Absolutely! It, obviously, is a mistake he'll never make again but we all know the saying about hindsight! Very sad! They did seem to be pressing for a win!
It's not the worst because of the mistake. It's the worst because we were on the verge of an exciting at bat with the possibility of a tying or game winning hit. Not sure why you think a bad ending MUST be due to a player error.
This is a call you hate making as an umpire. Had a game once where a kid hit an inside the park home run and dove headfirst into home. I felt so bad calling the kid out
@@alexchen3332 Look buddy, whether I like it or not, the rule is the rule. As an umpire, I have to enforce the rules to uphold the integrity of the game. No exceptions.
"The rule is 7.08(a. 4) - The runner is out when: the runner slides head first while advancing. There is also a Little League Case Book called "The Right Call" which says, "When to call a runner out for sliding head first - as soon as you determine the act is in fact a head first slide and not just a stumble or trip."
That wasn't a rule when I played, I'm 54 yrs old. It's possible to get hurt either way you slide. I've seen plenty of broken ankles sliding. Let them play, I was proud of my cast on hand, girls signing it that never would have talked to me :)
It wasn't a rule when you played, but it is a rule now, and a rule is a rule. I feel bad for the kid because he was acting on his athletic instincts but -- it's a rule whether you agree with it or not.
I made this mistake too back when I was 8 years old playing little league (1998) I remember I was trying to get a triple slide in head first and got called out at the time I didn't know why at the time. the coaches never mentioned anything about that rule when I was playing.
I think third base should be an exception, because you’d rather a bad throw hit your feet or back than your head and the throw is always coming from behind you
The reason why hard first slides are banned in to prevent face injury and concussions. Kids do not have the neck strength than grown men do. They also don’t have as much practice. Momentum will whip your face right into ground, causing face injury and possibly concussion. Baseball helmets will not do much to help in that situation.
From a rules and safety point of view, there are hazards in any slide, especially with fixed bases. Ankles and knees can often be susceptible to injury in a “legal” slide. Perhaps the penalty should be to send the runner back to the previous base (unless he is tagged out in the course of the play). In a way, Little League, as organized, tries to have things both ways. They want to look like (and get the financial benefits of) MLB, complete with a World Series, and televised coverage that many professional Minor Leagues would like, yet players are discouraged from using the kinds of moves (such as head first slides) that the children playing these games use because they see professional ball players using them. If the practice of head first slides (which are actually hands first slides) is so unsafe, then why are they allowed to avoid a pickoff by going back to the base they were occupying? In other words, had this runner thought he was going to be out at second, he could return to first, and could use a head first slide back into first. Or am I misunderstanding the rule? What’s even more interesting is that when these kids turn 13, they are allowed to use that slide. Just some food for thought.
This rule is in place for the kids safety. I had a friend that broke both his wrists sliding headfirst in LL, which is an example of why the implemented this rule.
@@deanb024 Having worked many levels of baseball, at different levels, from youth to men’s leagues, there is a wide variety of bases, and that is usually determined by the parks and maintenance departments in the various communities. MLB uses a fixed base (called, I believe, Hollywood bases). At lower levels (excepting possibly NCAA), these were rare, as the field itself has to have the infrastructure to affix the base. I live in the Northeast - and weather makes problems for field maintenance. The most common bases I saw were bases that were held in place with one or two stakes, and you just hope those stakes are driven in as far as possible, to avoid being a hazard to a sliding player. And then there were bases not held down at all, which fly off as soon as a runner slides into them. Umpires had to use our best judgment as to whether the runner was in contact with where the base should be. This can also create adventures around determining fair foul calls, if the base is not in its proper location, which is rarely marked. We were often happy just to have foul lines. Otherwise, you had to try to eyeball the side of the plate, the base, and a foul pole. It could prove to be an adventure. I’ve seen cities and towns spend a lot of money building a field, and then not spending enough money to maintain it properly. So there is no single standard for the type of bases, and as these are public parks, the public has access to these fields when games aren’t being played, so coaches had to bring their equipment, including their bases, with them to practices and games. One nearby city spent a great deal of money in building two fields, one for Little League, and one for older levels with a full size diamond. They spent on fencing, benches, even lights for night games. But they made one HUGE error. They had the backstop barely ten feet from the back of home plate, instead of the regulated 60 feet! Foul balls straight to the backstop literally could bounce off, ricochet, and hit you from rear. And trying to move the fence would have required moving all the lights, which would have been extremely expensive. So Williamsport can write rules regarding ball fields, but that doesn’t mean those rules will be followed.
Head first slides are the reason people are called safe in the big leagues. Injuries are insanely rare. You make a fun game so boring with these rules. In my opinion it's just instinct. I played baseball and slid head first lots of times in middle school except at home. But in my opinion I think the worst rule ever is no steals and pickoffs. The LLWS should become more like the big league so that young players have higher chances at a great future. That is my opinion.
What is the ratio like 2% of the time you get hurt going head first and 1.8% of the time going foot first, you are one of the people that wants to give a trophy to every kid and not keep score so everyone feels good about themselves.
Fluttershy Luva the league I play in is major league rules. We have pickoffs, steals, balks, headfirst slides, drop third strike, ect. and it is really fun to watch and play because we are playing major league rules and at the same pace as the big leaguers.
sliding head first slows you down, injuries are not insanely rare MLB players are trained to play through broken fingers. Nick Markakis played an entire game in DH with a broken thumb. head first sliding makes you jam your hands on the bag and it is easier to brake your wrist/arm getting caught under you than it is with a twisted ankle.
This is the rule for Little League Majors (i.e. 12U) and below. For Little League Intermediate (i.e. 13U) and above, head first slides while advancing is allowed. Some of these kids at the 12U and below level also play on tournament teams not associated with Little League, and it is quite possible they have been playing tournaments that allow head first slides and lead offs etc. So I could easily see where a kid in the moment reacts on instinct instead of thinking which rule set he is playing under. Good hustle on the kids part though!
