7.08 - Any runner is out when - (3) the runner does not slide or attempt to get around a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag.

Let's break down this rule into it's essential components.

" ...a fielder who has the ball and is waiting to make the tag."

To start with, the rule requires, as you've just read, that the player must have the ball and be waiting to make the tag. That's quite clear and specific. He must be in complete control of the ball and be standing on the base or in the baseline, or near it, waiting to make the tag.

" Any runner is out when the runner does not slide... "

there it is, the "must slide" rule, but...

" ...or attempt to get around... "

What's that? Another option??

Yes. This is why I said the "must slide" rule is a myth. The runner doesn't necessarily have to slide. He can try to get around him too! Provided, of course, the runner adheres to all other base running rules.

So there you have it. There are two requirements for this rule and two options for the runner. Just to summarize here they are:

It has been my experience that it is in this situation (usually a play at home plate) that you'll most often see a runner try to knock the ball loose by "taking out" the player waiting to make the tag. The runner usually can see that he is a dead duck and in that instant before being tagged out he somehow comes to the conclusion (perhaps from watching his Major League counterparts) that the only chance he has is to knock the ball away (after all the catcher is wearing protective equipment). His forearms go up, the defensive player braces himself, then - crash! When the dust settles, not only is the runner out (regardless of whether the defensive player held onto the ball or not) but he is ejected immediately as well. This "malicious contact" is unsportsmanlike conduct and is extremely dangerous in youth league sports. It should not be tolerated and should be dealt with swiftly and decisively.

That's rule 7.08(a)(3) in all it's glory. It covers a number of scenarios that can occur when runners and defensive players crash, but not all of them. What if you had a situation where one of the requirements for rule 7.08(a)(3) was not met? Let's take a look at some other possibilities.

Suppose the runner came crashing into the defensive player as the ball is reaching the player. This happens regularly in baseball and softball. Where both the runner and the ball are arriving at the play at about the same time. Quite often there is a collision. Anytime you have a collision on the base paths, there are three rulings upon which to decide.

1) Obstruction. Was the fielder (involved in the collision) "in the act of fielding" a thrown or batted ball? Was the ball near him? If not he is guilty of obstruction and the runner gets the base he was advancing to (and in some cases another base).

2) Interference.
a) (batted ball)
Was the fielder "in the act of fielding a batted ball"? If he was, then the runner is out. Runners must avoid all fielders in the act of fielding a batted ball. They may go out of the baseline to do it, but the fielder has the protection of the rule here. However only one fielder at a time may have the protection of this rule. If two fielders are "in the act of fielding a batted ball" then the umpire must decide which fielder gets the protection of the rule. Usually it's the player closest to the ball and most likely to make a play. If the collision happens with a fielder that the umpire deemed was not protected by the rule, the fielder is guilty of obstruction.

b) (thrown ball)
A judgment call is necessary here. Was the collision by the runner "intentional". For example, did he come a-runnin' with his forearms up and parlay the fielder? Or did he try to cause the fielder to miss or drop the ball? If his actions were intentional, then he is guilty of interference and should be called out. Additionally if he did parlay the poor fielder he should be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping Little League safe, and this is one place where leniency is not appropriate.

However if the runner's actions were unintentional and he collides with a fielder "in the act of fielding a thrown ball", then it's a collision. There is no call. It's unfortunate, but no one did anything contrary to the rules. The fielder has a right to make a play and field a thrown ball and the runner has an equal right to run the bases and get to his base. Nobody's to blame and anything that happens as a result of such a collision (the fielder misses or drops the ball) is incidental. The ball remains alive and all runners are free to advance.

3) Double Play Ball. If a runner intentionally interferes with a batted or thrown ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out as well as the batter-runner.
The batter-runner intentionally interferes with a batted ball with the obvious intent of breaking up a double play, the umpire shall call out the batter-runner and call out the runner closest to home plate regardless of where the double play may have been possible.
The ball is immediately dead in both cases.

When a runner is sliding into 2nd base on a double play ball, be sure he slides at least an arms length away from the base. If he goes further in an attempt to "take out" the fielder making the play, he may be called out for interference as well as the batter-runner should be called out.