How to read a basketball score sheet

How to Keep a Basketball Score Sheeet

How to Keep a Basketball Score Sheet

Keeping track of the score in basketball games is something that every person involved in the sport does, even if you are just an avid fan watching the match.

But basketball also includes detailed statistical categories other than the points a team compile when they successfully put the ball into the hoop. If you are tasked to be a scorekeeper, you also have to tally rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers and other important numbers essential in the rules of basketball.

This is not just one of those easy drills as the stats has to be accurate and should not include any discrepancy. If you are new to filling out a basketball stat sheet or you just want to refresh your knowledge of it, then read on as we go through the basics of basketball statistics.

Writing down the players' names and numbers

The first category to fill out consists of the names of the players and their jersey numbers, as well as the names of the coaches. You write down their names on the longest boxes you can see on the stat sheet, then place their numbers on their corresponding small boxes. The boxes for the coaches' names are usually located at the top, right beside the names of the teams. You have to be accurate in writing down their numbers because the referees will do a hand signal of a player's number when he commits a foul.

Moreover, the number printed at the back of a player's jersey is usually the largest one you can see on his uniform, making it easier for you to tally his points when he scores. In terms of the sequence of the players' names, you can list them down numerically so that you can find them on the stat sheet more quickly. After that, you should mark with an asterisk the starting line-up of each team or basically the first five players fielded in by the coaches. You can do this first category of the stat sheet by yourself, or you can ask the coaches or the managers to write them down for you.

Marking Change of Possesion on a Basketball Stat Sheet

Another important non-statistical category in basketball stat sheets is marking the change of possessions. This occurs in jump-ball situations, but there is a big difference between amateur and professional leagues. In amateur leagues, teams only jump for the ball at the start of the game and to begin an overtime period.

If there is a situation when there is a tie-up for the ball, the referees will refer to the scorekeeper to see which team will be rewarded with the possession. That is the main reason why you should be careful in marking this category. It is usually located at the top right corner of basketball stat sheets, in which you encircle the squad who won the first possession.

After that, you then just draw a line through each squad so that you would easily know who will be rewarded with the next possession.

Keeping track of team and individual player points

Now, we dive deep on most vital stat: points. It is the primary reason why we have a stat sheet in basketball. Two essential things to consider is that points are separated into two: team points and individual player points. You record team points through the Running Score section. When a player scores, you just put a slash mark in the corresponding box to keep track of teams' total points. As soon as a quarter ends, you will put the teams' total points in the Quarter Score section. After you record each made basket in the Running Score section, you then proceed to the players' points section. When a player makes a two-point basket, you just write "2" in the box. You write "3" when he successfully hits a three-pointer, then "1" for each free throw made. The individual scores are divided by the four quarters, which means that you have to record somebody's stats under the corresponding quarter.

Recording team and individual player fouls and timeouts

Yet, that is not where basketball stat sheets end. The next critical category you have to track is the fouls. Just like in the scoring section, there are team fouls and players' fouls. When a referee calls a foul, immediately record it at the teams' fouls section so that you would know if they hit the penalty situation. As for the individual fouls, you can see the boxes of the personal fouls beside the scoring section for the players. If someone commits a personal foul, put a slash mark on the "P1" box in the section. If he reaches five fouls, you have to inform the referees because it means that he has fouled out of the game and is not allowed to continue playing. You can also see the technical foul boxes in this section. Should someone be called for a technical foul, put a slash mark on the "T1" box. Bear in mind that a technical foul is also counted on the five allowed fouls for each player, and two technical fouls means that he is ejected from the game. Also, be reminded that timeouts are recorded in the stat sheet. This category is located at the Teams are usually allowed seven timeouts in games, and two timeouts for every quarter. Make sure you got this right so that coaches would know if they have already used up their allowed timeouts.

Tallying assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, turnovers and field goal attempts

Then, there are the other individual basketball stats that you have to keep track of if the tournament's committee deems it necessary. Usually, basketball stat sheets just record points and fouls under the individual categories. However, there is also the possibility that you need to mark down a player's assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, turnovers and field goal makes and misses. Today's coaches have been very mindful of these statistics as a helpful tool in figuring out the strengths, weaknesses and tendencies of their hoopers. But the thing is you cannot track all these stats alone so you have to ask help from two or three more people to watch the plays and mark down the stats.

