The Must Slide Myth

By Ray Dunn

There are a few pretty good myths in Little League Baseball today. As an umpire I have run into a more than my share of managers and coaches who are well schooled in baseball mythology. Hands are part of the bat; if the ball hits the plate, it's foul; the ball is dead on a foul tip, etc… all good myths. But my all time personal favorite is the “Must Slide” rule myth. As umpire entertainment goes, this one has given me more laughs than the infield fly rule.

Ok here goes; there is no such thing as a "Must Slide" rule in Little League Baseball.  As a matter of fact, if an umpire tells a manager, coach or player he must slide and then the player does slide and that player breaks his ankle because the manager "hasn't taught his team how to slide yet but the mean umpire said they have to ... ", it places the umpire and the League under some liability.  So I advise that you don't state such a thing.  Not just because of the liability issue, but because the rule does not exist.

The ONLY rule in the book that comes close to the piece of mythology stated above is in rule 7.08 (a), (page 76 for those that are following along). This rule states that "a runner is out when the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag."   Notice that the rule does not use the word "Must", the word "Avoid" or the word ”Collision", AND as an extra bonus, it does use the word "Veer" either.  Pretty interesting so far.... So how'd it get this way?  I haven't a clue, but I'd bet it has something to do with soccer moms and their lawyer boyfriends!) 

Ok so here is what the rule is saying:  If the fielder has the ball and is waiting to make the tag (by the way -- this must be the case in all examples!  If he doesn't have the ball, the rule does not apply and he is liable to be called for obstruction or be plowed over if he's in the baseline), the runner has FOUR choices 1) Run the other way 2) Give up and be tagged 3) Slide and take his chances 4) Attempt to get around the fielder.  Number 1 is easy to recognize as is 2 and 3, but 4 is where an umpire earns his pay.  When this case pops up, just wait to see what happened ...  Was there contact or was there was no contact?  If there was contact; ask yourself did the runner attempt to get around the fielder who had the ball?  If yes, call it! (Safe or out as you judge).  If he didn't attempt to get around the fielder, he's out period (And if it was flagrant you can eject the runner for unsportsmanlike conduct).  Lastly, if there was no contact ... call it! (Safe or out as you judge).  Simple!

Make sure you know this rule because there is a general lack of knowledge on the application of this rule.  A year or two ago I incorporated this rule into my pre-game meeting.  Most of the managers have picked up on the interaction of this rule, but I still make sure both managers know a) what the rule says and b) how I call it. PLAY BALL!