That sucks. But you gotta stick to protocol to be fair on all sides. If you let this instance go you’ll have to let other things go and another until it gets too ridiculous. I feel sorry for the kid since he was just hustling but yea its tough...
Had a play similar to this happen to end a playoff game last season. Runner at 3rd stole home for tying run, hurdling the catcher before touching the plate without a tag. There is a specific rule in our book that bans jumping over players due to safety concerns. Call was immediately made as out, game over. Sucks, but that's the way the rule is written.
There is no rule in Little League that prevents a runner from jumping over a catcher (just that they need to attempt to avoid contact) and no local leagues are allowed to alter that rule (at least not for Majors division.)
Dumb rule. If you're going to have a rule dealing with contact at the plate, that rule needs to be that the catcher cannot block the plate. It's idiotic to say that the runner should have to attempt to avoid contact. Who is writing these rules?
I made this call in my first ever Majors Little League game behind the plate. Kid slid head first into Home Plate. Coaches weren’t happy with the ruling as they thought he tripped. Was shocked I had to make it
We had a point of emphasis (before those were even a thing) of players needing to touch first base on a walkoff and also not removing helmets. Had multiple walk offs called back.
When I was a kid, I didn't play little league baseball. I played a league called Cal Ripken baseball, and we also played on a 50/70 diamond, bigger than the little league fields. We got to take leads before the pitch was thrown, and we got to slide headfirst, and the rules weren't as strict as it is in little league. To all the people that have kids, or are a kid who don't like these rules, I suggest that they find a local Cal Ripken league to play at. I lived 30 minutes away from where I played Cal Ripken baseball. It was so much better.
But this kid is 10 times smarter than Webber, so it's odd that he would make such a bone-headed decision... even in the heat of competition. Not surprising though about Webber. Not surprising at all.
I created an odd ending to my last senior little league game. I was in center field, it was the last inning and we were ahead. They had runners on second and third with two outs. The batter that comes up had never hit a ball out of the infield in all his years of playing. I see the two runners talking to each other and only paying attention to the plate. I slowly walk in and stand on second base. The pitcher looks to second to check on the runner and I’m holding my glove out pointing at the bag to throw it. He shakes me off and pitches home. The pitchers gets the ball back and I’m still there signaling him the throw. He turns and fires it at me and I tag the runner out. Game and season over. I couldn’t believe that neither the runners, the other team, or anybody else noticed me standing there and an empty center field.
The President at our Little League was telling us a story about why he doesn't allow his players to slide head first. Apparently there was a kid in his little league that enjoyed eating before his games...something like a burrito or a burger. He apparently landed wrong on his stomach which caused the food to be forced back up where it was then inhaled in to the lungs and the kid asphyxiated and died. I guess this would have happened in the 70s. I can not verify this story, unfortunately. Intermediate rules allow for head first slides. Half of the kids on my team prefer to slide head first and I let them. I have never had an injury from a head first slide on my team. Last year a kid on another team took a late slide in to 3rd base, feet first. My teams biggest kid was not used to playing third but was there that day. He had his foot in the middle of the base and the break-away bag did not break away. The kid who was sliding in to third kept going past the bag on his slide and snapped his ankle. So my experience tells me to just let the kids have fun and slide however they want. Bad things can happen either way and they are never intentional.
Dang would have loved to play in one of these games as a kid, at 12 i threw the ball 78mph at 14 I threw at 89 mph @ 15 I my coaches pitched me so much no rule on how many pitches could be thrown in a game , just couldn't pitch 2 games in a row . Any way my arm was toast . I pitched always in the level above my age group , cause I threw to hard for kids my age . I could also hit very well thanks to my 4 older brothers making me play with them and their friends. And very very fast runner . Infact after my shoulder stopped working so well I got into track. Anyway thanks for posting and sending me back 45 yrs !
Its to prevent head and neck injuries. He's out because the rules say he's out if he slides head first, just as if he hit a fly ball to the right fielder. The rules say he's out. Just because it isn't a rule in all levels, doesn't make it not invalid
knickknack07 - I agree with your first sentence, but after that, I STRONGLY object to LABELING someone who is handicapped "a burden to society." People who are handicapped can still have a "quality life" (albeit limited). Who are YOU to DENY them that? Lastly, pray that YOU never become handicapped and, as you said "a burden to society."
Every broken neck that every occurred in baseball/softball, at all levels, happened on head first slides. As well, as you may have noticed in the press about football recently, helmets don't prevent concussions, especially when you lead with the head....sliding head first can result in smacking your head on the fielders' knees and shins and WILL, even with a helmet, result in concussions.
shpaget1 Sorry, but i've never heard of anybody breaking their neck sliding head first, either professional or amateur. Do you have any references for this? I would point out sliding in baseball occurs rarely while tackles using the head can occur many times a game. It is also much more dangerous to be pitched to in baseball that it is running the bases. If they are outlawing head first slides but don't care about batting, what does that really say?
Except for my grade ten history teacher, no - I know of no professional incident, which is, however, part of the point. The older and more experienced you get, then the more you learn how to slide properly, in a controlled fashion. It does happen in amateur games...it's rare, just like broken necks in hockey are rare. The incident that does happen a LOT is broken fingers, wrists and hands...it seems to be easier to injure your hands than your knees/ankles on slides...especially if you don't know what you're doing. As far as batters...well, they did put helmets on batters, didn't they? And they put padding on catchers, didn't they? And some of the younger ball leagues make the batters wear chest protectors too, because there have been a few incidents of fastballs hitting players in the heart and stopping it. Some leagues are making pitchers wear masks and/or helmets. It's not about "outlawing" head first slides - it's about removing a potentially dangerous element of the game from players of an age that aren't coordinated enough to do it safely and properly, without impacting the integrity of the game. There are leagues that also forbid sliding into first base, and others that mandate sliding into home plate for similar reasons. As far as many times versus fewer times - doesn't matter. It only needs once, and the point is, helmets don't eliminate concussions, they reduce the incidence. Sliding headfirst exponentially increases your chance of a concussion of sliding feet first.
