"Must Slide Rule"

Teams and players are hereby notified that no such rule exists in softball, which states that a base runner "must slide". This has been and continues to be a standard misconception amongst a majority of softball players and fans alike. On page 65, under POINTS OF EMPHASIS IN the SCMAF rule book, it states under the section of COLLISIONS: "It is the intent of this rule book to avoid collisions whenever possible to prevent injury. AT NO TIME DO WE INSIST OR MAKE IT MANDATORY FOR ANYONE TO SLIDE, ONLY TO AVOID INTERFERENCE WITH A FIELDER. RUNNERS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO AVOID CONTACT WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR CONTACT TO OCCUR WITHOUT INTERFERENCE. Please refer to the definitions of interference and obstruction."