Mangers, GM’s, and Umpires.

There has been much confusion this season regarding the force play slide rule. I have included this diagram and detailed rules in hopes it clears up some miss-interpretations.

I have some key parts in bold print. Please send me an e-mail if you have any questions. Please continue to work on getting this call correct or instructing your teams on the slide rule

Force-Play-Slide Rule

SECTION 4. The intent of the force-play-slide rule is to ensure the safety of the defensive player. This is a safety as well as an interference rule. Whether the defense could have completed the double play has no bearing on the applicability of this rule. This rule pertains to a force-play situation at any base, regardless of the number of outs.

a. On any force play, the runner must slide on the ground and in a direct

Line between the two bases.

Exception—A runner need not slide directly into a base as long as the runner slides or runs in a direction away from the fielder to avoid making contact or altering the play of the fielder.

(1) “On the ground” means either a head-first slide or a slide with one

Leg and buttock on the ground.

(2) “Directly into a base” means the runner’s entire body (feet, legs,

trunk and arms) must stay in a straight line between the bases.

A.R.—If a runner goes into a base standing up and does not make contact or alter the

play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.

b. Contact with a fielder is legal and interference shall not be called if the

runner:

(1) Makes a legal slide directly to the base, or

(2) Is on the ground at the time of contact and the fielder moves directly

down the line between the two bases to attempt a play.

(3) Makes a legal slide and makes contact with a defensive player who

is on or over, but not beyond, the base.

A.R.—When the base runner slides beyond the base, but does not (1) make contact with,

or (2) alter the play of the defensive player, interference shall not be called.

c. Actions by a runner are illegal and interference shall be called if:

(1) The runner slides or runs out of the base line in the direction of the

fielder;

(2) The runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide and either

makes contact with or alters the play of a fielder;

(3) The runner’s raised leg makes contact higher than the fielder’s knee

when in a standing position;

(4) The runner goes beyond the base and either makes contact with or

alters the play of the fielder;

A.R.—”Beyond the base” means any part of the offensive player’s body makes contact

with or alters the play of the fielder beyond the base.

(5) The runner slashes or kicks the fielder with either leg;

(6) The runner illegally slides toward or contacts the fielder even if the

fielder makes no attempt to throw to complete a play.

PENALTY for 1-6—(1) With less than two outs, the batter-runner, as well

as the interfering runner, shall be declared out and no other

runner(s) shall advance.

(2) With two outs, the interfering runner shall be declared out and no

other runner(s) shall advance.

(3) If the runner’s slide or collision is flagrant, the runner shall be ejected

from the contest.

A.R.—If the bases are loaded with no outs, a double-play attempt is made, and interference

is called, all other runners must return to their original bases.

Note: On a force play, with a two-man umpiring system, if the plate umpire does not have a potential play at the plate, he should move toward the base to observe the runner going into second or third base. In this situation, the base umpire must follow the throw and may not see the true effect of the lead runner’s action.