No. Worst game ending 7-26-11. Atlanta, Georgia. Plate Umpire Jerry Meals calls the Braves' Julio Lugo safe in the bottom of the 19th inning after Pirates' catcher Mike McKenry tagged Lugo out three feet in front of the plate. THAT is a bad ending to a game.
This isn't a worst baseball game ending... Sure the rule sucks but it's still a rule. Bad job on the runner for sliding head first. He should know the rule
Charles Baseball lol because it's an important rule to remember and not 1 that should be forgotten. The kid made a mistake. It happens. I'm just saying it shouldn't be in the video.
Because they are taught the fundamentals of sliding. And taught the rules. And taught that no player ever broke his neck sliding feet first. It's a safety rule. How are kids supposed to remember to put their helmet on when the game is on the line? How are kids supposed to remember to tag up on a fly ball when the game is on the line? How are kids supposed to remember to run on a dropped third strike when the game is on the line? For someone with "baseball" in his name you sure don't have a clue about the sport.
That second base umpire should be fired and banned from ever again umpiring Little League. Why? Because there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for that "conference". He should have made that call right away. If you're gonna umpire, you have to have the stones to make those calls which you know are going to crush the hearts of a team and their parents. NOBODY complained about that call. Umpiring like that is an act of cowardice.
Right call, but a horrible rule. I have never, not once in my entire baseball career (12 years), slide feet first. You can get injured just as easily sliding feet first as you can sliding head first so this rule is not protecting anyone. Even though I was fast I had very weak ankles...and had I been forced to slide feet first I can only imagine the number of injuries I would have sustained.
why on earth did he do that, thats one of the most enforced rules in little league. somebody has been playing travel ball and got his rules mixed up...
The reason why people slide headfirst is because you have a better chance at being safe so that rule needs to be taken out if LL wants the players to have fun
Little League is chartered by Congress as a Leadership Development Program, not a Sports Program. Little League uses baseball as a vessel to teach life lessons. yes Pony is competitive and uses MNL rules, which is not why LL exists.
A lot of people may disagree with me on this one, but I really think that rule should be changed. I remember playing little league, and seeing just as many injuries sliding feet first. whether it be the kid sliding into a base and breaking the kids hand at the bag, and accidentally getting his foot too high and catching the baseman in the chest or face. If it is a slide that is part of the game of baseball at higher levels then I say let them use it.
Well...they have MUCH more data to work with than just what YOU saw. So they know there are more more (and more importantly, more SEVERE) injuries from head first sliding.
I played little league baseball last in 1967,68,69 we could dive head first, had open helmets and mitts that would take a pound of grease a baseball a rubber band and a year under your bed before you could catch a ball with them. Kids today won’t even go out at night to throw the trash out. Too many rules
I agree that headfirst slides are stupid. I disagree that it should be an automatic out. At the very least he could be returned to the previous base or removed from the game and another Runner put in his place. Which I actually prefer the second concept.
Well...if YOU say so, then so be it! After all, you are a sports medicine expert and know all about he potential for injuries that exist with 10 year olds but not 11 or 12 year olds! And you are SUCH an expert that you can rightfully refute all the ACTUAL experts who the league consulted when coming up with this rule!
The rule against headfirst slides is dumb and overprotective, but it's well-known by players and coaches. The runner forgot the rule, broke the rule, and got punished for it. Silly mistake. His fault.
Right call. ..however playing in many state and region tournaments the hybrid rulings get worse and worse. We won one game off a double off the wall. BUT the umpire wasn't watching the hit, baserunners or pitcher. He was apparently looking at the plate when our batter allegedly stepped on corner of black running to first. He was call out, game over/season over. The call wasn't made until after we mobbed our hitter for a walk off. Just found it a little strange.
You are a player in the game it sounds like. You likely had no idea when he made the call since you were likely watching the play. It was probably being called right from the beginning and you didn't notice in the excitement. BTW, the foot stepping on the corner of the paint of the plate in it's own is nothing. The foot has to be completely out of the box. Now plate could delay that call a second in making sure he was confident the foot was out of the box. But to wait that long, no call would be made at that point.
1. That is a ridiculous rule. If sliding head first is dangerous to the player and a rule is placed to avoid it, then players should be required to wear long sleeves to protect the arms of players from dangerous scrapes, plexiglass should be installed in front of the batter to avoid being dangerously hit by a pitch, helmets required for all positions on the field, softer balls should be produced and required for all games, adults should have to stand right next to every player on the field to protect from the kid from being hit, each base should have another base to which the player runs to vs the base a fielder must tag in order to avoid the ball being dangerously thrown into the vicinity of the runner who is focused on the bag and not the ball. 2. That field looks tiny as shit when you're used to looking at major league fields only.
Thats excactly why I left Little League.Voluntered umpires, no leadoffs, no stealing after ball crosses home,no headfirst diving to a base but you can back to it, and terrible teams.
The reason club/travel ball has become so popular? Because Little League just keeps getting worse. Little League is boring to play. No head first sliding, coaches can't warm up their pitches anymore between innings, there is no leading off, the fields are tiny, the bats are terrible. You can do some of these things if you play Juniors, but by then the kids that are serious about ball are playing for their high school feeder teams.
I think head first slides should be allowed in whatever age they are in. They look atleast 12, I was able to slide headfirst except for home at 12 years old. By 13, I was able to slide into home headfirst, I think if the runner wants to risk being injured, let them do it.
The rule is to try to prevent head injury more than anything else. I'd rather my child not get a concussion skidding head first into a base because, no matter how good they are, these kids are still learning how to control their bodies and play the game.
Oh..it is worse than concussions. IT doesn't take your head being out of proper position by very much and starting the slide a little too late to hit hard enough to break your neck. And then the kid gets to eat out of a feeding tube for the next 30 years before he dies in his early 40s.
No The worst ending was when the third base coach physically pushed the runner towards home. The runner was therefore called out and the game was over.
