IFF wipeoff
 

June 08 issue of Referee Magazine has a softball article about IFF mechanics.

Paraphrase: "When the IFF conditions are no longer in effect, all crew members must "wipe off" the IFF by brushing the forearm of the left arm with the fingers of the right hand.

I'm curious if this is the taught mechanics in softball....I mostly do baseball, and dont recall ever seeing this before....

It's not in the ASA book. However, it's one of those hand signals that everyone "knows."

In Canada, the sign is taught at clinics. Also, the fingers of the right hand are used to show the # of outs (open hand = 0, index finger = 1, index + middle = 2).

I learned it in FL in the early 90's doing HS softball and baseball (and rec ball, too). It was a standard one that everyone seemed to know even when I moved up here to the Carolinas in the late 90's.

We use it in Texas also...
 

And I've seen umpires brush the bill of their cap as well. But, as was stated previously, it is not in the umpire manual.

Besides being important for umpires to know whne IFR applies, it is very reassuring to know that your partner is aware of both on and off. The arm brushing seems most common for "off", but I have begun brushing my upper arm sleeve to be more visible and to avoid getting sweat and sun screen on my hands. :)

Personally, I wish the ASA book would include it. It reinforces good umpire-to-umpire communication. Secondly, there have been times when my partner has given the IFF signal when the IFF rule was not in effect. It helped to have a response to him, saying, "no, it's not in effect, there are two outs, buddy."

Something funny, I use it working alone. I also signal IFF whiel working alone. Just out of habit.

I do the same.
 

Helps me to stay with the game.

As do I--a memory aid to stay consistent, as all my ASA SP games are 1 umpire games..

I quit using the *wipe off* years ago.
If a partner gives it, I'll mirror, but I just don't like it and I won't initiate it.http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/fr...smiley-013.gif

Thank you.


Is it that hard to look about the diamond and silently note that the preconditions for a IFF are not longer present?

No harder than....
 

No harder than looking around the field and noticing that the preconditions for an IFF are present. The IFF mechanic is just a tool to communicate that IFF is in effect. Its to make sure all umpires are on the same page. The same for wiping it off. You don't have to use it if you don't want to . But arguing not to use it because it is so easy to see it is no longer in effect isn't, IMHO, valid because it is also so easy to see it is in effect and we still have an approved mechanic for that.

Also, sometimes just looking around the field isn't enough. You could have bases loaded and still the IFF is not in effect due to the number of outs.

I like wiping off the IFF. It wouldn't surprise me if it is added to the official mechanics sometime in the future.

I had been told by one of our umpires who frequently calls ASA National tournaments to never wipe off the IFF at a National. He apparently got dinged for it, as it's not a mechanic in the book. Then again, neither are adjusting your cup and fanning yourself with your hat, but we do it anyway.

Calling an infield fly when it is NOT in effect is a much bigger FUBAR that not calling it when it is in effect.

Obviously, and I'm not hard-over about it, but I don't do it, and don't mirror it.

I try to keep up with the number of outs as well :D

It's funny that some of the same guys who apparently have trouble remembering/recognizing IFF/no IFF and resort to these unofficial hand signals are the first to say, "Lose the indicator, its just a crutch, keep it all in your head" :D

Play on....

Why not just appear to be whiping the arm, kind of like a pitcher appearing to be whiping her fingers off after she licks them? :D No need to actually touch the arm, just appear to, from home plate being straight lined you can't tell the difference anyway!

Tom,
Whether, or not, You, personally, use the *wipe off*, I find it most difficult imagining you calling *infield fly* when it ain't. ;)

While I appreciate your confidence, we are all subject to the occasional brain cramp! :o

I'm not particularly a proponent of the wipe off, but, a game this past weekend has be thinking about his...

23U tournament championship game. I'm on the bases. PU and I have never worked together before. We've been using the IFF / wipe off signals the whole game.

R1 on 3rd, R2 on 2nd. 1 out. Batter reaches 1B (don't remember how, but no outs on the play and no runs score). PU signals IFF situation. I mirror.

Next batter strikes out. I signal "wipe off"; partner ignores. I think "uh oh." Wild pitch, run scores, leaving runners on 2B and 3B. Partner NOW signals "wipe off." Sheesh... dodged THAT bullet! http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/spezial/Fool/mpr.gif

Ha!
Well, that sitch sorta encourages the act of not using the *wipe off*, methinks. :)

Earlier this spring, I was working a high school baseball game with a new umpire. As many of you know, the baseball guys are crazy with all this signalling back and forth stuff.

(Personally, I do like it for the fact that, for the little effort it requires, it keeps us on the same page and, ultimately, does reduce the chance for blown coverages or missed calls. Those seem like good things to me.)

Anyhow, during the game the IFR came up a few times and we were diligently touching the bills of our caps. I was the base umpire and whenever the IFR was off I was brushing my sleeve (it was cold and we had jackets on). This is an approved and accepted mechanic for our local baseball association.

My partner never mirrored the "brush off" back to me a single time. I kind of shrugged it off. Then, after the game, my partner asks me if there was something wrong with my jacket. Huh? "What do you mean?", I ask.

He says, "I kept seeing you wiping off your sleeve and thought you spilled something on yourself or a bird crapped on you or something".

Got a good laugh out of that one- and, of course, explained what the "brush off" signal was supposed to mean.