Diy Baseball Sliding Mat? Top Answer Update

Running the bases is one of the most exciting things to do on a baseball field, and sliding is not only equally exciting, it’s also an important skill every base runner must master.

In this article, we discuss how to slide properly and safely, what different types of slides look like, the rules for sliding, exercises to help you slide better, and why sliding is important. Read on to learn everything you need to know about slipping in baseball, including:

The primary goal of sliding is to allow a runner to make it to base before being flagged in the event of a close game (sometimes referred to as a “bang-bang” game). Sliding makes you a more difficult target for the defender covering the base, who must catch the throw and then try to tag you before you touch the base. When done correctly, sliding can help you steal bases, advance an extra base when your hitter gets a hit, and ultimately get more runs.

How to Slip in Baseball (Bent Leg)

Learning to slide begins with getting comfortable throwing yourself on the floor at full running speed. For now, we’re going to focus on a feet-first slide, the most common type of slide. Before trying to slide at full speed, you should familiarize yourself with the different aspects of sliding.

Learn the slide form (bent leg)

The most common form of sliding involves leading with the dominant foot, straightening the leg, and bending the non-dominant leg so the foot is behind the dominant knee. The part of your body that actually slides on the floor should be the thigh and shin of your non-dominant leg.

Keep your hands up and your chin tucked in

When you are in your glide position, with your arms extended away from your body, raise your hands above your head. This stabilizes your body as you slide and also prevents the defender from easily marking your hand with his gauntlet. Tuck your chin into your chest to keep your head from tipping back and hitting the floor.

Sit in the gliding position for several minutes

Before you even attempt to slide in slow motion, familiarize yourself with proper slide form by sitting on the floor in the slide position for a few minutes. Don’t forget to raise your hands and tuck your chin in.

“Walkthrough” sliding practice

The first few practice slides you try should be done at walking or jogging pace. At a slow speed, you won’t actually slide on the floor, but these exercises will help you figure out how far from base you need to fall into the slide position. You should start sliding when the distance between you and the base is approximately your height. While this isn’t an exact science, it’s important not to slide too early or too late or you’ll either slide past the base or not reach it at all.

Practice on a mat

Before trying to slide down the dirt base path, consider using a soft mat or grassy surface as these exercises are more about mentally preparing you. Take the time to work your way up from walking through your slide to jogging and finally running.

Practice on the dirt

The final phase of your training should be on a base dirt trail, and your goal at this point is to make the slide as natural as possible. Practice making contact with your toe on the base you are sliding into and always keep part of your body in contact with the base. If at any point you don’t touch the base, the defender can tag you.

Types of baseball chutes

Now let’s take a look at the different types of slides you can learn on your way to becoming a master baserunner. The bent leg (or feet first) is the most important slide to learn because it is the most common form of sliding and also the safest type of sliding. If you are new to baseball, the bent leg slide is the ONLY slide you should try – the others listed here should be considered purely informational tools for now.

Slide with bent legs (feet first). Lead with your dominant foot, toes forward and leg straight, and your non-dominant leg bent at the knee. Your non-dominant foot should be tucked under the opposite knee and forming the shape of the number four with your bottom half.

Lead with your dominant foot, toes forward and leg straight, and your non-dominant leg bent at the knee. Your non-dominant foot should be tucked under the opposite knee and forming the shape of the number four with your bottom half. pop-up slide. Use the same form as the bent-legged slide, but flatten your foot so its side is parallel to the floor. Next, aim your foot at the wide side of the base and use your momentum to get into a standing position when you make contact with the base.

Use the same form as the bent-legged slide, but flatten your foot so its side is parallel to the floor. Next, aim your foot at the wide side of the base and use your momentum to get into a standing position when you make contact with the base. Head First Slide. Throw your hands in front of your body and dive down to the floor as if you’re diving into a pool, keeping your legs straight behind you and your chin off the floor. You should only attempt this slide if you are absolutely comfortable with it. Even for advanced baserunners, this can be a dangerous slide.

