Sprint into slide on a gym floor.

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Jan 24, 2009
617
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How has it worked for your team?

Age 14-18. Nearly all have played for 4-12 years, but not all are proficient and graceful sliders on dirt. Improving sliding and the sliding reps is a secondary, with the main goal being 'practice like you play' while working on sprinting speeds.

Edit to add: Surface is nice slick hardwood.
 
Last edited:

TMD

Feb 18, 2016
433
43
Personally, I wouldn't recommend sliding directly on a gym floor. While pants may slide nicely, skin does not. Even if they are wearing full SB pants/socks, hands, arms, elbows, etc. will tend to "stick" and could increase chance of injury...especially if they are truly sprinting all-out. Not to mention that gym floors are really really hard.

Our org has a few sliding mats when we practice on gym floors (they are also good for outside if necessary). Honestly don't recall which brand, but found one by Schutt on amazom for $350.

https://www.amazon.com/Schutt-12911240-Sports-Slide-Rite/dp/B00120SE28/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1481313434&sr=1-1&keywords=Schutt+Sports+Slide+Rite
 
May 17, 2012
2,804
113
I have players that do this at our practices (we practice on a basketball court). I am not a big fan of it. They still scrape their knees even while wearing softball pants.

I always fear a freak injury that would keep them out of the season.

You can cover all of the different slides at one outdoor practice. I would wait until you got outside; it's just not worth the risk.
 
Apr 17, 2012
806
18
Wi
We use a big piece of cardboard w a blanket over it. The blanket slides easily on the cardboard. Usually outside but i dont know why you couldn't use it inside
 
Jun 1, 2015
500
43
My girls have asked about getting a tarp that can be pinned down to the group that we can dump water on, OR to have practice on a day when it's literally DOWNPOURING so we can practice in the outfield grass.
 

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