Wind During IFF

[Manny A]

So, my high school varsity game last night was a bit wild. What started out as a somewhat calm afternoon with temps near 60 turned into a veritable wind-tunnel test with temps dropping into the 40s and gusts probably 30-35 mph.

In the bottom of the fifth of what was a close 3-1 game, the home team scored 7 (yeah, they couldn't score that 8th run, so we had to play another). The visitors just couldn't get outs, probably because of the crazy conditions. The pitcher had trouble hitting the strike zone. Numerous players requested Time to get dust out of their eyes. There was a popup to F5 that started in foul territory, but when she touched it and muffed it, the ball had moved into fair territory. And then there was the popup that the defensive coach wanted me to rule IFF.

The bases were loaded, and the batter hit a fly ball behind first base. F4 moved toward the foul line to make the catch. Just before I started to make the IFF call, I literally saw the ball move towards the center of the field, thanks to a huge gust of wind. F4 tried to adjust to get to the ball, but she never came close. It landed where she normally played her position, and she was still about 10-15 feet or so from the ball. She was never able to retrieve the ball to make a play on anyone.

The coach requested Time to ask me why I didn't make the call. I responded that there was no way the catch could be made by anyone under ordinary effort. He argued that it was still catchable (not sure what his point was), and asked if wind affects an IFF determination. I told him that it did.

At least I know that's the case in baseball. But when I looked in the NFHS rulebook and casebook, I didn't see any mention of wind under 2-30. The casebook does have a play where a fielder loses the ball in the sun and cannot make the catch, and states that the IFF is still in effect. Similarly, baseball rules say the sun is not a factor.

So, do we take wind into account when making the IFF call?