Throw your hands in front of your body and dive down to the floor as if you’re diving into a pool, keeping your legs straight behind you and your chin off the floor. You should only attempt this slide if you are absolutely comfortable with it. Even for advanced baserunners, this can be a dangerous slide. hook slide. The hook slide is the same shape as the bent-leg slide, except the non-dominant foot points outward instead of tucked under the other knee. You should aim your dominant foot away from base and try to touch base with your other foot to keep your body away from the defender.

The hook slide is the same shape as the bent-leg slide, except the non-dominant foot points outward instead of tucked under the other knee. You should aim your dominant foot away from base and try to touch base with your other foot to keep your body away from the defender. backdoor foil. Begin by doing exactly what you would do for a bent-legged slide, but this time slide completely off base. When your shoulders are level with the base, rotate your body and grasp the base with one hand. This slide should be used if the throw reaches the defender before you reach the base, as you will slide away from the defender and he or she will have to grab you.

Begin by doing exactly what you would do for a bent-legged slide, but this time slide completely off base. When your shoulders are level with the base, rotate your body and grasp the base with one hand. This slide should be used if the throw reaches the defender before you reach the base, as you will slide away from the defender and he or she will have to grab you. Hands first slip at home. If you’re sliding head first on home plate, you can’t slide right through because the catcher is blocking you with his or her body. You must commit to sliding down one side or the other of the plate and grabbing it with your hand as you pass the catcher. Remember, you only need to touch home plate once while maintaining contact on first, second, and third base.

If you’re sliding head first on home plate, you can’t slide right through because the catcher is blocking you with his or her body. You must commit to sliding down one side or the other of the plate and grabbing it with your hand as you pass the catcher. Remember, you only need to touch home plate once while maintaining contact on first, second, and third base. take out the foil. Takeout slides can only be attempted on second base, and this is done with the sole intention of disrupting a double play. When you slide, you should aim your body directly in front of the defender, forcing them to move out of your way and change their throwing motion.

Baseball Push Rules

Major League Baseball (MLB) has established rules for sliding that players must follow when an automatic out is called. The rules are there for the safety of both defender and runner and should therefore be followed at all levels of the game, professional or not.

When attempting a take-out slide, the base runner cannot make contact with the defender, meaning the runner must attempt a real slide. However, as previously discussed, the runner can direct the chute toward the defender. If the runner throws their shoulder at the defender, lifts their leg, or grabs the defender with their hand, the runner and hitter are called “out.” Judges will not penalize runners for accidental contact when the runner is attempting a valid slide.

Sliding Home (and the “Buster-Posey Rule”)

On May 25, 2011, Florida Marlins baseman Scott Cousins ​​attacked San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey while attempting to score from third base. Cousins ​​ran slightly inside the baseline and intentionally slammed into Posey as the throw came. Posey suffered a broken leg as a result, and MLB responded by implementing a home plate collision rule. The rule prohibits base runners from leaving the base path to initiate contact with a catcher. It’s worth noting that some semi-pro and amateur leagues (particularly youth leagues) have banned collisions with home plate entirely.

Glide into second base

A runner sliding into second base must attempt a true valid slide when attempting to interrupt a double play or avoid a tag. Contact with a defender is strictly prohibited and will result in the runner being called out.

Sliding into first base

When sliding into first base, the runner must stay on the baseline. Since runners can run through first base (as long as they don’t move towards second base), a runner should only slide into first base when it is obvious in advance that the throw will be high.

Baseball Slides

pickle. The pickle drill is designed to simulate a rundown situation when a runner is caught between two bases. The runner should try to get to second base or get back to first safely without being tagged while the infielders and pitcher chase him or her down.

The pickle drill is designed to simulate a rundown situation when a runner is caught between two bases. The runner should try to get to second base or get back to first safely without being tagged while the infielders and pitcher chase him or her down. Exercise 2. Have a coach, parent, or teammate stand on second base as you run towards them. As you approach, they should raise their hand to simulate getting ready to catch a toss – this will help you get a sense of when to start sliding.

Have a coach, parent, or teammate stand at second base as you run toward them. As you approach, they should raise their hand to simulate getting ready to catch a toss – this will help you get a sense of when to start sliding. Exercise 3. Set up the same way, just have the person standing on the base randomly yell different slides for you to do as you approach the base.

