The bent leg slide (also called the figure-4 slide) is the safest and most common slide. The back leg bends into a 4 shape under the body. The lead leg extends out and touches the base. Done right, the runner stays on the bag and is hard to tag.
What you need: Sliding shorts or sweatpants. A base. Soft dirt or grass.
Setup: Set a base on grass first. Move to dirt only after the kid is confident.
How to run it:
- Walk through the slide on the ground. Show: back leg bent under the front leg, lead leg straight out, body slightly leaning back.
- Kid lies down and gets into the position. Hold the position for 5 seconds.
- Stand up. Walk the slide motion. Run, drop down, slide.
- Do 3 slides at half speed.
- Last 5 slides at full speed into the base.
What to watch: Where the lead foot lands. The cleat should hit the FRONT edge of the base, not the side or top. Front edge gets the bag earliest.
If they’re struggling: Stay on grass. Stay at half speed. Sliding takes confidence.
If they’ve got it: Add a fielder with a tag. The slider has to land the foot on the base before the tag.