Hello Everyone! Why do baseball and softball athletes slide? Often the first response is to avoid the tag out, which is true, but there's more to it than that. AGSP athlete, Tyler Tofil, slides to avoid the home-plate tag. Read-on for the other reason why baseball players slide. Why do baseball and softball players almost never slide into first base? First base is unique because it's the only base (besides home) that you are allowed to run through. You don't have to stop on first. This rule is why baseball and softball athletes have learned to slide into second and third base. Because sliding is the fastest way to stop! When players are flying around the bases, especially when trying for extra bases, there is no better way to stop all that forward energy than to slide. Trying to use your legs and hips to stop creates a ton of unneeded force on the joints and ligaments. It is also a slower way to stop than sliding. Even when athletes do stop by using their feet and hips, they find it challenging to not sway off of the base. Many athletes train to improve their starting speed and running, but very few ever focus on stopping (deceleration). You can have all the speed in the world, but if you can't stop fast and controlled than you won't be able to do much once you get to where you're going. If you're a baseball or softball player you need to train to improve your sliding. If you're football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, etc you need to train to improve your stopping! We teach athletes how to stop on a dime so they can make big plays and do what others can't. Keep Training! Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance