Sliding into home

Question
I am coaching in a league that has a mandatory slide rule at home on a play at the plate. The runner is to be out. But the president and board can not define what a play at the plate is. On one occasion the player crossed the plate and my catcher tagged him creating contact. The umpire said the runner tried to avoid contact. But the league has a mandatory slide rule. Should the umpire have ruled the runner out and is that a play at the plate.

Answer
Hi Brad:

Thanks for your question.  The Little League rule book states that a runner must slide OR avoid at any base when a play is being made.  You cannot, therefore, have a local league rule that states that a player "must slide" at home plate, as that would contradict the rule book.

It sounds to me like the umpire applied the rules properly, and I would not have ruled the runner out.  The way you describe the play, it does not sound like a "play at the plate" for the purposes of this rule.

I hope this answers your question, enjoy the rest of your season!

Cheers,
Gareth