We start with tracking each player's assists. Usually, point guards are the ones who tally the most assists but basketball has become a positionless game so everyone has the chance to dish out assists. When a player passes the ball to his teammate, who then successfully scores, you immediately mark a slash mark on the assists category of that hooper who passed the ball. Another important stat in basketball is the rebounds. Coaches would always say that a team controls games by controlling the rebounds. As the stats tracker, you have to be alert in identifying which player made the rebound, whether it be on offense or defense. Same with the assists, you just have to put a slash mark at the rebounds category and then just add it up for the total number of rebounds after the game. The next stat categories are defensive stats such as steals and blocks. These defensive stats act as excellent barometer for how players exert tremendous effort on defense, something that has been very underrated because most aspiring basketball athletes only want to score. Again, whenever a defensive player steals the ball or disrupts the passing lane and tips the ball to his teammate, put another slash mark on his corresponding steals section. On the other hand, if defensive players successfully blocks a shot from the opposing team, you just have to do the slash mark you did in the assists, rebounds and steals category. Coaches put a lot of emphasis in their squad's defense, so expect them to really dive deep in looking at their players' steals and blocks tally.

Then their are the other stats like field goal attempts and turnovers. Coaches would want to know how efficient their players are shooting the basketball, which is the main reason why you also have to tally how many times a hooper has shot the ball. Shots are divided by three sections: two-point shots, three-pointers and free throws. Also be reminded that you don't just keep track of how often a player shoots the ball. You should also mark how many times he has successfully put the basketball into the hoop. Through this, his coaches will be able to know how well he is shooting the basketball. Lastly, you also have to track players' turnovers as this is another barometer that tells how teams are executing their offensive plays during the games. When a player is handling the basketball then the defender from the opposing team steals it from him, that is automatically a tally in his turnovers count. Offensive fouls are also counted as turnovers so make sure to ask referees what kind of fouls they are calling.

How To... Scorekeep a Basketball Game

The following information details the step by step procedure required to properly score and time a basketball game. The 'Timer' is responsible for the game clock, score board and possession arrow. The 'Scorer' is responsible for completing the score-sheet. Use the completed sample scoresheet along with the information provided below is also available at each gym site by the Gym Supervisor.

SCORE CLOCK OPERATOR

1. Game Times. STOPPED TIME (game clock stops at every whistle) - Varsity / Juvenile Club (Rising Stars): 4 x 10 minute quarters; 5 minute overtime if necessary - Junior Varsity: 4 x 8 minute quarters; 4 minute overtime if necessary - Junior High / Middle School: 4 x 8 minute quarters; 4 minute overtime if necessary - Club or younger: 4 x 8 minute quarters; 4 minute overtime if necessary - RUNNING TIME (game clock runs throughout game including timeouts) - Community Club: 1st Half – 25 min ‘running’ time; 2nd Half – 22 min ‘running’ time; last 2 minutes being ‘stopped’ time.
2. Clock Operation. In ‘stopped’ time situations, start clock as referee drops hand (watch the referee that hands the ball into play) and stop clock at sound of all whistles - keep clock running after a score except if a field goal is scored in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and the last 2 minutes of any overtime period including when the team scored upon requests a timeout.  Keep hand on clock switch at all times.
3. Possession Arrow.  Point possession arrow to the basket of the team that loses the jump ball.  Switch “possession arrow” after every jump ball situation.
4. Scoring.  Indicate on the score board one (1) point for every made free throw; two (2) points for every made field goal; three (3) points for every made 3-point field goal - watch the referee’s hands for what each shot is worth.
5. Timeouts.  Are requested through the scoretable.  Granted to requesting team at the next whistle or if the requesting team is scored upon.   Two (2) one minute timeouts in the first half; three (3) one minute timeouts in the second half per team.  One (1) timeout per team per overtime period.  No carryovers.  Community Club games see two (2) one minute time outs for each team.  None in the last five minutes.  Sound the horn with 10 sec remaining in the 1 minute timeout.
6. Quarter Breaks.  One to two minutes break (ask local host).  Sound the horn with 30 sec remaining in the quarter break.  Reset all bonus lights, team fouls.
7. Halftime.  Five (5) to ten (10) minutes.  Ask game host. Reset all bonus lights, team fouls.
8. Overtime. Games using 4 x 10 min quarters will use a five (5) minute overtime period; games using 4 x 8 min quarters will use a four (4) minute overtime period.   One (1) minute break heading into each overtime period.  The 4th quarter bonus situation carries over into all overtime periods.                  

