Our state association has, in the past, emphasized the use of an open hand as opposed to one or two fingers for anything...pointing, counting, whatever. Their thinking is that:
1)That's the way the Fed has deemed appropriate and more importantly...
2)It's different than college mechanics.

One of the criteria they (State Association) like to use in selecting post season/tournament officials is the willingness to adopt high school mechanics when calling a high school game (as opposed to college mechanics). The use of the open hand is one indicator. Another mechanic...using one hand when reporting numbers, is another indicator. Another is the arm straight up when indicating a foul (as opposed to the "arm and hammer" in college)

The line of thinking is that "This is a high school game, you WILL use high school mechanics (regardless of your level of expertise)". It's been debated up and down the local ranks for years as to whether it should be an issue, but...in the end, if you want to be eligible for that elusive State High School Championship crew assignment...use the approved high school mechanics.

I've started assigning for 21 high schools (for all sports) and I couldn't possibly care about stuff like this. Neither do my coaches. I just want guys in the right position who make the right calls.

One finger is fine as long as it isn't THAT finger.

I won't speak for my state office, cause I can't -- I know they're not as pedantic the one posted about above me, though.

When I'm with younger officials, I look for them first to do it by the book. This tells me if they're coachable or not. Can they follow the documented standards?

Once they're a capable veteran, their style can come through and you might see 4 fingers down to 2.

That's what I always tell young guys, first prove you know how to do things by the book.

I think @raytheref is a pretty compelling force here...

You should obviously do what your assignor wants.

Beyond that, I highly doubt that anyone outside of the refereeing avocation notices how we point. They only (sometimes) notice that we do. As for stronger/weaker, etc. that is all a matter of personal opinion.

I agree with Rich. I am way more concerned with having partners who are in position and who consistently make good calls. I don't care how they point.

I just checked out his Twitter feed. It's like a non-stop stream of camp speak or sales seminar jargon...hard to tell which but potentially it could be both.

Remember folks, coffee is for closers!

I am a clinician with my state (which means that I am licensed to run camps for my state) and I can tell you I do not care that much about that kind of stuff. I might at best tell someone to use a full hand, but that is because I usually cannot find many things to talk about if that is my comment. Secondly, I have yet to see a single person with any extensive experience to give the signal for "Bonus free throw" which is signal #18. It looks stupid if that is your signal most of the time and most officials I know just hold each arm up with their index finger being used as if they were reporting in the NBA. And I rarely ever see someone give a "block" signal with both hands out and not with their fists. That last one is talked about a lot, but rarely talked about.

The overall point, most people never notice these things unless you have an officiating background and you wish to point it out. Just like no one knows our rotations or a missed rotation unless you have an officiating background. Never had a coach ever say, "You missed that rotation too."

Even signal #19 is relatively new and reflects what we were doing long before the book reflected that look. We used the kicking violation signal for years before it was in the book.

With all this being said, we only care about this stuff as officials and most officials do not are either way. If the people that hire us are more concerned about the idiosyncrasy of a signal, instead of getting plays right or communicating with partners or coaches, then I probably do not want to work for them in the first place.

Peace

Seven minutes of Alec Baldwin. Yes, I went and watched.

I had the privilege of being an observer at a D3 camp. One of the campers asked me a question about how to do his signals. I told him to do whatever he feels makes him look strongest on the court. If the supervisor or another observer comments on anything, then use that opportunity to show you can adjust and that you are coachable.

I'm in the mindset of "do what you do until someone tells you to do it differently."

I think using one or two fingers is a better look than four. Until I saw this on the board, I never knew that people were counting the fingers on the play pics and taking it as gospel as to how to indicate OOB or a designated spot.

In training new officials, one of my HS associations is strict in following the signals from the manual.

I think it's good to instill discipline in newer officials. But as officials start to grow, such minutiae becomes less important--one man's opinion.

One signal detail that does bother me is when an official holds up his open-hand to bring in subs, but doesn't direct his/her palm towards the administering official. Just makes it look like they're walking around court with a hand up in the air with no purpose.

Jeff, I agree with you. My point is that the use of authorized signals, and being an excellent play caller, with a high level of judgement, and cuommunication, need not be mutually exclusive.

Every time I see a person put the open hand to the table, I have to laugh. Are you telling the sub to come in -- or stay there?