Scorekeeping Basics

Step by Step

Disclaimer

• This training is intended to help volunteers feel prepared to handle the Official Scorebooks with minimal proficiency required by the league.

• It is not a comprehensive course in the minutia of scorekeeping.

• The required items are those that are minimally required by the league. Other items are desirable, but not required.

Need Designee From Each Team

• Home team keeps score• Visiting team keeps scoreboard

If there is a conflict in regard to the scorebook and a visiting team representative is not present there is no conflict.

The umpire may make corrections if necessary

Before The Game (1)

• Open the book to two facing pages.• Identify the team line-ups by team # or name (5 to

10 minutes prior to start).• Each lineup card must include

– Team Name & team #– Player Uniform #– Player first initial– Player last name

Before The Game (2)• Print the lineup of the visiting team on the

left page• Print the lineup of the home team on the

right page• Clearly identify each team at the top of their

page• Document the age division• Document the Date, Time, and field #

Lineup Example

Print each lineup in the scorebook•Player Uniform #•Player first initial•Player last name

Example of Bad Scoresheet – No Last Names, No Date/Time, No Teams Names or #s, No Age Group, No Field Designated

Example of Bad Scoresheet – No Names, No Date/Time, No Teams Names or #s, No Age Group, No Field Designated

When the Game Has StartedRequired

• Check the uniform number of the batter– If the batter is the wrong uniform number immediately notify the

umpire• Record the result of each pitch

– Ball – mark or fill one of the three squares– Strike – mark or fill one of the two squares

• Record the outcome of each At-Bat– Progress the batter by drawing a line around the infield to where she

stopped after her at bat– Any Out – Write the # of the out (1,2,3) in the box of the player that

was out and circle it– Any Score – Shade in the entire infield box of the runner who scored– Any Advance of a Runner – Draw a line around the infield to represent

the player’s progress

When the Game Has StartedRequired

• Strike Out – Mark a “K” in the box of the batter as well as the out (1,2,3)

• Walk – Circle “BB” in the box for the batter and draw a line from home to first base

• Batter hits safely and gets on base– Draw a line to the base from home to first base and

around the infield to the base the batter stopped at– Did other runners advance as a result of the hit? Draw a

line around the base path for each player to represent each player’s progress

– Did anyone score as a result of the hit or walk? Shade the entire infield area of runners that cross the plate safely.

Position Numbers

1

2

3

46

5

9

8

7

Position

Pitcher 1

Catcher 2

1B 3

2B 4

3B 5

SS 6

LF 7

CF 8

RF 9

Example - Advancing RunnersThe league only requires you to keep track of the batting order, runner’s progress on the bases,

outs, and runs scored.

• Smith hits a single• Lawson strikes out• Smith Steals 2B• Henry walks• Jones hits to SS who

throws to 2B for force the force out

• 2B throws to 1B for a force out on the batter/runner (DP)1

2

3

46

5

9

8

7

Remember

• There cannot be more than three runners at one time

• When a batter advances you must advance the batter and all runners that progress to another base or bases

• Shade any runners that cross the plate

Softball Terms and Abbreviations• Force – a runner is required to advance when the batter walks or hits

– Runner on 1B has to advance to 2B on a ground ball or walk– With runners on both 1B and 2B both must advance on a ground ball or walk– With runners on 1B, 2B, and 3B all runners must advance on a ground ball or walk

• Force out – A batter or runner is out as a result of a fielder touching a base prior to a batter or runner advancing on a force play

• FC (Fielder’s Choice)– Batter hits the ball and advances to a base safely but another player is put out

• HBP– Batter is hit by pitch (advances to 1B, other runners advance if forced)

• SB– Runner advances on a pitch (batter does not hit the pitch fair or foul)

• SAC– Sacrifice bunt (batter is out but advances a runner)

• SF– Sacrifice Fly (batter is out but advances a runner to score)

• Look Back– When the pitcher has the ball in the pitching circle the runner is out when she stops

between bases or changes direction

Exceptions to Scoring a Runner

• If the batter or another runner is forced out for the 3rd out

• If the 3rd out is made before the runner crosses the plate

At The End of Each Half InningRequired

• Mark the last person to bat– Draw a line across the bottom of the box of the

last batter

• Tally the score for that half inning – Record it at the bottom of the column

• Double check the scoreboard to ensure it matches the book

Enter This Lineup On Your Practice Scoresheet# Player7 A. Austin

12 M. Ashcraft13 A. Johns17 S. Ward4 T. Martinez8 R. Riley

10 A. Stepan3 B. King6 J. Montano9 B. Williams2 A. Sharpless1 A. Boettiger

1st Inning•1st Batter in the lineup, #7 hits a single (1B)•#12 bunts and is thrown out on a force play at 1B

•#7 advances to 2B•#13 hits a double (2B)

•#7 advances to 3B and on to Home•#17 walks•#4 bunts and is thrown out at 1B

•#13 advances to 3B•#17 advances to 2B

•#8 flys out to the left fielder (LF or 7)

2nd Inning•#10 hits a double (2B)•#3 hits a single (1B)

•#10 advances to 3B•#6 strikes out•#9 flys out to center fielder (CF or 8)

•#10 score on Sac Fly•#2 walks

•#3 is forced to advance on the walk to 2B•#1 hits a single (1B)

•#3 scores•#2 advances to 3B

•#7 hits a double (2B)•#2 scores•#1 advances to 3B

•#12 hits a ground ball to 2B who throws to 1B for the force out•#1 crosses the plate prior to the force out

Runner at 2BOne out

Runners at 1B and 2B – 1 out – 1 run scored

Runners at 2B and 3B – 2 out – 1 run scored

Your Score Sheet Should Look Similar To This

Scoreboard Controller• To set the timer press Set

Clock, the time limit in minutes, and enter. If the controller buzzes when pressing the Set Clock button press the Time IN/OUT Button

• Pressing the BALL, STRIKE, or OUT buttons will automatically advance the count of that value.

• If 2 strikes are displayed and the STRIKE button is pressed again the strikes will clear and the # of outs will advance.

• Pressing the HOME or VISTOR buttons then the +1 button will advance their score.

Scoreboard ControllerWireless for Field #2

• This controller operates similar to the wired controllers.

• Time IN/OUT is functioned with the toggle on the right

Scorekeeper DON’T’S

• Do not applaud or yell for a team during the course of the game

• Do not coach• Do not stop the clock unless the umpire

requests it• Do not explain the rules to the umpire

– Exception – MGSA infield over throw league rule (TBall & Machine Pitch)

After The GameRequired

• Mark the book plainly with the final score, clearly identifying the score

• Double check that the date, time, field #, age division and team names were recorded

• Turn in the game result form to the concession stand

This Form Must Be Submitted After Each Game – 1 per Game – Not 1 per Team

Mansfield GSA Game ResultTo be filled out by Official Scorekeeper – Home team provides official scorekeeper

Game Date:

Scheduled Game Time:

CIRCLE THE FIELD DESIGNATION THE GAME WAS SCHEDULED ON

F-1 F-5F-2 F-3 F-4

CIRCLE THE AGE GROUP FOR THIS GAME

6UTeeBall

8UMachine Pitch

10U 12U 14/16/18U

Teams Playing the Scheduled GameCIRCLE THE WINNING TEAM NUMBER

Home Team # Visitor Team #

Home Team Name Visitor Team Name

Score Score

Scorekeeper NamePrint

Additional Information• http://www.baseballscorecard.com/