Headfirst slide - how to do it correctly

[Sftbll4ever]

I'm with human.

DH played baseball growing up through college and then on to slow pitch. He was playing in a tournament and slid headfirst into second. Ring finger on his left hand caught the base and at the knuckle, his finger made a 90 degree angle to the left. Good thing paramedics were in the parking lot. Had to cut the batting glove off and was transported to the nearest hospital. As we waiting in the busy hospital for 2 1/2 hours with his finger at a 90 degree angle they finally tried to pop it back into place. That was a site to see. Doctor jumps up on top of the bed and starts yanking, nurses on either side pushing him back toward the bed to counter the Dr. Finally after 10 min. of pulling, the finger popped back into place. It is still misshapen.

My girls were there to see that and they will dive back to their base, but will not slide head first. This is not the only reason they will not slide head first, but it sticks in their heads.

[Tucson]

Please do not ever take me a hospital with doctors like that. In advanced first aid we were taught NOT to pull on the finger. Relaxing with a few pain pills and get it into some ice, then heat, would be a kinder, gentler way to work it back into place. Then, continue to ice.

That being said, the trainers at U of A walked out onto the field and jerked Callie Balko's finger back into place, a month ago. It looked like heck for awhile.

My "ear to the ground" method comes from years of playing before helmets were mandatory. We were taught to turn our head away from the throw. I guess that would apply if you aren't playing with the face mask on, too. (LL, some rec. leagues, college.)

You can save your fingers by making a fist, but that takes away a couple inches of reach.

[MTR]

DON'T DO IT!

IMO while a good head first slide under a full head of steam looks very cool, it is not very bright. Healthy hands are extremley important in the game so making them readily available for the defender to spike or drop a knee down on them is not "phi beta kappa".

I've also seen too many head first sliders arrive head first into a defender's knee. Sliding head first on a close play at the plate is absolultely insane!

The whole point of sliding is to avoid being put out by a tag or to break up a potential force play and there are many safer and more effective variations going feet first.

Be smart, stay healthy, play longer...

Nobody said you didn't have to be smart to execute it properly. Then again, a fair amount of girls don't properly execute a feet-first slide.

If one knows what they are doing, the slide is no more dangerous than any other slide.

[MTR]

DON'T DO IT!

IMO while a good head first slide under a full head of steam looks very cool, it is not very bright. Healthy hands are extremley important in the game so making them readily available for the defender to spike or drop a knee down on them is not "phi beta kappa".

I've also seen too many head first sliders arrive head first into a defender's knee. Sliding head first on a close play at the plate is absolultely insane!

The whole point of sliding is to avoid being put out by a tag or to break up a potential force play and there are many safer and more effective variations going feet first.

Be smart, stay healthy, play longer...

Nobody said you didn't have to be smart to execute it properly. Then again, a fair amount of girls don't properly execute a feet-first slide.

If one knows what they are doing, the slide is no more dangerous than any other slide.

[anonlooker]

Get a backyard Slip 'N Slide. Almost all kids have played on these things, and already know how to slide head first. They are great for working on sliding, feet or head first.