[greymule]

The Fed softball and baseball slide definitions are not quite identical. Both define a legal slide as "within reach of the base with either a hand or a foot," but softball adds "when the slide is completed." Both prohibit a rolling or cross-body slide, but baseball also includes the pop-up slide. And baseball adds the provision about sliding in a direct line between the two bases on a force play.

In either sport, an illegal slide causes the runner to be out not only if contact is made, but also if the slide alters the actions of the fielder in the immediate act of making a play.

ASA is not nearly so strict. I can't find anything in ASA about sliding past the base, sliding in a direct line, pop-up slides, even altering the actions of the fielder. In fact, ASA doesn't even define "slide," legal or illegal. Apparently, it all falls under "interference" and the various interpretations there.

My 30+ years in ASA lead me to believe that slides and breaking up double plays are handled very much like OBR. Last year in ASA slow pitch, I did work with a BU who called a double play when a runner slid to the left of 2B (but within reach) and made routine contact with the fielder, even though the batter had the play at 1B beaten. The offense of course thought the BU was insane, but so did the defense. I'll go through the ASA case book today to see what I can find.