When an assistant coach leaves the coaching box to argue a judgment call by the base umpire, what is the penalty on the first offense?

• A. Both the head coach and the assistant coach are restricted to the dugout on the first offense.
• B. A warning shall be issued to the team.
• C. Both the head coach and the assistant coach are automatically ejected.
• D. Only the assistant coach is restricted to the bench.

Answer: (A)

Coaches are expected to stay in their designated coaching area, and leaving to argue a call is treated as unsportsmanlike conduct by the coaching staff. On the first offense for an assistant coach leaving the box, the penalty is that both the head coach and the assistant coach are restricted to the dugout. This keeps the game under control, limits delay, and makes clear that the coaching staff as a unit must stay within the designated area.

The other ideas don’t fit the first-offense rule: a team warning isn’t the specific penalty for this situation, ejecting coaches happens on more severe or repeated misconduct, and restricting only one coach doesn’t reflect the rule that both the head coach and the assistant are penalized on the first offense.