What must occur if a coach decides to request a courtesy runner after substituting a player?

When a coach decides to request a courtesy runner after substituting a player, the action is legal as long as specific conditions are met. The purpose of a courtesy runner is to speed up play, especially when a player who requires running assistance, often due to injury or the need to rest, is on base.

For this action to be permissible, the rules generally require that the courtesy runner enter the game for the player occupying the base and that the running substitution does not violate the existing substitution rules. Typically, the person running for the player must also be a legal substitute or a player who has not yet entered the game, ensuring the integrity of player substitutions is maintained.

In light of these considerations, the rules facilitate both the strategic elements of gameplay and ensure fairness by allowing teams to manage player fatigue or injury without penalizing them unduly. Therefore, the coach's request for a courtesy runner after making a substitution is valid when these established guidelines are adhered to.