Sliding!

Question
I am working on getting certified as an ASA umpire because the last 3 years I have volunteered to umpire local Softball games. This last game I did two weeks ago I got hounded by parents and the coach from the HOME Team that this girl must slide at home plate if the play is there. Well she did not slide and there was NO Collision or Obstruction on the play so I called her safe. For the rest of the game they looked in the Rule Book for a sliding rule and I told them kindly they would not find one. Before the game started I asked the 14 under coach did they have a league rule on sliding she said no and so I guess I just want a copy from you so I can show this coach what the ASA says. Could you help me out in trying to make them understand this. I have been hounded several times for this call and again no collision has happened yet for me to call the runner OUT.

Answer
Hi Travis,

I can't give you a copy of what doesn't exist.  ASA has no "must slide" rule and neither does any other major national org. I know of.

A "must slide" rule IMO is not necessary and could potentially lead to legal problems for the assoc that has one.  As a parent I can tell you if my daughter broke her leg in a "must slide" league with no play being made, just because it's a rule and she is given no option, I'm going to be talking to someone.

Even if there is a play there we have rules for obstruction and interference and crashing.

If the catcher is blocking the plate w/out the ball we can have obstruction.  This is never a free pass to the runner crashing into the catcher.

If the catcher has the ball the runner either slide, give themselves' up or figure something else out other than crashing into the catcher.

It is the responsibility of the runner and the defense to know the rules and the situation and act accordingly.

If all 3 (ball, defense and offense)arrive at the same time at the same place we have a wreck which is part of the game.


There's not much you can do about the parents but handle the coach on this.  "coach, there's no must slide rule and I don't want to hear anymore about it" or words to that effect.

mark