Little League rule-head first slide
 

1) Can someone tell me what the penalty for Little Jimmy if he does a Pete Rose into 3rd base on a triple?
2) THis seems to indicate that headfirst is ok going back to a base.

I found this quoted elsewhere.

Rule 7.08 (a3 & a4) Sliding
• A runner must slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and
is waiting to make the tag.
• A runner is not permitted to head first slide while advancing.

I understand that headfirst sliding is prohibited and I will make sure my kid does not do it. I am curious if this is one of those "house rules" thrown in there without any thought and they forgot to put in a sanction.

Thanks,
Joe

No idea, but I do know that head first slides are more dangerous and LL is pretty safety conscious so it probably is a rule.

Little Jimmy is out if he slides head first while advancing to a base.

This is not a house rule. If it happens at Williamsport or at any LL the penalty is the same. This is the rule only from Majors (12 year olds) on down.

Thanks
 

Rich,

Do you have the whole text of the rule available?

Joe

Little League rule-head first slide
 

7.08 -- Any runner is out when -
(a) (1) running more than three feet away from his/her baseline to avoid being tagged, unless such action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s baseline is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base which he/she is attempting to reach; or
(2) after touching first base the runner leaves the baseline, obviously abandoning all effort to touch the next base; or
(3) the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag; or
(4) the runner slides head first while advancing.

INSTRUCTOR COMMENTS: This rule does not apply when a runner is returning to a base, only when advancing to a base. Any runner who does a headfirst slide is out at the moment the umpire sees the runner go into the headfirst slide. The ball remains alive and in play and runners may advance at their own risk and plays may be attempted on any other runners. If the runner who is called out for sliding headfirst has been forced to advance by the batter-runner this will be a force out and no runs will score if this is the third out of the inning. In all other instances the headfirst slide will be a timing play when there are two outs.

Let me answer the next question

"You mean to tell me if a kid gets one foot from home plate, then turns around, runs 59 feet back to third, and dives in head first, that's okay?"

Yup.

"That makes no sense"

Yup.

I think the rule is stupid. I have been involved in baseball all my life as a player and coach and I have seen a LOT of injuries from feet first slides and some from head first.

I think it is the coach's job.

I have not been around Little League since I played it nearly 40 years ago. I think that 12 year olds playing on a 60' bases with no leadoffs is remarkably stupid, as well.

Yikes!

I've been working at my local LL park for the last 17 years. Some rules are dopey, but most are based around an average kid playing the game.

The trouble is, of course, no parent thinks they have an average kid. Thus, the stupid rules about wearing helmets, throat protectors, no big barrel bats or metal cleats, no bowling over the catcher, etc.

I remember Mickey Mantle's roommate on the Yankees telling me how stupid it was that players slid in fingers first to a base, as he crushed many a digit playing second. But what did he know?

I know, it's not real baseball. But real baseball is played with wooded bats, 90 foot basepaths, with metal cleats, and full contact at the plate. Everything else is played with age, size and skill level taken into consideration.

So you think it's better that a walk is essentially a triple?

Rich,

My kid is 12 and a pretty good player but not a phenom at all.

He played catcher last year on a team(with 70' bases and leadoffs) and threw some kids out at second base. He threw a lot of kids out at third. Base on Balls were not triples against us.

If it is rec ball, I guess I could see them using the softball rule of staying on the base until the pitcher lets go of the ball....but no running until the ball gets home? That seems weird. I have not seen it in person so, I am going to see it this year because Little League is what is here.

Our only other option that I could find was the teams playing a tournament every single weekend. I think that is too much for a kid this age and I simply do not have that kind of money, either.

Joe

Play by the rules now sir. At this age, it really doesn't matter. Really, it doesn't.

He has the rest of his life to learn a head first slide.

Every kid in the country who plays this level, even the ones way better than your son abide by the same rule set at this type of ball. If all you're concerned about is the slide rule then you should be in for a very fun year. Enjoy it for what it is, they grow up too fast.