I think he was thrown and tagged out anyway and he shouldn't have rounded first anyway. The right play on his part is to run to first and step on the bag and run out of bounds to his right. Everything stops right there. We were ALWAYS coached that unless you KNOW you've got a double you do NOT pass first base unless a wild throw or bobble keeps the ball in play and even THEN you only run if you're damned sure you can make it or if it will help another runner advance or stay safe. I don't know what the hell he was thinking or the coach who waved him on or DIDN'T coach his players to never risk getting thrown out if you're a base runner with two outs.
They should just outlaw sliding period. It is a stupid rule. There are always risks when you play any sort of competitive sports. There are more risks getting hit by a pitch so make it illegal to throw the ball greater than 10 mph.
I find amusing the comments that leave the impression this is a newish rule dumbing down the sport. This rule showed up in either 1995 or 1996. That means there is now a generation of fathers and sons who have both dealt with the rule if they stayed with LL (Personal note: this is as dumb as ever, even though feet first sliding is indisputably safer.)
Taking an effective pitcher out with a lead only to bring in someone who promptly gives up the lead and then some? This manager is ready for the Majors! Strictly "by the book" managing! Analytics forever!
The head first slide wasn't really the issue. The issue was he went to 2nd when he should have stayed at first. If he had gone in feet first the throw beats him to the bag and he probably gets tagged out. Taking the chance he doesn't get called out for going in head first was the only way to try and correct the error in judgement. And let me be clear. I am not blaming the kid for trying. It was a hustle play and I would bet the coaches told him when he went up to bat he was the tying run and needed to get in to scoring position. I've seen lots of kids make mistakes of effort. I started playing ball when I was 8 and played baseball or, as an adult, softball in to my late 50's and I have seen lots of adults make similar bad decisions in the moment. I've done it and it's easy to understand your mistake after you make it but it doesn't feel like a mistake while the play is happening. The kid was trying his best. I wouldn't call the ending sad. He made a decision which could have been great but the other team did their jobs and it turned out to be the wrong decision.
I wouldn’t say it’s the worst ending. He made a mistake. But it was a mistake caused by hustle and passion. I’d take him on my team any day.
Exactly
Absolutely! It, obviously, is a mistake he'll never make again but we all know the saying about hindsight! Very sad! They did seem to be pressing for a win!
It's not the worst because of the mistake. It's the worst because we were on the verge of an exciting at bat with the possibility of a tying or game winning hit.
Not sure why you think a bad ending MUST be due to a player error.
OK I'll take the ones that won then
This is a call you hate making as an umpire. Had a game once where a kid hit an inside the park home run and dove headfirst into home. I felt so bad calling the kid out
Then don't make it.
@@alexchen3332 Look buddy, whether I like it or not, the rule is the rule. As an umpire, I have to enforce the rules to uphold the integrity of the game. No exceptions.
SWGoji 2001 if I were the umpire I wouldn’t have the guts to make the call. I just couldn’t.
@@alexchen3332 That's the biggest problem of being an umpire. I have to enforce the rules no matter what. It sucks, but it is what it is
SWGoji 2001 It’s unfortunate
"He's out he's going to be called out he's going to be out they are reviewing it yep he's out"
Umps dad cheering for him 2:54
underrated comment tbh
😂
That was a good head first dive for a kid in little league
Brother of one of the players on Freehold, this one still hurts. The team is back going for the 50/70 LLWS in California.
0:40 "New York puts in a new pitcher... who shuts down New York" lolwut
"The rule is 7.08(a. 4) - The runner is out when: the runner slides head first while advancing. There is also a Little League Case Book called "The Right Call" which says, "When to call a runner out for sliding head first - as soon as you determine the act is in fact a head first slide and not just a stumble or trip."
@@SaltiDawg2008 This is not relevant to the OP at all
Oh THAT WAS HEARTBREAKING.
That wasn't a rule when I played, I'm 54 yrs old. It's possible to get hurt either way you slide. I've seen plenty of broken ankles sliding. Let them play, I was proud of my cast on hand, girls signing it that never would have talked to me :)
steve b I doubt you could point out 1 person who went blind from sliding head first in baseball
styner3 exactly now ur 54 that was a long time ago
styner3 wow an you needed an injury for people to notice you lol u were a loner before that for sure
You're also 54 years old
It wasn't a rule when you played, but it is a rule now, and a rule is a rule. I feel bad for the kid because he was acting on his athletic instincts but -- it's a rule whether you agree with it or not.
I have made that call ONE time in my 18 years as a LL umpire.
Keniel Rivera how is he a perv😂
I play baseball and you're probably trash
@@kenielrivera7442 - what?????? What you wrote, made no sense whatsoever!
@@adriansookai ur garbo guaranteed he’s a good ump for that
@@adriansookai what dose you playing bb have anything to do with him being trash and he's probably not
I made this mistake too back when I was 8 years old playing little league (1998) I remember I was trying to get a triple slide in head first and got called out at the time I didn't know why at the time. the coaches never mentioned anything about that rule when I was playing.
Ramon Perez Bad coaches
I think third base should be an exception, because you’d rather a bad throw hit your feet or back than your head and the throw is always coming from behind you
@@minecraftcatmanplusg Actually, I think you'd be fine sliding feet first, unless your helmet flew off.
The reason why hard first slides are banned in to prevent face injury and concussions. Kids do not have the neck strength than grown men do. They also don’t have as much practice. Momentum will whip your face right into ground, causing face injury and possibly concussion. Baseball helmets will not do much to help in that situation.
why do they allow head first diving going back to a base, but not towards a base ?
@@aaronaguilar9172 You are generally going a lot slower when getting back to a base than when stretching for a double.
From a rules and safety point of view, there are hazards in any slide, especially with fixed bases. Ankles and knees can often be susceptible to injury in a “legal” slide.
Perhaps the penalty should be to send the runner back to the previous base (unless he is tagged out in the course of the play).
