How To Teach Sliding in Baseball In Proper Ways: Learn From Sliding Specialist Coach

Running in the base and sliding for a tag is always exciting while playing baseball. It can save your team from losing. Hence, there are some other reasons for which learning how to teach sliding in baseball is important.   

When you can apply proper sliding techniques while making a tag, it creates high momentum. Moreover, it can easily save you from tagging out. Sometimes, players also need to slide to make tough catches in close matches.

Sometimes, a baserunner is forcefully run to the base when the hitter misses slider pitching. This creates a high chance of tagging out.

Tag out is very frustrating, especially when the game is very close. To get rid of tagging out, you need to make slides properly. From the very childhood, I practiced a lot of sliding. but now I have become a master or coach of sliding correctly

How to Teach Sliding in Baseball

If you don’t know the proper sliding methods in baseball, you may get the tag out frequently. Therefore, if you try this in the professional game without practicing, it will cause serious injury. 

So, you can ask when I learned how to slide in baseball? I tried to slide on the ground in high school without any guidance. I still remember that I made so many fundamentals of sliding in baseball. But, it could be perilous for me. 

But luckily, I made no injury. And after a few months, my dad notified me and hired a coach for me. My coach taught me the baseball sliding techniques.

I practiced proper sliding techniques every day and adapted the proper sliding techniques within a few months. However, it generally requires a lot of practice and focuses on the techniques.

Is it essential to learn sliding at an early age? Yes, it is crucial at an early age. But attempting to slide without knowing proper sliding techniques is dangerous. That is why a coach is required. A coach can help you to teach sliding baseball in proper ways. 

Today, I came up with guidance on how to teach sliding in baseball. It doesn’t matter if you are a baseball or softball player; learning these tips always helps you in the game. I will present a simple and step-by-step way to teach baseball sliding.

. I will present a simple and step by step way to teach baseball sliding.

Teaching Bent Leg Sliding/ Figure Four Sliding

Figure 4 is also known as bent leg sliding. It is the most common approach to sliding in baseball. While sliding, your legs create a shape of 4. That is why this is called figure 4 sliding.

Learning this baseball sliding technique is very easy. You have to follow two steps for this to perform this baseball sliding. First of all, sit on the ground and make sure proper placement of your legs for creating the shape of 4. If you are teaching sliding baseball, you need to follow the picture.

If you correctly follow the picture, you will avoid injury. Secondly, keep practicing regularly so that you acquire this technique in the shortest possible time.

Do you require overall guidance for practicing baseball? You can also follow a baseball practicing plan for better performance.

Practicing Steps

Step 1.

“Sitting on the ground of your practicing place” is what you have to do first. Then, extend your right leg if you are right-handed. If otherwise, you are left-handed, extend your left leg.  

After doing this, you need to bend your other leg. For example, if you are right-handed, you have to bend your left leg. At the same time, you have to bend your right leg when you are a left-handed player.

Place the ankle of your bending leg under the knee of your extended leg. While doing so, the position of your legs will look like the number “4”.

Then raise your hand above your head. If you forget to raise your hands, you can be injured.

You have to keep your core tight. And it would be best if you also tuck your chin into your cheek. Why do you need to do so? This will create balance and will prevent neck injury.

Step 2.

Now, you need to practice the basic sliding technique. First, select the place where you prefer to slide. Then, take three or four steps to the sliding place. Of course, you have to do it carefully.

Finally, extend your right leg ( left-handed players are to extend their left leg). At the very end, when your foot touches the base, place the other foot under the knee which you practiced in step one.

Tighten your abs and tuck your chin in while you do this. As simple as it appears, this method of teaching sliding baseball is effective.

It will just take a few seconds to complete the task. However, you must get up and repeat this action as soon as your leg contacts the base bag to obtain it correctly.

Coaching Tips

The coach needs to make their players aware of the necessity of sliding. It can help them reach base as quickly as possible while avoiding the risk of running out of time.

Therefore, inexperienced players make a common mistake. They think sliding can save them from being tagged out. But they, on the other hand, fail to recognize that, to avoid sliding, they must drastically slow down to keep their position on the baseline. While teaching sliding baseball, the coach should make them understand this thing.

It is another coach’s responsibility to show the techniques more accessible to the players. This is so that they have positive thoughts in their mind and don’t make mistakes out of fear.

Teaching Head-first slide in baseball

How to teach sliding in baseball when it is about a headfirst slide? The steps are easy to describe but very hard for practicing. No one should teach sliding baseball in this approach without knowing the proper techniques.

Teaching headfirst slide is both very important and dangerous. Why is it important? Because it is the fastest sliding technique that can save you from getting tagged out.

