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I've found myself picking up on a few mechanics that aren't prescribed NFHS mechanics. The reasoning for this is that I spent some time as an official scorer for some games where NCAA officials would work, and I found their signals to be a lot more useful than NFHS mechanics.
Is the NFHS evaluator going to like it? Maybe not. Do I care? Not really. I've got a good amount of friends that do state tournaments, and NCAA ball. They've all said that the important thing is positioning and game management. Using only prescribed signals doesn't give you any bonus points.
I think the official's manual serves simply as a tool. Once you know that the C is supposed to position himself at the FT line extended, you can break it. It's important to know the rules before you break them. I feel comfortable as C closer to the top of the key extended. Given the choice of being in the proper position per the book, and being in the place where I feel comfortable and where I have the best angle--I'd take the latter. Too often we get so concerned about where the book tells us to go and what the book tells us to do, we forget our first duty--to call the game fairly.
Also, the five prescribed signals are nice... but we all know using common sense not everything is a push/block/ill. use of hands/reach/player control. I think it helps communicate with the coaches when we use the signal--beyond reason--that the player did.
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