Brian Gotta

Below is an excerpt from Winning Secrets, my comprehensive how-to manual for coaching youth baseball

Because we’re only talking about a few inches, this may not seem like something that will make a huge difference. But as we discussed earlier, on close plays, the difference between being safe and out can be a matter of inches. A good umpire, who is in great position, will see whether the foot beat the tag, even if the throw beats the runner. And often this sliding technique will work in your favor – if only from a standpoint of perception. Many times I’ve had a play that was too close to call go in my team’s favor because of a great slide.