Common questions about slipping in baseball

Can the catcher block the plate in MLB?

MLB allows the catcher to block the plate when he or she has the ball or is about to receive the ball. The rules may vary at different pro and amateur levels, but plate blocking is a technique that catchers must learn to make it difficult for runners to score.

Is jumping over the catcher legal?

Jumping over the catcher is legal under MLB rules so long as the runner does not make contact with the catcher by going off the basepath. However, to avoid concussion and other injuries, it is unwise to attempt this at any level.

What is the basic rule in baseball?

The baseline rule states that when running bases, base runners must stay in the baseline, which is generally defined as a straight line from base to base. Runners are only allowed to deviate from the baseline when passing one base to run to the next.

What is the obstruction rule in baseball?

The obstruction rule prevents a defender from blocking a base with no ball or an opportunity to get the ball before the runner arrives. Violators are called for obstructing the base path. The umpire may assign the runner any base he or she deems appropriate.

Performing a perfect slide can be the winning ticket in a game. Learning how to slide effectively and safely is an important aspect for any player trying to improve their game.

In baseball, a slide is the action of a player acting as a baserunner, dropping their body to the ground once they are very close to the base they are approaching and sliding across the ground to reach the base. Sliding is generally considered an integral part of baserunning in both youth and pro baseball, although not for exactly the same reason.

A baserunner can slide into a base in a variety of ways and for a number of reasons, including to avoid a tag out, to avoid overrunning the base, and to disrupt or cause contact with the defensive player protecting the base to avoid him. Players determine whether they benefit from gliding in a given game situation. The question also arises for adult hobby players as to whether a slide is worthwhile due to the increased risk of injury.

Methods of gliding[edit]

There are many different ways to slide, including different ways to try to dodge the tag, touch the base, or try to contact or avoid colliding with the defensive player. Because defense generally expects a slide, a baserunner trying to avoid being tagged will sometimes not slide directly toward base but slide to one side away from where the ball is coming and then reach back, to touch the base.

Players generally slide feet first, but sometimes use a head-first technique. Going headfirst into a base is technically more of a jump than a slide, but the term “slide” is still in use. This alternative method has been used in Major League Baseball since at least the mid-1880s, when the innovation was popularized by the St. Louis Browns of the American Association.[1] Yet even in the majors, it remained relatively uncommon until it was popularized by Pete Rose in the 1960s. Headfirst sliding has since become a common practice for various players at all levels of professional baseball, but is often restricted at the amateur level.

Reasons for slipping[edit]

Avoiding a tag-out[edit]

In games where the baserunner can be tagged by the opposing defender covering the base, the baserunner’s body lying on the ground is the lowest profile target for the defender to tag. This makes it a bit more difficult for the defensive player to tag in in time to take out the baserunner.

Avoid overrunning the base[edit]

Skidding helps a runner stop their forward thrust from the friction created between the body and the ground, reducing the likelihood of running past after touching the base. This is important because in most cases a runner runs the risk of being flagged if he loses contact with base (the most common exception being that a batter-runner can overrun first base when he first reaches that base). , as long as he immediately returns to first base without attempting to advance to second base). Because the runner must balance the need to reach a base as quickly as possible and the need to avoid overrunning the base, gliding provides the runner with a quick means of slowing down, allowing the baserunner to keep up for as long as possible Can run top speed before he has to do this slower.

Interference with the defender (take-out slide) [ edit ]

Catcher attempts to prevent a player from reaching home plate

Sliding can sometimes be used as a means of disrupting the play of the opposing defender who is covering the base that has been approached. For example, if it is possible for a double play to occur and the baserunner approaching second base has already been outed, he could still attempt to slide toward the defensive player who intends to put the ball to first base throw. If the defensive player moves away from second base while preparing to pitch the ball to first, the baserunner can still slide right onto the defensive player, although it means sliding away from second base itself. This has the effect of impeding that defensive player’s ability to complete the game, either directly through physical contact with him or indirectly through distraction through fear of such contact. A slide executed with the sole purpose of hindering the defense’s play is known as a “take-out slide”.

