Getting to first base: Running is faster than sliding in collegiate baseball and softball players

Abstract

Previous research has shown no significant differences in time required to reach a base when sliding head-first or feet-first, but few studies have compared running through and sliding into first base in baseball players, and none have included softball players. The purpose of the present study was to examine differences in time required to reach first base when running, sliding head-first, and sliding feet-first. Twelve female collegiate softball players (20.0 ± 1.3 years old) and 14 male collegiate baseball players (20.6 ± 1.6 years old) performed three trials each of running, sliding head-first, and sliding feet-first in a randomized, counterbalanced order with 1–2 min of rest between each trial. Testing was conducted in an indoor practice facility and trials were timed using a dual-beam wireless infrared timing system. Significant differences between the three approaches were found for both softball (p < .001) and baseball players (p < .001), and follow-up pairwise comparisons showed running through the base was significantly faster than sliding head-first (p = .001 for softball, p = .009 for baseball) and feet-first (p < .001 for softball, p = .002 for baseball). Differences between sliding head-first and feet-first were not significant in either group. Running through first base is significantly faster than sliding in collegiate baseball and softball players. Sliding into first base should only be attempted when avoiding a tag from or a collision with a fielder.