how to be a scoreboard keeper for basketball

Basketball scorekeeping helps players and coaches assess their performance, and it enables game officials to determine bonus free throws and to determine when a player fouls out of the game. Accurate scorekeeping helps the game run smoothly and avoids unnecessary delays and confusion. The head referee is ultimately responsible for resolving any scorekeeping disputes, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Duties of the Scorekeeper

Basketball rules spell out the function and duties of the official scorekeeper. The scorekeeper is responsible for recording the names and numbers of all players for each team, as well as noting which players will start the game. This information is given to the scorekeeper by the head coach of each team. Scorekeepers also must keep track of the number of fouls committed by each player as well as the number of team fouls committed per team per half. The scorer must notify the official when a player has been disqualified based on personal fouls as well as when a team is eligible to shoot bonus free throws based on the number of team fouls by the opposing team.

Using Television Replay Equipment

While television replay equipment is not permitted on most plays, referees may use the replay equipment in college and the National Basketball Association to resolve scorekeeping issues, such as whether a field goal should count for two or three points. If the officials determine that an official scorekeeper committed some other scoring error, such as awarding a basket to the wrong team, they may also use television replay equipment to fix the error.

Responsibility of Players, Coaches and Officials

By rule, the coach must supply the official scorer with the names and numbers of all active players on the team, as well as the designated starters, at least 10 minutes before the start of the game. Failure to do so results in a technical foul. Players wanting to enter the game must also report their uniform number to the official scorekeeper to become an official substitute. Referees report official delay-of-game warnings and violations to the scorekeeper, who keeps track of them in the official score book. The scorekeeper is also responsible for notifying the referee when a team is out of timeouts. The referee must then notify the coach. The official scorebook is the final authority on the score of the game. For example, if the official scorebook and the game scoreboard show different scores, and the official does not know which one is correct, he must accept the score in the scorebook.