Head First or Feet First Slide????

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What is your preference for the type of sliding you want to see your kids doing. Do any of the geek-zone statmeisters out there like cshilt, etc. have any data on injury rates, success rates, etc. for head first vs. feet first. Is it really worth it to teach to some of the more advanced base runners.

 

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I like to see feet first and hook slides. Hey did you listen to the Tribe game today? I hear Marte cleared waivers and is coming back.

 

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Feet first! That is just IMO, it seems like there are more freak accidents that could not be avoided with head first slides. I cringe when my DD slides head first, she has had a different finger broken twice by having defensive players step on her hand while she was sliding. This is taken into account the people sliding have been taught properly, alot less freak injuries by a kid with good sliding mechanics feet first then head first.

 

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I like the feet first slide, as you can teach them to pop up on a over throw and advance to the next base.

 

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There's a time for all kinds of slides. Feet first is for most of the time. Head first is for once in awhile. When a girl knows when to use each type of slide-- she's a player. When a coach knows when a player should use each type of slide-- he (she) is a coach. If a coach says a player should never slide head first--- he (she) is more of a parent that a coach. Of course there are times when sliding head first is the right decision!

 

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Thanks Ringer, I actually have a shirt from Microsoft that says "Geeks Rule". I doubt that there has been much statistical analysis on whether feet first or head first is safer. Anecdotal evidence points to a feet first slide being safer. Why wouldn't it be?

Having said that I taught my DD how to use a head first slide to use situationally. I think that the best time to use it is to dive back to a base. Sometimes at home when you can slide around the catcher to swipe the edge of the plate. Most of the time she'll just do a straight-up feet first or hook slide though.

In the spirit of keeping up my geekhood, I submit the following...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080926120520.htm

 

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I am sure it is about technique and the head first has some usefulness but friend of dd has a quadrapeligic father from a head first slide and I doubt she will ever do one. Teach a pop up and it will serve them most often.

 

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There are very few shortstops (most girls' coaches don't let second basemen cover on a steal even when the bunt isn't on-- which is ridiculous, especially when there's a lefty slapper at the plate) who are so proficient at making the catch and tag at second base that they'd be able to tag out a runner who dives toward the center field side of the base and grabs the corner with her left hand. If a runner HAS TO BE SAFE, then the fade away head first slide is her BEST chance--- especially when there's only one umpire. When the solo ump sees the ball beat the runner, he is usually going to call the runner out. But he'll also see a missed tag much easier when the runner slides head first.

 

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My personal preferences are feet first at 2nd and 3rd with pop up slides to be ready to keep going on an error if you have the speed and momentum to achieve it. At home if the catcher is ready with the ball and squared to the runner feet first for the best chance of the ball coming out. If it will be a close play at home then head first and wide opposite the glove side brushing the fingertips over the edge of the plate. A lot of college coaches think that last one has the highest probability for success in that situation.

 

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Feet first! That is just IMO, it seems like there are more freak accidents that could not be avoided with head first slides. I cringe when my DD slides head first, she has had a different finger broken twice by having defensive players step on her hand while she was sliding. This is taken into account the people sliding have been taught properly, alot less freak injuries by a kid with good sliding mechanics feet first then head first.

I can vouch for the finger thing. When the runner in front of my daughter froze up between 3rd and home she had to reverse and dive back to second base and caught her thumb on the edge of the bag and badly hyperextended it. Couldn't hold a bat for half the season after that. I'd say proper technique going headfirst at the bases is to keep the thumb tucked in tight against the hand.

 

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I don't think there is a "clear" answer to this question. I have witnessed far worse ankle and knee injuries from a feet first slide than I have from a head first slide. That is not to say that sliding head first does not have it's risks as well. Sliding into a base in any manner is inheritantly dangerous. The best we can do is teach both methods, and the situations that suit different slides. Proper fundamental technique, and the confidence of the player to apply those properly is the key to reducing injuries. However, niether method will prevent all injuries from occuring.

Personally, I like the head first slide (certainly not in all stuations). It is much more difficult to tag a hand than a foot/leg since the defender has to be much more precise in the location of the tag in relation to the area of the base.

 

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Feet First! As I was told one time by a D-1 University Softball Coach, the female anatomy is different then guys as they develop in life, and some Ballpark fields are simply undesireable for sliding in Head First!
Her comment made me Think?



FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

 

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I think if you really want to be successful against top level teams (extending outside of Ohio), your players have to be able to slide both head first and feet first. They cannot just rely on a basic pop up slide - sometimes a slide by head first is the difference between out and safe. We personally practice sliding for hook slides and pass bys. I don't think that is something that can be underestimated, especially with your speedsters. JMO.

 

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One year our older DD trying to stretch a double into a triple slid head first, broke her hand, had to have surgery and was out for the entire summer season. I would vote for feet first.

 

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I say jump in with both at the 13u Ohio Stingrays Texas Hold'em Tournament March 7th @ the Baltimore VFW hall. Door will open @ 4:00pm play starts at 5:00pm. Cash table will start at 6:00pm.
If you like softball and poker, then this is the place to be. Join us!

 

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I say jump in with both at the 13u Ohio Stingrays Texas Hold'em Tournament March 7th @ the Baltimore VFW hall. Door will open @ 4:00pm play starts at 5:00pm. Cash table will start at 6:00pm.
If you like softball and poker, then this is the place to be. Join us!

Gee coop, most thread hijacks kind of gradually ease into a side topic. This one's pretty direct. lol!

 

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I agree with SoftballCat12, but now that the dd is playing with metal cleats , about the only time we go head first is going back to the bag, so the chance of getting your finger stepped on is less. Most injury seem to come from getting stepped on and with metal cleats that hurts!

 

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Not sure I would encourage head first, other than diving back into a base. For those that have the "X" factor and adopt it on their own, I would help with technique.

Personally, I have broken a leg sliding hard into 3rd (ahh, the old days), broken fingers and my nose sliding head first (ugh, shinguards + testosterone), but almost broke my neck on a hard awkward head first landing steaming into 3rd once (fear of god is putting it mildly). Pete "Charlie Hustle" Rose was my hero for base running growing up playing baseball in the late 1970's.

I would still go in head first today probably at times, at my own choosing and risk, but would be hesitant about teacing it to non-scholaship youth/amateurs as a competitive technique .... other than diving back to bases where an aggressive slap in the face is likely the worst penalty.

 

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Some people have a knack for sliding head first. Either way is fine by me, but I wouldn't teach a head first slide to youth. I would take a knee or ankle injury over a neck injury any day of the week.

One place I would strongly discourage anybody from sliding head first is at home. Head first slide against a geared up catcher is not good news.

 

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I'll second Pickledad. I was a head first guy usually, but there were times I was actually able to kick the ball out of the infielder's glove going feet first. The only time I got hurt sliding was feet first. But Fastpitch Blue passed on a good point about basic physiology playing a role.