baserunning

[anthonyk]

waht is the slide or avoid contact rule ? my catcher
was run over by a player when the catche had the ball.
I thought in a high school game you must slide or avoid contact ?

[jicecone]

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MUST SLIDE RULE. SAY THAT 20 times.

The lawyers would have a field day with a must slide rule.

Rule 8.4.2 Note: "Runners are NEVER required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal"

If your catcher was purposely run over, then the runner should be declared out out and ejected for malicious contact.

A good portion of Rule 8.4.2 covers the various things a runner is allowed to do when sliding and approaching a base with the fielder is making a play on the runner or is in the "immediate act of making a play", and the FPSL (Force Play Slide Rule).

Basically a runner can slide, avoid contact, give hisself up or go back. When they choose to slide....., as stated above.