Reply To: Are pop-up slides permitted in high school?

NFHS Rule 2 Section 32 Article 2 – A slide is illegal if:  (a) the runner uses a rolling, cross-body or pop-up slide into the fielder.

Pop-up slides are never legal in high school although enforcement of an illegal slide is only in connection with contact or influence of a defender.  This does most often occur at second base in connection with a force play slide situation, however, it can happen at any base at any time where a play is being made.

NFHS Rule 8 Section 4 Article 2 : Any runner is out when he: (b) does not legally slide and causes illegal contact and/or illegally alters the actions of a fielder in the immediate act of making a play, or on a force play, does not slide in a direct line between the bases.

NFHS Rule 8 Section 4 Article 2 (b) (2): Runners are never required to slide, but if a runner elects to slide, the slide must be legal.

The pop-up verbiage is not included in rule books for NCAA or OBR so this ruling is different at the high school level whose governing body puts a heightened emphasis on player safety.