Whether a particular instance of a take-out chute is legal within baseball rules is a decision by the umpire, usually based on how close the baserunner gets to the base he is approaching during the chute. If a baserunner strays too far from base while attempting a takeout slide, the umpire may declare the slide an example of illegal interference and call an extra out. As a general (but not absolute) guideline, even if the baserunner slides significantly toward and away from the defensive player, as long as the baserunner gets close enough to the base that he can touch it with any part of his body during the slide the slide is deemed legal. On the other hand, in such circumstances, the fielder is often granted the neighborhood game.

Avoiding Collisions or Injuries from Missing Throw[edit]

Especially among younger players, it has been shown that proper sliding technique protects the runner and fielder from colliding and can prevent the runner from being hit by a faulty throw. For this reason, most youth baseball leagues now encourage teaching proper slipping technique at a young age and encourage children to slide feet first into each base (except first base) when there is a potentially close game are. This concept is a bit more controversial in adult amateur baseball/softball leagues because the risk of injury from slipping increases with age.

Velocity effect of gliding[edit]

The television series MythBusters tested the participants’ baseline running speed with and without a slide and found that in instances where the runner must stop at the base, sliding into that base, rather than staying upright, offered a split-second advantage, suggesting a faster delay than the key. However, by eliminating the need to stop, the common belief in baseball circles is that a baserunner can reach base faster if he stays upright and runs to base at top speed. Consequently, in games that are not about being tagged or endangered by overrunning base (e.g. when you approach first base after batting the ball and nobody is trying to hit a making tag play), usually discouraged from sliding.[2] Nonetheless, this conventional wisdom is not universally accepted and as such some players may believe that sliding will get them to base faster and will therefore choose to do so despite advice to the contrary.

Risks associated with slipping[edit]

A study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine tracked seven softball and three baseball teams in Division I of the NCAA and found that the overall incidence of skid injuries was 9.51 per 1000 skids. Softball players were about twice as likely to have slip injuries as baseball players in the study. 11% (four out of 37) of injuries resulted in the player missing participation for more than 7 days.[1]

Since baseball shoes are spiked on the bottom, slipping up with the spikes increases the likelihood of injury to the defensive player covering the base. Knowing this fact can often increase the defensive player’s fear of potential contact with an impending slide and thus increase his distraction while attempting to make a play. Ty Cobb came up with nine different ways to slide into a base.[3]

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Can you slip into first base (major league)

That’s easy. Yes, in Major League Baseball, hitters are allowed to slide into first base.

More frequently asked questions about boarding first base

Can you slip into first base (minor league)?

Yes, minor league baseball players can slide into first base.

Can you slip into first base (little league and high school)?

In high school, it is legal to slip into first base, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA).

Little league players are also allowed to slide to first base, although headfirst slides are not allowed unless returning to a base.

Should you slip into first base?

This post started off by asking if you can slip into first base. But like many things in life, the first questions should have been: should you?

There’s no right answer here, but the general consensus is that there’s not really any benefit to doing so.

And I mean, Bill Nye tweeted his firm belief that diving into first base takes longer than just running through base:

World Series Science: Don’t dive into 1st base. As soon as a runner leaves their feet, they slow down. May have cost Royals a run and the game. — Bill Nye (@BillNye) October 30, 2014

Statcast doesn’t provide conclusive evidence, but it does suggest that slipping into first base will most likely cost players a fraction of a step. And in baseball, split seconds matter.

Some reasons why you shouldn’t slip into first base:

Most of the time, gliding is slower than walking through the bag. See the section below for more information.

Take advantage of the fact that you can walk through first base, which is not allowed for second or third base.

Avoid additional risk of injury.

And some reasons why players will want to slide in first:

Slipping into first base can help the runner avoid a tag when the first baseman gets bagged. This can be from a high throw (1B bounces up) or a ball thrown too far to the left or right (pulling 1B in that direction). This means the 1B must complete a tag or return to base for a force out.

Slipping into first base may confuse or interfere with the umpire’s ability to make an accurate decision; Often this doesn’t affect the outcome, but it can potentially cause an out to become a runner.

Nobody likes a clean uniform.

Is it faster to slide into first base?

No other question is likely to cause more controversy among mathematicians, physicists, and baseball fanatics than this one. There isn’t a good answer, but here are some articles if you want to explore the question (and be willing to argue with someone):

How do you slide into first base?