In a way, Little League, as organized, tries to have things both ways. They want to look like (and get the financial benefits of) MLB, complete with a World Series, and televised coverage that many professional Minor Leagues would like, yet players are discouraged from using the kinds of moves (such as head first slides) that the children playing these games use because they see professional ball players using them. If the practice of head first slides (which are actually hands first slides) is so unsafe, then why are they allowed to avoid a pickoff by going back to the base they were occupying? In other words, had this runner thought he was going to be out at second, he could return to first, and could use a head first slide back into first. Or am I misunderstanding the rule? What’s even more interesting is that when these kids turn 13, they are allowed to use that slide.
Just some food for thought.
This rule is in place for the kids safety. I had a friend that broke both his wrists sliding headfirst in LL, which is an example of why the implemented this rule.
Little League doesn’t have fixed bases. They are breakaway.
@@deanb024 Having worked many levels of baseball, at different levels, from youth to men’s leagues, there is a wide variety of bases, and that is usually determined by the parks and maintenance departments in the various communities. MLB uses a fixed base (called, I believe, Hollywood bases). At lower levels (excepting possibly NCAA), these were rare, as the field itself has to have the infrastructure to affix the base. I live in the Northeast - and weather makes problems for field maintenance.
The most common bases I saw were bases that were held in place with one or two stakes, and you just hope those stakes are driven in as far as possible, to avoid being a hazard to a sliding player. And then there were bases not held down at all, which fly off as soon as a runner slides into them. Umpires had to use our best judgment as to whether the runner was in contact with where the base should be.
This can also create adventures around determining fair foul calls, if the base is not in its proper location, which is rarely marked. We were often happy just to have foul lines. Otherwise, you had to try to eyeball the side of the plate, the base, and a foul pole. It could prove to be an adventure.
I’ve seen cities and towns spend a lot of money building a field, and then not spending enough money to maintain it properly.
So there is no single standard for the type of bases, and as these are public parks, the public has access to these fields when games aren’t being played, so coaches had to bring their equipment, including their bases, with them to practices and games.
One nearby city spent a great deal of money in building two fields, one for Little League, and one for older levels with a full size diamond. They spent on fencing, benches, even lights for night games. But they made one HUGE error. They had the backstop barely ten feet from the back of home plate, instead of the regulated 60 feet! Foul balls straight to the backstop literally could bounce off, ricochet, and hit you from rear. And trying to move the fence would have required moving all the lights, which would have been extremely expensive.
So Williamsport can write rules regarding ball fields, but that doesn’t mean those rules will be followed.
Sad that the game had to end that way, but obviously the right call given the rule.
Rule needs changed been stupid since day one.
Head first slides are the reason people are called safe in the big leagues. Injuries are insanely rare. You make a fun game so boring with these rules. In my opinion it's just instinct. I played baseball and slid head first lots of times in middle school except at home. But in my opinion I think the worst rule ever is no steals and pickoffs. The LLWS should become more like the big league so that young players have higher chances at a great future. That is my opinion.
Fluttershy Luva They are trying to teach proper form. Head first dives actually do cause a lot of injuries.
What is the ratio like 2% of the time you get hurt going head first and 1.8% of the time going foot first, you are one of the people that wants to give a trophy to every kid and not keep score so everyone feels good about themselves.
Fluttershy Luva the league I play in is major league rules. We have pickoffs, steals, balks, headfirst slides, drop third strike, ect. and it is really fun to watch and play because we are playing major league rules and at the same pace as the big leaguers.
9989812 same here pony is better
sliding head first slows you down, injuries are not insanely rare MLB players are trained to play through broken fingers. Nick Markakis played an entire game in DH with a broken thumb. head first sliding makes you jam your hands on the bag and it is easier to brake your wrist/arm getting caught under you than it is with a twisted ankle.
This is the rule for Little League Majors (i.e. 12U) and below. For Little League Intermediate (i.e. 13U) and above, head first slides while advancing is allowed. Some of these kids at the 12U and below level also play on tournament teams not associated with Little League, and it is quite possible they have been playing tournaments that allow head first slides and lead offs etc. So I could easily see where a kid in the moment reacts on instinct instead of thinking which rule set he is playing under. Good hustle on the kids part though!
In the end, I’m glad Maine-Endwell moved on. They put on one hell of a show and won the whole thing. Such a fun team to watch.
Advancing head first slide is banned in my park, and it ALWAYS causes problems. But it is an insurance issue for us.
That sucks. But you gotta stick to protocol to be fair on all sides. If you let this instance go you’ll have to let other things go and another until it gets too ridiculous. I feel sorry for the kid since he was just hustling but yea its tough...
Back in my day you could slide anyway in little league.
Well, head first slides have been ruled out in Little League for over 30 years, so 'your day' has been long gone.
Dumbest part is that you see more people get hurt off of feet first slides
Actually, you don't. A recent study showed the injury rate on head-first slides is about one in 250. For feet first, the rate is 1 in over 400.
Had a play similar to this happen to end a playoff game last season. Runner at 3rd stole home for tying run, hurdling the catcher before touching the plate without a tag. There is a specific rule in our book that bans jumping over players due to safety concerns. Call was immediately made as out, game over. Sucks, but that's the way the rule is written.
There is no rule in Little League that prevents a runner from jumping over a catcher (just that they need to attempt to avoid contact) and no local leagues are allowed to alter that rule (at least not for Majors division.)
Michigan High School Athletic Association Rule, not Little League
Dumb rule. If you're going to have a rule dealing with contact at the plate, that rule needs to be that the catcher cannot block the plate. It's idiotic to say that the runner should have to attempt to avoid contact. Who is writing these rules?
THEY CHANGE RULES EVERYYEAR, BUT THIS RULE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ATLEAST 16 YEARS AND THE COACHES AT THIS LEVEL SHOULD KNOW THE RULLE WELL BY NOW
That kid probably felt so bad
Ya think? smh
I made this call in my first ever Majors Little League game behind the plate. Kid slid head first into Home Plate. Coaches weren’t happy with the ruling as they thought he tripped. Was shocked I had to make it
It is hard for me to imagine coaches taking the time to explain all the intricate rules. Even MLB players know all their rules.
