12u softball (fastpitch), sliding at home

Question
I have a question about whether or not a runner must slide at home plate if there is a play at the base. Someone said if you don't slide you are automatically out. Is that true. We play ASA rules and I could not find it in the book.

Answer
Hi Jill,

Thank you for your question.  No, a runner must not slide at home plate (or at 1B, 2B, or 3B)!  The only 2011 ASA rule requirement of a runner, related to your question, can be found in 8-7-Q: "THE RUNNER IS OUT: When a defensive player has the ball and the runner remains upright and crashes into the defensive player.  EFFECT: The ball is dead.  The runner is out.  All runners must return to the last base touched.  If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender shall be ejected."  No mention is made of sliding.

8-7-Q is expounded in Rule Supplement 13, CRASHING INTO A FIELDER WITH THE BALL. (INTERFERENCE): "...To prevent the out ruling, the runner may slide, jump over the defender holding the ball, go around the defender or return to the previous base touched.  If the act is determined to be flagrant, the offender is ejected.  A runner may slide into the fielder."  Two mentions are made of sliding, both preceded by the word may.  Sliding is an option, not a requirement.

Scott Kelly