Communicate with “scorer” at all times to ensure game score is correct

SCORESHEET 

1. Team Rosters. Have coaches complete the game rosters - full names and numbers!  Include date, time & location (see reverse side for a sample).
2. Scoring.  Mark running score first with a slash “ / “ mark.  Mark individual score second; “2” for a two-point score - “3” for a three-point score - full or empty circles to indicate made or missed free throws (1 point each)
3. Personal Fouls.  Record personal fouls as “|” in ‘player fouls’ box next to the corresponding name - 5 personal fouls = disqualification.
4. Technical Fouls.  Marked as “T” - go towards personal and team foul totals.  Mark coach’s ‘T’s’ next to their names
5. Timeouts.  Are requested through the scoretable.  Granted to requesting team at the next whistle or if the requesting team is scored upon.  Record all time outs on sheet next to team’s name. Two (2) one minute timeouts in the first half; three (3) one minute timeouts in the second half per team.   One (1) timeout per team per overtime period.  No carryovers.  Community Club games see two (2) one minute time outs for each team.  None in the last five minutes.  
6. Team Bonus.  After team reaches five (5) team fouls per quarter, other team is in ‘double bonus’ (2 shots).  Notify referee by sounding horn.  All team fouls reset going into the next quarter.
7. Quarter and Halftime Breaks.  Indicate what quarter and halftime scores are; separate 1st half team fouls by drawing long line down ‘fouls’ column; draw long ‘squiggle’ line down 1st half score box to prevent marking of 2nd half stats in 1st half columns.
8. Overtime. Time-outs DO NOT carry over to the overtime period(s).  Teams receive one timeout per overtime period (no carryover).
9. End of Game.  Total all scores and write in “winning team” and “final score”; total all the individual points; home team / tournament host keeps original white copy, give yellow to “winning team” and pink to “losing team”.

Communicate with “timer” at all times to ensure game score is correct

SHOTCLOCK OPERATOR
When a shot clock is being used in a game, the time shall be set at 24 seconds.
Start the Clock whenever a team gains control of a live ball on the playing court.
Stop the clock when…

• An official blows his whistle for a foul or violation.
• A ball on a shot for a field goal or on a pass enters the basket.
• A shot for a field goal touches the ring unless the ball lodges on the basket support. 
• The game is stopped because of an action connected with the team not in control of the ball. 
• The game is stopped because of an action not connected with either team, unless the opponents would be placed at a disadvantage.

Reset the clock to twenty-four (24) seconds with the display visible and restarted as soon as a team gains control of a live ball on the playing court. Note that the mere touching of the ball by an opponent does not start a new twenty-four second period if the other team remains in control of the ball.
Stop clock, but NO reset when the same team that previously had control of the ball is awarded a throw-in as a result of:

• A ball having gone out-of-bounds. 
• A player of the same team having been injured. 
• A jump ball situation. 
• A double foul. 
• A cancellation of equal penalties against the teams. 50.4 Stopped,

Turn the clock off when a team gains control of a live ball on the playing court, and there are fewer than twenty-four (24) seconds remaining on the game clock in any period. Also note that the twenty-four second device signal does not stop the game clock or the game, nor cause the ball to become dead, unless a team is in a control of the ball.
MORE RESOURCES INCLUDING SCORESHEETS, SAMPLES AT. ..

Basketball rules: protocol. ⋆ Obasketbole.ru

Pic. 8 Protocol

B.1 The protocol shown in Fig. 8, approved by the FIBA ​​Technical Commission.

B.2 It consists of 1 original and 3 copies on different colored paper.

Original on white paper intended for FIBA. The first copy on blue paper is for the host organization, the second copy on pink paper is for the winning team, and the last copy on yellow paper is for the losing team.

Note: 1. It is recommended that the scorer use 2 different colors of pens, one for the first and third periods and one for the second and fourth periods.

2. The protocol can be prepared and completed electronically.

B.3 Not later than 20 minutes before the start of the game the scorer must prepare the score sheet as follows:

B.3.1 He must record the names of both teams in the appropriate boxes at the top of the score sheet. Team ‘A’ is always recorded as the local team (host team) or the team listed first on the schedule (for tournaments or games played on a neutral playing ground). The other command is command 'B' .

B.3.2 Then the scorer should write down:

• Name of the competition.

• Serial number of the game.

• Date, time and place of the game.

• Names of the chief judge and judge(s).

9 Protocol header

B.3.3 Command 'A' is at the top of the protocol, and command 'B' is

at the bottom.

B.3.3.1 In the first column, the scorer must record the license number (last 3 digits) of each player. For tournaments, a player's license number is only shown for the first game of their team.

B.3.3.2 In the second column, the scorer must PRINT the name and initials of each player in jersey order, using the list of team members provided by the coach or his representative. The team captain is indicated by the entry (CAP.) immediately after his last name.

B.3.3.3 If the team is represented by less than 12 players, the scorer must cross out the empty columns in the score sheet.

B.3.4 At the bottom of the section for each team, the scorer should enter (PRINT) the names of the team's coach and assistant coach.

B.4 Not later than 10 minutes before the start of the game both coaches must:

B.4.1 Confirm their agreement with the names and corresponding numbers of their team members.

B.4.2 Confirm the names of the coach and assistant coach.

B.4.3 Specify the 5 players who should start the game by placing a small ‘x’ next to the player’s number in the ‘Ac. in Game'.

B.4.4 Sign the protocol.

Team ‘A’ coach must be the first to provide this information.

B.5 At the start of the game the scorer must circle an ‘x’ for the 5 players of each team who start the game.