Why is it dangerous? While performing headfirst sliding, you can injure your head. For example, the researcher finds that a bent leg slide causes injury 1 out of every 413 attempts. In contrast, a headfirst sliding causes injury 1 out of 249 times (Source: The New York Times).   

To avoid injury and become an expert while learning proper sliding techniques, you need to follow appropriate sliding techniques.

So, when your students are not experienced, expert, and fit enough, you should not teach sliding baseball in this approach.

Therefore, a player should not also attempt a headfirst slide in baseball when it is not that dangerous situation for the player. It is allowed when the player has a short time to touch the bag.

The players touch the tag bag with their heads. And that is why this sliding technique is named this.

Practicing Tips

First of all, run three or four steps. And prepare yourself to lean forward. It creates momentum.

Then keep alerts and hands out in front. You have to ensure that your hands are not your body’s way. If the hands are away from your body, the sliding speed decreases, and touching the tag bag will be tough.

Now, pull back on both wrists. Do not tend to use your fingers for this. You will tough the base bag with the palms of your hand.

What will happen if your fingers do this? It can cause a severe injury to your fingers.

Practicing sliding at home is also dangerous without having proper sliding equipment. Therefore, I always practice sliding with adequate practicing equipment. You can ask me what brand of equipment I use; I prefer Easton Baseball Equipment for practicing. 

Teaching Hook sliding in baseball

I started this article with the discussion of “how to teach sliding in baseball” with bent leg sliding. The hook sliding is just another version of bent leg sliding or figure 4 sliding. This is the sliding technique that I attempt most of the time.

The players touch the base bag with the head, but this approach is not that dangerous. Following the steps are easy for dedicated baseball players. You can follow the attached image to learn and teach sliding baseball. The pictured slide is a hook slide in baseball.

Hey, don’t forget about the basic rules of baseball. When you are learning how to teach sliding in baseball, it is also important to know the rules and regulations of baseball.

Practicing Tips

First of all, take three or four steps toward the base. In the next step, you have to extend one of your legs. And bent the opposite one.

Do I need to explain which leg should be extended and which leg to bend? Ok, reminding again, extend your right leg if you are right-handed. Leg handed players have to do the opposite.

In this sliding technique, raise only one of your hands. Do you know which one is to be raised? Yes, the hand is far from the base bag. While sliding, lean your body to the side of the base bag. 

Now, you have to touch the base with your hand. This sliding can be applied from both sides of the base bag. You have to practice them both.

You must notify that the uniforms are damaged most while sliding in baseball. But it looks new even though the match is played just the next morning. Visit this link to know how the MLB players get brand new uniforms every game.

Take out Slide

Do You Know What a “Takeout Slide” Is?” When a baserunner intentionally slides to throw off the defines on a play, it is known as taking out slides.

Double play takeout slides are a common occurrence in baseball. They are typically used by baserunners trying to get out of double plays.

Take Out Slide Generally Creates Problems for the catcher and creates an unwanted situation.

So, how to teach sliding in baseball in the approach of taking out slides? There is only one step.

To cope with the takeout slide while learning proper sliding techniques, you can follow the image properly. To impede the fielder’s throw or catch even after being put out. It can also lead to an altercation in the game shown in the picture.  

When a baserunner performs a takeout slide, they must start the slide before reaching the base and not wander too far from it.

The umpire must consider if the baserunner took out a fielder and strayed too far from the base to use their arm or leg To determine, whether, a baserunner’s slide is legal or not.

Although a player may slide toward the fielder to hit or injure the fielder, they cannot “target” the fielder. This is totally unethical.

Backdoor Slide

Can you say what is backdoor sliding? As this reaches the strike zone, this type of slider splits in a lateral motion that causes it to swing out wide. As a result, the pitch looks like it will be declared a ball, but it swings back into its home plate as it nears its last leg.

Enter the strike zone through its “back door” and strike the plate’s back corner. The batter is often confused and misses the opportunity to swing due to this. Here in the image, you can see that this slide is quite dangerous and difficult. To make a proper sliding technique, you need to learn it properly.

The normal feet-first slide will be used, pointing the angle away from the base. They will then try to contact the base with their hand to dodge the tag. You should try to yank away the defender’s hand, then roll over and tag the bag on your other hand if he tries to tag your hand.

Pop-up Slide

There are certain differences between the pop-up slide and a regular feet-first slide, like the runner’s need for speed to advance on an overthrow and go rapidly to the next base.

The most effective and safest slide occurs when the base runner is already at the top of the base, and the front section of the floor is hit. To be on the safe side, always start with your feet.

In the above image, a coach is tutoring the pop-up slide. It is vital to learn proper sliding techniques for the pop-up fall to avoid injury.

All situations can benefit from this sliding technique. It’s called the pop-up slide, but if you perform it right, you’ll be able to spring up swiftly and continue running if necessary after you hit the bag.

