Slide Rule into Home

Question
Say a runner is going home.  Runner is half way home before a throw is made.  Catcher is standing directly on top of home plate.  The bat is in the basepath.  Runner chooses to not slide so as not to slide into bat and hurt self and catcher from bat.  Runner stills tags home plate and no tag was applied.  Would the runner still be out?

Answer
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your question.

My first answer probably doesn't even apply to your question, but I'll provide it anyway, just in case: 1) If the bases were loaded, and the batter hit, for example, a ground ball, then the runner who was on 3B would have been forced home.  If the catcher caught the throw while standing on home plate, before the runner arrived, then yes, the runner would be out, whether she slid or not, and whether she was tagged or not.

My second answer probably applies to your question: 2) If the runner who was on 3B wasn't forced home, then she would have needed to be put out by a tag by the catcher.  Except under the guidance of special local/league rules, a runner is never, ever required to slide; they are only required somehow, by various means, to avoid contact with a fielder holding the ball.  So, under ordinary, "regular" rules, the runner in your scenario isn't out, since there is no obligation to slide, and much more importantly, she was never tagged.  However, and only you know this part, if your players are playing under the guidance of special local/league rules, then the runner could have been called out automatically for not sliding, even if she wasn't put out by the catcher's tag.

It's heartwarming to read about a runner who may have taken an out on herself for not sliding, to protect the catcher from injury, but I have a feeling that her coach doesn't share my sentiment!

Scott Kelly