This is more of a state or local issue, even though it's addressed in the NF Official's Manual.

In our association, we bounce the ball when the trail is administering the throw-in. Preventive officiating requires us to inform the thrower that it is a spot throw-in, unless it's after a basket and a TO. We also inform the defender that he shouldn't break the boundary plane.

When the lead administers the throw-in, he does so by handing the ball to the thrower.

In the smaller, cracker box size gyms, we do not use a bounce pass at any time.

Tony

I bounce the ball any time I can...except in the FC on the baseline. I believe in the mechanics book, it is suggested that the official(s) bounce the ball when ever possible. But I agree with Tony...it's more of a local issue.

When the ball is beiing administered 1/2-way down the sideline in the front court, or any sideline, and where there are defenders behind you, beside you, and in front of you, the bounce pass application is good so that you can get space back to mid-court, or behind the rear most player, with greater ease.