Sliding into first base isn’t necessarily different from sliding into other bases. The main difference is that most players who slip into first place choose to go head first.

Are you out when you slide into first base?

No, sliding into first base doesn’t automatically turn you off. Although many people (but not Brett Gardner’s current Yankees) believe that a slip makes you more likely to retire.

Videos of players sliding into first base

Base running and base stealing may seem like arts driven solely by a runner’s speed, but there’s more to this facet of baseball than just cartilage, bone, and lung strength—a lot of math and physics go into it.

With the baseball playoffs heating up and the World Series just around the corner, fans are guaranteed to see daring slides, both feet first and head first, and even slides at bang bang games first.

Who gets there faster, the head-first slider or the feet-first?

The headfirst player, says David A. Peters, Ph.D., McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and a big baseball fan. He says it depends on the player’s center of gravity.

Peters is a mechanical engineer specializing in aircraft and helicopter technology. He sees “dream fields” a little differently than most – he sees them as playgrounds for mathematics and physics.

Peters says that dynamic equations can determine which slide will get you there faster, and that three key math problems come into play.

“There’s momentum – mass of the body multiplied by the speed at which the player is moving,” he says. “There is angular momentum (mass motion of inertia multiplied by the rate of rotation). If feet first and you start to slide, your feet go away from you and you rotate clockwise; If it’s upside down, twist counter-clockwise as your hands go down.

“In addition, Newton’s law applies,” explains Peters. “Force is mass times acceleration. Then moments of inertia times your angular acceleration.”

So who gets there faster?

“It turns out that your center of gravity is where the momentum is,” says Peters. “This is halfway from your fingertips to your toes. When sliding headfirst, the center of gravity is lower than halfway between your feet and hands, so your feet don’t get there as quickly. It’s faster upside down.”

For a long time – say until the Pete Rose era of the ’60s and ’70s – players avoided sliding upside down to protect their hands and faces. Spikes, reminiscent of the days of Ty Cobb, were guns on the diamond. In recent decades, players who prefer to slide with their heads have taken to holding on to their batsman’s gloves while running to prevent their hands from opening and exposing themselves to injury. While the percentage of players who slide one way or the other isn’t really known, Peters estimates it to be around 50-50.

Peters notes an increasing number of players who will slide into first base, despite the popular belief that going through first is the faster route.

“Mathematically you might think there’s an advantage, but getting off your feet is actually a disadvantage because you stop pulsing (leg pumping) and you start to slow down,” he says. “When you run, you put your feet in front of the center of gravity, so you might have a three or four step advantage.”

Peters says the only benefit of sliding to first base is dodging the first baseman’s tag when he has to come off base to javelin an errant throw.

“In general, most agree to go through first, but you’ll find people swearing it’s better to do it differently.”

: One foot first to a base in a baseball game where the runner, with both legs extended, throws the body to either side to avoid the fielder covering the base, and hooks the base with the inside foot

: One foot first to a base in a baseball game where the runner, with both legs extended, throws the body to either side to avoid the fielder covering the base, and hooks the base with the inside foot

: One foot first to a base in a baseball game where the runner, with both legs extended, throws the body to either side to avoid the fielder covering the base, and hooks the base with the inside foot

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If you’ve ever been to a baseball game, you’ll notice that all the players wear a hat. You may be wondering why and what is the tradition behind wearing a hat.

The tradition, which has existed for over 100 years, is firmly anchored in the game. Most players would never dream of playing the game without wearing a hat. Most of this started out of necessity and has since become a tradition.

Wearing a hat has some competitive advantages.

Baseball players wear hats to block the sun, block out stadium lights, and add identity and pride to the team.

Baseball caps have become part of a tradition in the game, but they also have some great benefits for the player!

Why Baseball Players Wear Hats: To Block The Sun (1)

Baseball is a game played in spring, summer and fall. At the Little League level, you play many games in the heat of summer. Since the game is mostly played outdoors, the sun can become a major obstacle to games on the field.

The brim of the hat protects against the sun and allows the fielder to have a clear view of a ball coming towards him.