Hands First Slide at Home

It’s a familiar sight to everyone who has ever watched a baseball game. It’s important for the player to be aware of the keeper and which side of the plate is most heavily protected. Most catchers will use their bodies to keep the plate from being thrown at.

You are already familiar with how to teach sliding in baseball in the approach of the head-first slide. The first slide is quite similar to that approach.

With this slide, runners target to go to the plate. They dive further away from the base. In the meantime, the catcher also tries to safely reach their target plate with their gloves to abstract their tag. 

Here you can see in the picture that a runner is trying to catch a ball while another is sliding first. While sliding hands first, you need to be aware to avoid the risk of injury. It is also hard to practice due to the dread of harm and its potential.

Young players can use huge and heavy cardboard boxes flattened to provide a slick sliding. Set up a 60-foot-long outfield grass slide and have players sprint towards it.

Avoid Sliding Mistakes in Baseball

Avoiding sliding mistakes is important for avoiding injury. It is not a tough task for you. Just follow the baseball sliding fundamentals and practice more. 

1. Kids should never slide headfirst. Only teach advanced baseball players the Head-first slide. Don’t tell the kids. Now you may ask what a pro may take it gently? Never headfirst slide near bats. It can cause severe injuries.
2. Hands down is another typical blunder. It’s up to the opponent. Coaches sometimes advise sliding to catch balls.
3. Several child baseball leagues prohibit headfirst slides. So, learn the league’s regulations. It’s impressive to see a pro sliding.
4. You must prepare the practicing field appropriately. Practice on a slick, low-friction surface. A moist tarp is ideal for kids. Keep the tarp wet and slippery.
5. If you can’t, practice on a grassy field. More like a thin-grass field. If you’re new to baseball, take off your shoes during practice.

When should a baserunner attempt to slide? 

Baserunning is the act of jumping from base to base in baseball. Game management is a tactical aspect of the game to score a run. Therefore, it matters in-game situations when a runner slides base.

You may ask why it is essential? The answer is Batters aim to become base runners or help existing base runners advance or score. The number of men on base allowed by a pitcher is abbreviated BR.

A runner may not be marked out while touching a legitimate base. Run from base to base on just about any fair ball that hits the ground. Runners must return to their bases if a fielder catches a fly ball. Then they can proceed at their own risk. Runners must run if a force is applied to a ball in fair territory.

A baserunner also needs to attempt for slide in the situation of a baseball walk-off. You should never give up in this situation. Sometimes, a sliding attempt in the walk-off can bring you one extra run or win for your team. 

Frequently Answered Questions (FAQ)

How to slide in baseball for beginners?

When you are a beginner, you need to revise the overall sliding techniques. It would be best if you made slides according to the proper techniques. In that case, don’t practice in an original match. Unless you cannot achieve all the techniques perfectly, keep practicing correctly.

How to perform a Baseball slide?

You can perform a well executed sliding in your home through using the home plate for sliding. With decent form and maybe a little bit of training, you’ll be capable of moving comfortably; perhaps you’ll come in safe, too!

Is it okay to jump over the catcher?

As long as the runner does not leave the basepath, jumping and over-catcher are permissible under MLB rules. However, it is not recommended to try to avoid heavy injusies.

What is the interference rule?

Opposing a base without having the ball, or having the ability to grab hold of it, is prohibited by an obstruction regulation. The basepath will be obstructed by those who break the rules. The umpire can do so, if they think the runner is entitled to any base. A proper sliding can make the difference in the game. 

What is the baseline rule in baseball?

Base runners must stay in the baseline to run the bases, which is defined as a straight path from one floor to the next. When moving one base to the next, runners veer from the baseline.

What are the types of Baseball Slides?

• Bent-leg Slide (Feet First).
• Pop-up Slide.
• Head First Slide.
• Hook Slide.
• Backdoor Slide.
• Hands First Slide at Home.
• Take Out Slide

How to Slide in Baseball (Bent-leg)?

The first step to learning how to slide is to get used to hurling yourself to the ground at full speed. For the time being, we’ll focus on the most common sort of slide, the feet-first sliding. Consider the various characteristics of sliding before trying a full-speed slide.

Final Statements

So, did I make you clear about “how to teach sliding in baseball”? I think I could? Whenever you approach any sliding, the scene is interesting. Players come for sliding in close situations.

Sometimes, you slide to reach the base promptly. Sometimes, you do it to disturb the catcher to make the tag. But, whatever your intention is, it is always good to watch someone slide in the game.

In my opinion, it is also essential to know the ways to avoid injury while sliding. So, practice sliding safely and have a safe game. Goodbye for today.In my opinion, it is also essential to know the ways to avoid injury while sliding. So, practice sliding safely and have a safe game with your coach or manager. Goodbye for today.