Sometimes the NCAA has it right.

NCAA-W has a signal for hit to the head. It's a useful signal and everyone knows exactly what you're reporting.

I called a foul last night I normally would've passed on only because the defender swung and hit the ball handler in the head after she received a pass at the elbow. She then put up a jump shot, but I had already blown it down (it was a fairly significant hit to the head although she played through it nicely). She missed the shot. It was clearly a foul before the shot.

Now, which communicates the foul best to the players/coaches/table/spectators? The NCAA-W hit to the head or the NFHS hack?

Obvious exceptions are important since those are what usually actually end a quarter.

So if ball is inbounded and suddenly horn goes off for a late player entry, you stop game because it went off?

I was always taught, yes, horn goes off but we need a stop clock signal and a short toot at end of period

Every clinic I've ever been to in Chicago area stresses this.

"Travel" signal for throw-in violation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Usually a double whammy by employing wrong mechanic when no rules have been violated.

Yes, they are important.

But they're still exceptions. Your statement:
Is only true in regards to a few (4) exceptions.

The 'old pro' who gives the lazy little fist pump to start the clock.

You may have been taught this, but the fact is that it's not in the rule book. The horn ends the period, with the exception of 4 scenarios. Using a whistle outside of those 4 scenarios is redundant.

Maybe, but most quarters end with an attempted shot, at least around here. Do you let the ball simply fall and hit the ground and not acknowledge the shot attempt has ended with a whistle?

Around here, all quarters end with a whistle, regardless of the circumstances (except a made basket for most officials). It's expected. It's taught at clinics and camps.

Do you whistle in subs?

Did you not read where I just said that this is an exception to the rule, not the rule itself?

Like I said, that may be what you are taught, but your statement that the whistle ends the quarter at all times and not the buzzer is inaccurate according to the rule book.

If I need to get their attention because the clock operator didn't buzz them in I might. But as a general rule, no. Why? Is that a mechanic I'm not aware of?

Redundant is good thing when officiating.

Really, why is this important? So important that you took the time to quote chapter and verse on something so trivial?

Well, it would seem that the rules committee sees this as a situation where redundancy isn't necessary, otherwise, I'm sure they would have put in the rule book that an official's whistle, not the buzzer, ends a quarter in ALL cases, not just in the four exceptions.

Check the NFHS Mechanics Manual. Something they slipped in recently.

I was thinking about looking to see if there's guidance on an end-of-quarter whistle, but I've already packed my bag for tonight and it's in the trunk of my car in the garage. Garage unheated, I'm still in my workout clothes, so I'll look later.