Not always
I've been an umpire for 36 years. LL, HS, JC, NCAA, MiLB games. It is very rare to find a ball player or coach that knows the rules... At all. JS
We had a point of emphasis (before those were even a thing) of players needing to touch first base on a walkoff and also not removing helmets. Had multiple walk offs called back.
When I was a kid, I didn't play little league baseball. I played a league called Cal Ripken baseball, and we also played on a 50/70 diamond, bigger than the little league fields. We got to take leads before the pitch was thrown, and we got to slide headfirst, and the rules weren't as strict as it is in little league. To all the people that have kids, or are a kid who don't like these rules, I suggest that they find a local Cal Ripken league to play at. I lived 30 minutes away from where I played Cal Ripken baseball. It was so much better.
This is akin to Chris Webber calling a timeout that he didn't have. Bummer for this kid after a great hit.
But this kid is 10 times smarter than Webber, so it's odd that he would make such a bone-headed decision... even in the heat of competition.
Not surprising though about Webber. Not surprising at all.
@@donarthiazi2443 Do you have evidence of an IQ test or something?
Oh man... I hate that for that kid.
That's not a bad rule and yes the base runner should know better, but I would not want to win like that.
that's a terrible rule
How awesome is it that the short stop knew it before anyone else.
I created an odd ending to my last senior little league game. I was in center field, it was the last inning and we were ahead. They had runners on second and third with two outs. The batter that comes up had never hit a ball out of the infield in all his years of playing. I see the two runners talking to each other and only paying attention to the plate. I slowly walk in and stand on second base. The pitcher looks to second to check on the runner and I’m holding my glove out pointing at the bag to throw it. He shakes me off and pitches home. The pitchers gets the ball back and I’m still there signaling him the throw. He turns and fires it at me and I tag the runner out. Game and season over. I couldn’t believe that neither the runners, the other team, or anybody else noticed me standing there and an empty center field.
The Right call but so tough to make. I hope that young man goes far in baseball. He took it well.
Sad ending for sure, but you can't definitely say that's what lost it for them. They were still down 2 with 2 outs.
The President at our Little League was telling us a story about why he doesn't allow his players to slide head first. Apparently there was a kid in his little league that enjoyed eating before his games...something like a burrito or a burger. He apparently landed wrong on his stomach which caused the food to be forced back up where it was then inhaled in to the lungs and the kid asphyxiated and died. I guess this would have happened in the 70s. I can not verify this story, unfortunately.
Intermediate rules allow for head first slides. Half of the kids on my team prefer to slide head first and I let them. I have never had an injury from a head first slide on my team.
Last year a kid on another team took a late slide in to 3rd base, feet first. My teams biggest kid was not used to playing third but was there that day. He had his foot in the middle of the base and the break-away bag did not break away. The kid who was sliding in to third kept going past the bag on his slide and snapped his ankle.
So my experience tells me to just let the kids have fun and slide however they want. Bad things can happen either way and they are never intentional.
Dang would have loved to play in one of these games as a kid, at 12 i threw the ball 78mph at 14 I threw at 89 mph @ 15 I my coaches pitched me so much no rule on how many pitches could be thrown in a game , just couldn't pitch 2 games in a row . Any way my arm was toast . I pitched always in the level above my age group , cause I threw to hard for kids my age . I could also hit very well thanks to my 4 older brothers making me play with them and their friends. And very very fast runner .
Infact after my shoulder stopped working so well I got into track. Anyway thanks for posting and sending me back 45 yrs !
no head first diving in baseball is like no fighting in hockey
Another dumb comment.
That rule has been in play for awhile! Tough loss
Its to prevent head and neck injuries. He's out because the rules say he's out if he slides head first, just as if he hit a fly ball to the right fielder. The rules say he's out. Just because it isn't a rule in all levels, doesn't make it not invalid
that rule sucks
Preston Lea No. The rule is for PLAYER SAFETY. I not only approve of that rule, I ENFORCE IT VIGOROUSLY.
Steve Dandy dude sliding head first isn't gonna kill you
Reilly..it could easily break your neck. And then they kid would be as much of a burden to society as you are healthy.
Reilly Byers How about SERIOUSLY INJURE a player?
It is SAFER to slide FEET FIRST.
End of discussion.
knickknack07 - I agree with your first sentence, but after that, I STRONGLY object to LABELING someone who is handicapped "a burden to society."
People who are handicapped can still have a "quality life" (albeit limited).
Who are YOU to DENY them that?
Lastly, pray that YOU never become handicapped and, as you said "a burden to society."
I think these kids know their baseball. This one should have known better than to slide illegally.
When did they make that rule? It wasn't there when i played. Anybody know the reasoning behind the rule?
smokert5555 It's for the kids that can't headfirst slide correctly and hurt themselves then sue little league
The Pug
I'm not sure how they hurt themselves. They're wearing helmets.
Every broken neck that every occurred in baseball/softball, at all levels, happened on head first slides. As well, as you may have noticed in the press about football recently, helmets don't prevent concussions, especially when you lead with the head....sliding head first can result in smacking your head on the fielders' knees and shins and WILL, even with a helmet, result in concussions.
shpaget1
Sorry, but i've never heard of anybody breaking their neck sliding head first, either professional or amateur. Do you have any references for this?
I would point out sliding in baseball occurs rarely while tackles using the head can occur many times a game. It is also much more dangerous to be pitched to in baseball that it is running the bases. If they are outlawing head first slides but don't care about batting, what does that really say?
Except for my grade ten history teacher, no - I know of no professional incident, which is, however, part of the point. The older and more experienced you get, then the more you learn how to slide properly, in a controlled fashion. It does happen in amateur games...it's rare, just like broken necks in hockey are rare.
The incident that does happen a LOT is broken fingers, wrists and hands...it seems to be easier to injure your hands than your knees/ankles on slides...especially if you don't know what you're doing.
As far as batters...well, they did put helmets on batters, didn't they? And they put padding on catchers, didn't they? And some of the younger ball leagues make the batters wear chest protectors too, because there have been a few incidents of fastballs hitting players in the heart and stopping it. Some leagues are making pitchers wear masks and/or helmets.