Remember that some batted balls can fly over 100 miles per hour and cause injury if the player cannot see the ball properly. The baseball cap becomes an indispensable part of the uniform. Even on days when the sun isn’t very bright, glare from various sources can cause problems.

As for batting, players now wear a baseball helmet for protection. However, the batting helmets have you broom to give the batsman a better view. When young, some players often wear their hats under their helmets to help with fitting or for cleanliness.

In today’s youth, a baseball helmet is often provided by family to avoid helmet sharing. This also helps with proper adjustment to improve comfort and plate visibility.

Why Baseball Players Wear Hats: To Block Out the Bright Lights (2)

In the early days of baseball, most games were played during the day. More and more games are now being played in stadium lights at night. Even at the Little League level, it’s not uncommon for games to be played in the dark.

The lights provide another barrier to play on the field. They call third base the hot corner for a reason. The ball flies around a ball quickly and the fielder must be able to make the play fast.

In the outfield, when the baseballs are hitting the air, the lights can really mess up the view of the ball. As with dealing with the sun, the hat provides a barrier to shield the light. The difficult thing about the lights is that the ball can get stuck in the lights on the way up and then back again on the way down.

The outfield player should practice in the lights before their first game to ensure they are prepared and able to deal with the impaired vision.

Other options to block the sun or lights:

Black eyes and sunglasses have also found their way into the game. They offer another layer to help players improve their vision both on the plate and on the field.

A player’s vision is extremely important and losing possession in the light or sun can result in injury, poor performance or a lost game. Coaches and players should take their vision seriously and consider a quality hat and these other two options.

Why do baseball players wear black eyes?

Keeping your vision at 100% is a key to being successful on the field!

Why Do Players Wear Hats: Team Identity and Pride (3)

There’s something special about getting your team hat at the start of each season! It’s a source of pride and team identity that sets you apart.

This is exactly why fans also like to wear their team hat. It identifies you as a fan of the team and there are some pretty great looking hats at the Major League Baseball level. Little League kids love the hat too and wear it all summer long!

Baseball caps are steeped in baseball heritage, and that’s a pretty cool thing. It’s a great source of pride for both players and fans. Today teams have several hats that identify their team and are an additional moneymaker as they are made available for fans to purchase.

Little League teams have also been known to purchase multiple hats to increase the excitement surrounding the game in the upcoming season!

The Baseball Rules

How to choose your baseball cap

Hat options: straight brim or curved brim

A style that’s becoming more common in the newer game of baseball is the straight brim or curved brim option. I believe the curved brim provides a greater layer of protection for your eyes to maintain your vision. The curved brim offers protection from sunlight and can also protect your side view.

You’ll hear some traditionalists get upset about players wearing a straight-brimmed hat. At the end of the day, as long as kids enjoy the game of baseball and are future fans of the game, we’re happy here at sportswarrior365. The aim of each season is to encourage, support, build skills and hope that the child will play again next year. If this calls for a straight brimmed hat, let’s try it!

Hat options: fitted or adjustable

At the major league level, the hats are in place. The quality of hats is getting better and there are hats that seem to fit and offer sizing flexibility for those ordering for youth teams.

Why do baseball players wear batting gloves?

Why Baseball Players Wear Hats: Final Thoughts

Most people played minor league baseball as kids. It’s a time of great excitement, quality fun, and there’s something appealing about a baseball game on a summer’s day.

The hat adds to the overall appeal of the game for many youngsters and also provides a competitive advantage. Maintaining good vision both on the plate and in the field is critical to overall success.

In today’s video blog post we talk about the baseball batting secrets to fix a common problem called Hip Slide.

The hip slide often occurs in young players. This is when the batsman hits the ball and flips his hip toward the baseball or pitcher. This blocks the batsman’s natural movement around his core.

You’ll often see batsmen who want to be aggressive and throw that hip at the ball or pitcher, putting them so far forward that they can never catch the ball and hit it deep. Instead, they land with a contact hit that sprays down the middle and often rolls over to the corner infielder. The result is that they end up getting out more times than the pitcher is getting them out!

How do you stop the hip slide?

Put yourself in a good, strong base. Allow yourself to catch the ball with your back hip. You should never isolate the front hip when it comes to hitting the baseball.