I'm sure you've seen a lot more players doing feet-first slides than head-first, too.

So don't get involved in Little League:rolleyes:

There are other organizations in the Orlando area.
Find one that you don't think is stupid.:rolleyes:

Little League Rule: Head First Slide
 

I not the one that first said it but to paraphase:

If you want everyone to play with safety in mind, go to Little League. If you want to play baseball, go elsewhere.

Your choice. Depending on your choice, don't whine about it.

On 60' base's yes, however on 70' base's you have a game again. As far as I know, LL is the only league still playing 60' base's only, while every other league, PONY, Dixie, Cal Ripken, USSSA, AABC all allow/play 70' base's with leading off and stealing. I've heard LL is looking at expanding to the 70' base path, they just need to take the plunge and do it. It's a better game overall.

Just remember, if everything about baseball was perfect at every level, we wouldn't need this forum.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO TEACH YOUTH TODAY:

Enjoy what you do, play hard and fair and always respect the rules and your opponents.

We all ready have way too many whinners in sports as it is.

LL has had a 70' trial for a couple of years now. From what I've gathered from around the web not many leagues are even trying it. I know none in our area are, not even the independents.

Pony baseball has been around for a very long time, and Little League obviously doesn't see it as a threat to their program, or they would have changed their rules to allow a more 'realistic' baseball experience.

3rd world...

True Rich, yet, if you ask those same leagues board members who have kids playing, many will tell you they have their kid playing on a tournament team playing on 70' bases. At least in my area, the growth in travel teams playing 70' bases grows every year. We're seeing a continual increase in the amount of tournament teams for these kids grow every year. They are losing numbers, it's just a matter of time before they become converts.

I don't think Billy Martin was ever Mickey's room mate. Just a big drinking buddy. Why they traded him to Kansas City.

On a side note, Martin was probably more approachable when he was drunk, than not. Hard to talk to somebody with a chronic hangover, and a sociopathic personality.

I played some adult ball with his son, Billy, Jr. for a couple of years. He dished a little of the dirt on dad a few times. Nothing to write home about.

I've also gotten some umpire musings of Billy from a few old AL umpires. Those storys are worse.

You nailed it, however, I would reword you sentence as follows.


LL has their "show" televisd on ESPN and ABC. Until the ratings are effected no changes will be made.

IMO, Ripken has a "shot" because of the name but LL still has a good contract with ESPN / ABC.

IMO, without the "show" LL would be real down in numbers and be forced to change to compete.

Pete Booth

Well, Little League made a major change to their rules for the upcoming year that will be noticeable all the way up to the "show." They have adopted the uncaught third strike rule we see at every other level of baseball.

LL Rule Change
 

Can you post the link to the rule change?

Rule 7.08(a)(4), on top of page 83 (first paragraph), it states: "Any runner is out...(4) Tee Ball, Little League Majors and Minors only: the runner slides head first while advancing."

Appendix B (towards the back of the rule book), there is a bullet that states, "Except when runner is returning to a base, head first slides are not permitted. This applies only to Little League (Majors), Minor League and Tee Ball."

This is out of the 2012 rule book.

Regina Boyd
Washington D1 Umpire

Very well put.


Rita

Thanks, Rita.

BTW, the roommate of Mickey's I was referring to is Jerry Coleman. He's still a radio announcer for the Padres, and still an opponent of the head first slide. His biggest complaint is that you can't get up quickly, and get to the next base when you're flat on your stomach. That, and he got to squash a lot of fingers playing F4 in the Bronx. To him, the risk was not worth the benefit, if there were any to begin with. And that's always been debatable.

I liked to slide head first because I would get raspberries on my a$$ so instead I took my scabs to my arms...I hardly never had an opportunity to advance after a head first slide, so me to not slide head first because I might not be able to get up and advance was not something I considered because the chances were very, very slim of a ball going through far enough in the first place. YMMV. I realize that this is a LL thread so it's more of a safety rule for the kids which is something I support.