It's not about "outlawing" head first slides - it's about removing a potentially dangerous element of the game from players of an age that aren't coordinated enough to do it safely and properly, without impacting the integrity of the game. There are leagues that also forbid sliding into first base, and others that mandate sliding into home plate for similar reasons.
As far as many times versus fewer times - doesn't matter. It only needs once, and the point is, helmets don't eliminate concussions, they reduce the incidence. Sliding headfirst exponentially increases your chance of a concussion of sliding feet first.
Unfortunate choice by the batter to slide head first.
But, it lends weight to the old saying, "Keep your head in the game."
How much you wanna bet he plays travel ball, where a head-first slide is allowed.
No. Worst game ending 7-26-11. Atlanta, Georgia. Plate Umpire Jerry Meals calls the Braves' Julio Lugo safe in the bottom of the 19th inning after Pirates' catcher Mike McKenry tagged Lugo out three feet in front of the plate. THAT is a bad ending to a game.
I'm from New York so I like the rule
This isn't a worst baseball game ending... Sure the rule sucks but it's still a rule. Bad job on the runner for sliding head first. He should know the rule
paul blake that's a stupid rule and how is the runner supposed to remember when the games on the line
because its a little league rule... his coaches should have done a better job teaching him that....
Charles Baseball lol because it's an important rule to remember and not 1 that should be forgotten. The kid made a mistake. It happens. I'm just saying it shouldn't be in the video.
Because they are taught the fundamentals of sliding. And taught the rules. And taught that no player ever broke his neck sliding feet first. It's a safety rule. How are kids supposed to remember to put their helmet on when the game is on the line? How are kids supposed to remember to tag up on a fly ball when the game is on the line? How are kids supposed to remember to run on a dropped third strike when the game is on the line? For someone with "baseball" in his name you sure don't have a clue about the sport.
paul blake that is why I don't play little league, I play USSA
I feel bad for that kid
That second base umpire should be fired and banned from ever again umpiring Little League. Why? Because there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for that "conference". He should have made that call right away. If you're gonna umpire, you have to have the stones to make those calls which you know are going to crush the hearts of a team and their parents. NOBODY complained about that call. Umpiring like that is an act of cowardice.
Didn't know that,yeah,what a way to end it,heartbreaking,real rally killer!
Right call, but a horrible rule. I have never, not once in my entire baseball career (12 years), slide feet first. You can get injured just as easily sliding feet first as you can sliding head first so this rule is not protecting anyone. Even though I was fast I had very weak ankles...and had I been forced to slide feet first I can only imagine the number of injuries I would have sustained.
why on earth did he do that, thats one of the most enforced rules in little league. somebody has been playing travel ball and got his rules mixed up...
The reason why people slide headfirst is because you have a better chance at being safe so that rule needs to be taken out if LL wants the players to have fun
Exactly why I stopped playing little league and went to Pony. More competitive and it's MLB rules
Little League is chartered by Congress as a Leadership Development Program, not a Sports Program. Little League uses baseball as a vessel to teach life lessons. yes Pony is competitive and uses MNL rules, which is not why LL exists.
A lot of people may disagree with me on this one, but I really think that rule should be changed. I remember playing little league, and seeing just as many injuries sliding feet first. whether it be the kid sliding into a base and breaking the kids hand at the bag, and accidentally getting his foot too high and catching the baseman in the chest or face. If it is a slide that is part of the game of baseball at higher levels then I say let them use it.
Well...they have MUCH more data to work with than just what YOU saw. So they know there are more more (and more importantly, more SEVERE) injuries from head first sliding.
I played little league baseball last in 1967,68,69 we could dive head first, had open helmets and mitts that would take a pound of grease a baseball a rubber band and a year under your bed before you could catch a ball with them. Kids today won’t even go out at night to throw the trash out. Too many rules
Dive is BACK to a base not what he did sliding INTO a base.
I agree with the term “sad ending” but it’s not as bad as a bad call, it’s an unfortunate rule that could’ve been prevented by the runner
I agree that headfirst slides are stupid. I disagree that it should be an automatic out. At the very least he could be returned to the previous base or removed from the game and another Runner put in his place. Which I actually prefer the second concept.
BS Rules, That rule should only apply in Minor league ages 4-10
MasterGamer you mean little league, minor league is pro ball
little league has age progression.... t-ball then coach pitch then MINORS 8-10, then MAJORS 11 to 12 then on to senior ball. seriously dude come on
Well...if YOU say so, then so be it! After all, you are a sports medicine expert and know all about he potential for injuries that exist with 10 year olds but not 11 or 12 year olds! And you are SUCH an expert that you can rightfully refute all the ACTUAL experts who the league consulted when coming up with this rule!
The rule against headfirst slides is dumb and overprotective, but it's well-known by players and coaches. The runner forgot the rule, broke the rule, and got punished for it. Silly mistake. His fault.
Right call. ..however playing in many state and region tournaments the hybrid rulings get worse and worse. We won one game off a double off the wall. BUT the umpire wasn't watching the hit, baserunners or pitcher. He was apparently looking at the plate when our batter allegedly stepped on corner of black running to first. He was call out, game over/season over. The call wasn't made until after we mobbed our hitter for a walk off. Just found it a little strange.
You are a player in the game it sounds like. You likely had no idea when he made the call since you were likely watching the play. It was probably being called right from the beginning and you didn't notice in the excitement. BTW, the foot stepping on the corner of the paint of the plate in it's own is nothing. The foot has to be completely out of the box. Now plate could delay that call a second in making sure he was confident the foot was out of the box. But to wait that long, no call would be made at that point.
That isn't within a trillion miles of being the worst ending. Ffs, he broke a fundamental rule of little league. He did it to himself and his team.
I HATE THIS RULE SO MUCH! I know the intent is to keep players safe. But I don't believe it adds any significant margin for safety.