Of course, you can train your batsman through repetition and athletic movement to clear that front.

How do you insulate that back hip?

Use nerfs, softballs, or tennis balls to pose the player and throw a ball at their back hip. And what you’re trying to do is catch the ball in front of your hips. The hands and hips work together to catch the ball in front.

When they hip slide, they catch the ball behind them.

Do you have this common baseball batting problem in your players? If so, what are you doing to correct it? Share your own advice below!

If you’re looking for more great baseball batting drills, be sure to check out my youth baseball batting drills and mechanics. And don’t forget to become a fan on Facebook, where I’ll be sharing even more baseball batting drills, tips, and training activities!

Most teenage baseball and softball players can learn to slide properly and safely if properly taught. A simple step-by-step learning approach is presented below.

An important element of a successful slide is to generate a lot of momentum while running. Good sliding technique also requires a player to lean back and drop while maintaining their running speed. Children face challenges in coordinating these two elements.

The children we work with fall into pretty much one of two groups. Some will be timid and a little concerned about harming themselves. Most will be eager to start sliding, possibly a bit over-zealous. What is important for a coach is the willingness to work with both types of players.

The good news is that we have a teaching approach that builds confidence in the timid children and inspires others to learn to slide effectively and safely.

Create a comfortable and safe learning environment

Children spend a lot of time on the floor during slide training. We want to identify a day when the elements are most appropriate to teach this skill. In the south, a day after some rain has softened the ground is ideal; in the north it is supposed to be so warm that wet bodies don’t catch cold.

Grass is the best surface for learning to slide. Ideally, we practice sliding on damp or wet grass. If your field has access to water and a hose, use it. A well-watered surface becomes a slippery slide, making the activity easier for the kids and a lot of fun. Dilute the 10′-12′ grass in front of the base. The wet surface limits friction build-up on those little legs and butts.

Trainers in the north inform the parents before the training. Perform the slide exercise at the end of the exercise. Assuming the kids do get wet while sliding, we want them to get to their warm cars and home as soon as possible.

sequence of instructions

STEP 1

Sit the players facing the coach. Players and coaches have both legs stretched straight out in front. Tell the players to put a foot under their knee. Important: The trainer demonstrates with one foot first and then with the other. View both options as soon as possible. Players differ in which foot they have comfortably under their knee. Children tend to copy what the trainer does; We don’t want to make a player tuck their foot in while sliding, which isn’t natural for them.

This positioning of the legs creates a “number 4”. This is called a figure 4 sliding position or a bent-legged slide. The Figure-4 is the most common gliding technique.

STEP 2

While sitting in the figure 4 position, have the children rest their hands on their knees. Now it’s time for players to pretend they’re on a roller coaster going down a big, steep cliff. Coach yells, “Ready… Slide!” Everyone throws their hands over their heads and yells, “Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee):

This is a silly time for the kids and they love it. Repeat this 3-4 times. Encourage them to be loud and enjoy the exercise.

STEP 3

We’re still playing roller coasters, but now the kids throw up their hands and slowly lean back until they’re lying on their backs. As they complete this action, we want to emphasize that they want to keep their hands off the ground.

Repeat 3-4 times…or more if having fun. 🙂

step 4

Set up three or four bases about 15 feet apart. Bases can be a cone, throwing base, cap, hoodie, etc. Divide the children into groups, one for each base. Line them up about 40 feet from the bases and get them ready to run!

Important: Ideally, the children practice sliding without shoes; Socks don’t get stuck in the ground. Catching a shoe plate while sliding can lead to serious leg injuries! Worst case the kids wear sneakers – NO SHOES ALLOWED!!! There must be prior communication with parents to allow children to bring a pair of sneakers to this practice.

lesson points

The body touches the ground at an angle

The body part that lands first when sliding is the butt. When standing/running, this body part is a few feet off the ground. Some kids who are new to sliding imagine how painful it would be to fall straight on their butt.

We would like to explain that when they fall down, if they run as fast as they can, their hips/buttocks will also move forward. This combination causes her butt to touch the ground at an angle, which significantly minimizes the weight and pressure on the hip/gluteal area.