Fists on hips is much stronger and less awkward than open hands. There's a reason you don't see very many officials using open hands unless they work in/for a micro-managing assigner/state.

Based on the times I've seen Kansas officials work, he probably does most, if not all, of the time.

Hi, I'm Freddy, and I'm . . .
 

I'm no doubt the exception here. And I'm good with that.
I'm one of those who, by virtue of the position to which I've been appointed, teach and maintain prescribed and approved mechanics -- and signals -- as dictated by the ruling body of the code that prevails over those whose training I'm responsible for. And I'm good with that.
I understand that the preferences and interests of others in other areas and even of assigners and AD's and coaches -- and even some officials -- in our area here may differ. And I'm good with that.
I have learned that intelligent officials can pursue excellence in play-calling while at the same time prioritize using prescribed mechanics and approved signals asked of them. And I'm good with that.

Do you feel that the fists mechanic makes it more likely the call will be perceived as correct or do you feel it makes the official seem more confident in their call?

Both. Perception is a big deal. I can give off a more confident perception with fists than open hands.

I've never seen an official give an open hand preliminary block signal that looks good. I want to be strong in all my mechanics, irrespective of whether a call needs "sold" or not.

Poor Mechanics ...
 

For thirty-seven of the past thirty-eight years I've worked with, and observed, an outstanding official. He could call the hell out of a game, manage the heck out of a game, and charm the pants off of any coach, player, fan, or partner. In his heyday, he was a state tournament official, and a college official. When he walked into a gym, everybody greeted him like he was the mayor. Even in his later years he could run rings around younger partners.

He ended his season every year by volunteering to officiate Special Olympics Unified Games, most of us volunteer at one site, he would volunteer for several sites.

His mechanics were far from perfect. Sometimes he made up signals (some quite funny looking) on the spot, and sometimes his rotations and switches weren't quite kosher (once spotted him doing a 540 degree switch, he just kept moving until he felt comfortable).

Everybody wanted to work with this guy, coaches wanted this guy in their games.

I learned a lot from him, not about mechanics, but about everything else regarding officiating basketball games.

After fifty years on the court, he retired last season. I miss him. He was a great partner. He was fun to work with. He was fun to watch.

I know that a lot of us, including me, take officiating very seriously, but it is, after all, a game, and we should be allowed to have a little fun, not a lot, but a little.

But his great official/poor mechanics was an anomaly, an outlier. Here on my local board, he was the exception, not the rule.

I call my block foul with closed fists and hit my hips about 7 or 8 times and do it simultaneously while hopping toward the score table. I do this because I think Joey Crawford looks really cool doing it.

That's basically what OHSAA doesn't want to see.

The approved signal I teach here:
Block - Good Call, Good Signal, Good Report

If someone that has sway on your schedule says something to you, make an adjustment. Otherwise no one cares. I am yet to have an assignor go to me "hey the block signal is open palm, inner hand to waist. Not this closed fist nonsense." I've worked for about half a dozen in 15 years.

I know I have worked for 30 or so different people in basketball alone and never had any of them complain about my mechanics in this way.

Peace

Both the 2017-19 NFHS Officials Manual, 2 Person Crew Item 4.3.3 and the MHSAA-specific Mechanics Manual spell out instances where the lead may go ballside to cover a match-up.

I can't speak for whether this action was proper in the game you observed, but I wanted to point out that this is a mechanic in certain situations.

I assime you're not talking about going ballside here - if you are, I would be concerned with a crew whose lead never went ballside.


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Freddy, I'm glad you have a sense of humor.

That is seriously the most embarrassing thing I've seen, especially since his partner (whose call it was) was correctly about to call a PC foul.

That is unbelievable. And it sure looks like a varsity (2-whistle?!) game in California. Whoa ...

That's the best sell of a call I've ever seen. In any sport. At any level. That guy is God-tier.