Somebody call the fire department, this kid slid head first into 2nd base
I play select baseball and I've never heard of this being a rule
1. That is a ridiculous rule. If sliding head first is dangerous to the player and a rule is placed to avoid it, then players should be required to wear long sleeves to protect the arms of players from dangerous scrapes, plexiglass should be installed in front of the batter to avoid being dangerously hit by a pitch, helmets required for all positions on the field, softer balls should be produced and required for all games, adults should have to stand right next to every player on the field to protect from the kid from being hit, each base should have another base to which the player runs to vs the base a fielder must tag in order to avoid the ball being dangerously thrown into the vicinity of the runner who is focused on the bag and not the ball.
2. That field looks tiny as shit when you're used to looking at major league fields only.
I slid head first in little league back in the day. I was too called out, i went home a dumbass that day
Thats excactly why I left Little League.Voluntered umpires, no leadoffs, no stealing after ball crosses home,no headfirst diving to a base but you can back to it, and terrible teams.
Depends on the age and league. In house usually has those rules for 7-10u. not travel.
its literally no sadder or worse than having a game end when a player breaks any other rule.
the point is that this rule is BS!
The reason club/travel ball has become so popular? Because Little League just keeps getting worse. Little League is boring to play. No head first sliding, coaches can't warm up their pitches anymore between innings, there is no leading off, the fields are tiny, the bats are terrible. You can do some of these things if you play Juniors, but by then the kids that are serious about ball are playing for their high school feeder teams.
I think head first slides should be allowed in whatever age they are in. They look atleast 12, I was able to slide headfirst except for home at 12 years old. By 13, I was able to slide into home headfirst, I think if the runner wants to risk being injured, let them do it.
Well it's kinda his own fault for sliding head first
Head first injuries are 2% and feet first are 1.8 yet you can slide head first
Oh in my 11 year old baseball. League we can slide head first but I understand that it is dangerous sometimes
i wouldve cried.
1.3 MILLION views? Way more people watched this video than ever saw the game... that's crazy.
This is a great ending. The umpires made the right call.
How is a kid being called out on a bs rule a good way to end the game
@@xdultra730 because that’s the rule? Lol
Why is this a sad ending. Rules are rules. The kid did nothing wrong, but broke a rule. Great hustle
The rule is to try to prevent head injury more than anything else. I'd rather my child not get a concussion skidding head first into a base because, no matter how good they are, these kids are still learning how to control their bodies and play the game.
Oh..it is worse than concussions. IT doesn't take your head being out of proper position by very much and starting the slide a little too late to hit hard enough to break your neck. And then the kid gets to eat out of a feeding tube for the next 30 years before he dies in his early 40s.
Thank goodness I grew up and played ball in an era that wasn't so Nancy. Yes, may be safer, yes it's in the rules, but seriously, that is horrible.
No The worst ending was when the third base coach physically pushed the runner towards home. The runner was therefore called out and the game was over.
I've got to see this, please tell me there is a video of it and where to find it..
I think he was thrown and tagged out anyway and he shouldn't have rounded first anyway. The right play on his part is to run to first and step on the bag and run out of bounds to his right. Everything stops right there. We were ALWAYS coached that unless you KNOW you've got a double you do NOT pass first base unless a wild throw or bobble keeps the ball in play and even THEN you only run if you're damned sure you can make it or if it will help another runner advance or stay safe.
I don't know what the hell he was thinking or the coach who waved him on or DIDN'T coach his players to never risk getting thrown out if you're a base runner with two outs.
Spine. That is the reason for this rule.... far more likely to mess up your back for life diving like that at a young age.
They had 5 other innings to win, and rules are rules. Unfortunate? Yes.
dumbest rule in baseball I don't care what level, a slide is a slide. I'm 49 and we never had rules likes this to follow, it's baseball
Some of these kids don’t even look like they are 12
He sounds like a science RUclips video teachers use
This is why Cal Ripken Baseball is head and shoulders above stupid LL rules. That's why would not umpire LL, for I only did Cal Ripken.
Should be able to slide the way you want. What a shitty rule.
That is a rule. Not a bad ending. If you know the rules, you win the game.
well they still needed two runs with 2 outs
Trevor Patience you make me mad it's LITTLE LEAGUE you clearly have never played baseball before in ur life
if that wasn't the rule, they still haven't won the game yet
That's still a bad rule
They should just outlaw sliding period. It is a stupid rule. There are always risks when you play any sort of competitive sports. There are more risks getting hit by a pitch so make it illegal to throw the ball greater than 10 mph.
How come they can't slide head first? I know it's been a rule for a while and most leagues use it, but why can't they do it in the LLWS?
Supposedly it's more dangerous for the runner. It's pretty easier to break a finger or dislocate a shoulder that young
I find amusing the comments that leave the impression this is a newish rule dumbing down the sport. This rule showed up in either 1995 or 1996.
That means there is now a generation of fathers and sons who have both dealt with the rule if they stayed with LL
(Personal note: this is as dumb as ever, even though feet first sliding is indisputably safer.)
0:17 mini Blake snell
Sweet pick by that shortstop 0:46
Taking an effective pitcher out with a lead only to bring in someone who promptly gives up the lead and then some? This manager is ready for the Majors! Strictly "by the book" managing! Analytics forever!
One of the many reasons why LL is inferior to other youth baseball associations/leagues.
This rule needs to be removed from LL rules. Just let them play.
The head first slide wasn't really the issue. The issue was he went to 2nd when he should have stayed at first. If he had gone in feet first the throw beats him to the bag and he probably gets tagged out. Taking the chance he doesn't get called out for going in head first was the only way to try and correct the error in judgement.
And let me be clear. I am not blaming the kid for trying. It was a hustle play and I would bet the coaches told him when he went up to bat he was the tying run and needed to get in to scoring position. I've seen lots of kids make mistakes of effort. I started playing ball when I was 8 and played baseball or, as an adult, softball in to my late 50's and I have seen lots of adults make similar bad decisions in the moment. I've done it and it's easy to understand your mistake after you make it but it doesn't feel like a mistake while the play is happening. The kid was trying his best. I wouldn't call the ending sad. He made a decision which could have been great but the other team did their jobs and it turned out to be the wrong decision.