OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES

Rule 5.03 to 5.04PENALTY: The offending base coach shall be removedfrom the game, and shall leave the playing field.Rule 5.03 Comment (Rule 4.05 Comment): It has been commonpractice for many years for some coaches to put one footoutside the coach’s box or stand astride or otherwise be slightlyoutside the coaching box lines. Until a batted ball passes acoach, a coach is not permitted to position himself closer tohome plate than the coach’s box nor closer to fair territory thanthe coach’s box. Otherwise, a coach shall not be considered outof the box unless the opposing manager complains, in whichcase the umpire shall strictly enforce the rule and require allcoaches (on both teams) to remain in the coach’s box at alltimes.It is also common practice for a coach who has a play at hisbase to leave the coach’s box to signal the player to slide,advance or return to a base. This may be allowed if the coachdoes not interfere with the play in any manner. Other thanexchanging equipment, all base coaches shall refrain fromphysically touching base runners, especially when signs arebeing given.5.04 (6.00) Batting(a) (6.01) Batting Order(1) (6.01(a)) Each player of the offensive team shall bat inthe order that his name appears in his team’s batting order.(2) (4.04) The batting order shall be followed throughout thegame unless a player is substituted for another. In thatcase the substitute shall take the place of the replacedplayer in the batting order.(3) (6.01(b)) The first batter in each inning after the firstinning shall be the player whose name follows that of thelast player who legally completed his time at bat in thepreceding inning.(b) (6.02) The Batter’s Box(1) The batter shall take his position in the batter’s boxpromptly when it is his time at bat.18