Illegal slide

Down here in my neck of the woods, the player doesn't have to slide directly to the bag, as long as he can touch it, or like you said, within arms length. If it IS a new rule, they don't call it down here.

The coach was absolutely correct.

quote:

Originally posted by therefump:
The coach was absolutely correct.

Is it a new rule in 2009? Or has it always been a fed rule because it is not listed as a new rule or rule interp for 2009.

That rule has been there a long time.

8-4-2b
Any runner is out when he...on a force play, does not slide in a direct line between the bases

quote:

8-4-2b

Force-play slide rule protects fielders from injury

By Russ Lockhart

It starts out as a normal play, batter hitting a slow roller to the young second baseman. Being inexperienced, the fielder hesitates as he starts his throw to the shortstop that is charging to second base. With the errant throw, the shortstop has to adjust to tag the bag. The runner slides, crashing into the shortstop sending him to the dirt. The shortstop reaches out his arm to brace his fall, but the arm gives away. The shortstop stands and dusts his self; lucky he wasn’t seriously injured.

Many athletes suffer injuries – minor and career ending – as the result of slides, some legal and some illegal. Interested in protecting fielders on that type of play, the National Federation of State High School Associations instituted its force-play slide rule in 1998 and made it a point of emphasis in 1999.

Purpose of the rule

It’s a safety rule designed to protect a fielder on a force play, especially when a runner takes out a fielder on the front end of a double play that starts at second base. The Federation is trying to cut out the hard slides often seen in professional baseball games, where runners at all costs break up the pivot of the second baseman or shortstop.

At first glance, the application of the rule seems difficult. Once we examine FED 8-4-2b, the force play slide rule, and FED 2-32-1, 2 and exception, the definition of a slide, it’s easier to understand the rule.

Rule 8-4-2 reads: Any runner is out when he: (b) does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or legally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play, or on a force play, does not slide in a direct line between the bases. A runner may slide away from the fielder to avoid contact or alter the play of the fielder. Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal.

Legal slides

First, we’ll look at a legal slide. Then, we’ll look at what constitutes an illegal slide. Finally, we’ll study what happens on the force-play slide rule.

What is a legal slide? A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, he must slide within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot. (Fed 2-32-1)

This is confusing?

NavyUmp,
Well, either in a direct line to the base, or:
8-4-2b(1) 1. "A runner may slide in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder."

He specifically can't slide away from the base in the direction of the fielder, or overslide the base.

quote:

Originally posted by therefump:
The coach was absolutely correct.

No, the coach was incorrect. This is not a new rule, it's been around a long time.

quote:

Originally posted by Rock-N-Fire:
Down here in my neck of the woods, the player doesn't have to slide directly to the bag, as long as he can touch it, or like you said, within arms length. .

I guess they don't use NFHS (high school) rules in your neck of the woods.

A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, he must slide within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot. (Fed 2-32-1)

Does the above legal slide become illegal if BR makes contact with the fielder even if he is within reach of the bag?

Gold Glove,
The key to the OP situation is that it was a force play. The rule for force plays is more restrictive than for non-force plays. Read 2-32-2f.

Sounds it was a good call, thanks for the input guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Gold Glove:
A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, he must slide within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot. (Fed 2-32-1)

Does the above legal slide become illegal if BR makes contact with the fielder even if he is within reach of the bag?

No. If you slide legally, contact and/or altering the play (caused by the SLIDE) is legal.

quote:

Originally posted by dash_riprock:

quote:

Originally posted by Gold Glove:
A legal slide can be either feet first or head first. If a runner slides feet first, at least one leg and buttock shall be on the ground. If a runner slides, he must slide within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot. (Fed 2-32-1)

Does the above legal slide become illegal if BR makes contact with the fielder even if he is within reach of the bag?

No. If you slide legally, contact and/or altering the play (caused by the SLIDE) is legal.

However, there are other requirements for a legal slide. Slashing, kicking, sliding with a leg higher than the (standing) fielders knee, cross-body or pop-up slides, and sliding past the bag are all illegal if there is also contact and/or altering of the play.

Hey Jimmy03, if they don't, I'm glad cause this particular rule it seems is pretty stupid to me. I could understand if the rule was established in Pony baseball or Little League, but high school? It just doesn't seem right. This is MY opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Rock-N-Fire:
Hey Jimmy03, if they don't, I'm glad cause this particular rule it seems is pretty stupid to me. I could understand if the rule was established in Pony baseball or Little League, but high school? It just doesn't seem right. This is MY opinion.

It's also an NCAA rule (with minor differences).

quote:

Originally posted by Rock-N-Fire:
Hey Jimmy03, if they don't, I'm glad cause this particular rule it seems is pretty stupid to me. I could understand if the rule was established in Pony baseball or Little League, but high school? It just doesn't seem right. This is MY opinion.

The OBR is written for grown men, not students. Both the NFHS and NCAA have a variation of this rule realizing that students need some degree of safety on the field.

The FPSR was initially a NCAA rule and then moved to HS. They are called student/atheletes for a reason.