sliding home - do you have to try to avoid the catcher?

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Aug 23, 2016
359
43
In a game this weekend (12U rec, if it matters), DD slid hard into the catcher trying to score on a passed ball. DD is a lot bigger than the catcher - at least 6 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier - so the catcher was pretty shaken up, but she was able to stay in the game after a bit of a delay.

DD had committed to her slide about the same time the catcher picked up the ball, and when she started to slide there was nothing between DD and home plate. But then the catcher more or less dove headfirst into DD's path to try to get the out. DD said that her bent knee hit the catcher just below the chest protector.

After the collision, the other team was chirping a lot about DD's slide, saying it was dirty because she didn't do anything to avoid the catcher. DD's coaches told her to ignore them, but DD is still young (10) and does not like the idea of hurting smaller girls so she was a little upset.

So, who's right -- DD's coaches, or the other coach? I want to think DD's coaches are right, but I'll admit I'm biased and I don't want DD to be the bad guy.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
When fielding a thrown ball (which would include a passed ball or wild pitch), the runner has the right of way over the fielder. A runner is not required to avoid the fielder in that situation. A fielder without the ball may not hinder the progress of the runner. A fielder with the ball can be anywhere they want - including in the runner's path - but the runner is still under no obligation to avoid contact.

If the contact is judged by the ump to be malicious, the player may be ejected.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
Catcher may hop in there to try to get her out and a collision may ensue. If so, that's the brakes and part and parcel of catching. It's tough being a catcher and you may get banged up, but hey, you might get the girl out!
 
Aug 23, 2016
359
43
If the contact is judged by the ump to be malicious, the player may be ejected.

It definitely wasn't malicious, and the other coach wasn't saying it was malicious but that it was bad form.

I suspect he was mostly upset because his daughter was the catcher, and like I said she's significantly smaller than DD (even though she's actually two years older than DD). DD was worried that there are different expectations for sliding in 12U than there are in 10U (this was a 12U game but she's still in 10U), but it sounds like that's not the case.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD was a tiny P and I called her supergirl for a few games, she was flown from home to backstop. Ump was going to toss runner, they settled with a bench warning.

They, even MLB, are trying to figure it out.

If they are sliding I think I would find it hard to complain unless they purposely tied the catcher up after the play.

Non contact sport my a**.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
It definitely wasn't malicious, and the other coach wasn't saying it was malicious but that it was bad form.

I suspect he was mostly upset because his daughter was the catcher, and like I said she's significantly smaller than DD (even though she's actually two years older than DD). DD was worried that there are different expectations for sliding in 12U than there are in 10U (this was a 12U game but she's still in 10U), but it sounds like that's not the case.

It's not uncommon for rec leagues add on their own "house" rules for younger age groups on top of whatever major governing body's ruleset is being used (ASA/USA, etc.). It might be worth it to check with your league to see if there are any modifications you should know about.

That said, it's most likely a coach not having a full understanding of the rules and/or making things up that sound kind of right in defense of his DD.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Sounds like she did nothing wrong. Coaches (and parents) chirp..just wait till she plays TB if she does. DD's team was getting beat 9-0 by the best 10U team in the state this past weekend and there was 45 seconds left on the clock. DD's team was in the field and well the umpire went out to clean home plate.. it was sort of obvious he was just trying to get the game over with as it was late in the evening. Well my DD's coach starts bitching and moaning about it, says we paid for this tournament blah blah blah. I had come down from my perch behind the LF fence (seat proximity to the field related to said chirping) as the game was about over and the mosquitoes were eating me alive out there and was standing next to the pitcher's father..he also started to bitch. I finally told him, listen, think of it this way. Your DD now has 1 more pitch in her arm and will have a longer career because of it..that seemed to calm him down :p
 
Last edited:

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
In a game this weekend (12U rec, if it matters), DD slid hard into the catcher trying to score on a passed ball. DD is a lot bigger than the catcher - at least 6 inches taller and 40 pounds heavier - so the catcher was pretty shaken up, but she was able to stay in the game after a bit of a delay.

DD had committed to her slide about the same time the catcher picked up the ball, and when she started to slide there was nothing between DD and home plate. But then the catcher more or less dove headfirst into DD's path to try to get the out. DD said that her bent knee hit the catcher just below the chest protector.

After the collision, the other team was chirping a lot about DD's slide, saying it was dirty because she didn't do anything to avoid the catcher. DD's coaches told her to ignore them, but DD is still young (10) and does not like the idea of hurting smaller girls so she was a little upset.

So, who's right -- DD's coaches, or the other coach? I want to think DD's coaches are right, but I'll admit I'm biased and I don't want DD to be the bad guy.

10U parents and many coaches are clueless. The way you describe it, there's nothing wrong with what your DD did. Had she RAN into the catcher, she could have been ejected. Unless there's a cleats up and deliberately kick the catcher in the face type of slide, the runner has just as much right to the plate as the defender making the play. Some types of contact are totally legit and part of the game. No umpire is going to call against a sliding baserunner unless they see something stunningly flagrant.
 
Last edited:

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,481
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top