Which scenario constitutes an illegal slide?

Which scenario constitutes an illegal slide?

• A. The runner slides head first.
• B. The runner slides feet first with one leg and buttock on the ground.
• C. The runner goes beyond the base and alters the play of the fielder.
• D. The runner slides in a direction away from the fielder making the play at the base.

Answer: (C)

Runners must not leave the baseline or extend their slide to disrupt the fielder’s attempt to make a play. The action of going beyond the base and altering the fielder’s play is prohibited because it interferes with the defense and can create unsafe contact. That scenario directly violates the rule, making the slide illegal. The other described slides—whether head‑first or feet‑first with the body on the ground, or sliding in a direction away from the fielder—are not illegal by themselves under this rule, as long as they don’t interfere with the fielder or leave the base path to disrupt the play.

Runners must not leave the baseline or extend their slide to disrupt the fielder’s attempt to make a play. The action of going beyond the base and altering the fielder’s play is prohibited because it interferes with the defense and can create unsafe contact. That scenario directly violates the rule, making the slide illegal. The other described slides—whether head‑first or feet‑first with the body on the ground, or sliding in a direction away from the fielder—are not illegal by themselves under this rule, as long as they don’t interfere with the fielder or leave the base path to disrupt the play.