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(coutesy of Darlene Walkden)

Prior to the Game

  1. Enter lineup of each team in scorebook. List substitutes at the bottom and list any ineligible players and the reason for their ineligibility.

  2. Enter Umpire names on Home page.

  3. Note the time of first pitch.

General

  1. When you are learning it helps to have two people, one to actually keep the book and the other to keep an eye on the field.

  2. Always bring a couple of sharp pencils.

  3. Try to know the general rules of the game, and if possible, have a rule book with you . The official book is the "law" for any questions of what is happening. As the official scorekeeper you are responsible only to the Umpire, and are not to give information to the other teams.

  4. Record the progress of each runner around the bases with each play and record the reason for advance. (steals, passed balls, wild pitches, etc) When a runner scores, lightly shade in the diamond in the scorebook. Each new inning starts in a new column.

During Game

  1. Each team shall play all players at least 6 defensive outs and 1 at bat. Notify plate umpire at the end of the game if any players have not fulfilled the minimum play requirements. For the continuous batting order that we use in majors and below, there are no substitutions. Just make sure that each player is in for at least 2 innings on defense. Notify the plate umpire when the ninth batter of the inning comes to the plate and the inning will be over when that batter crosses the plate. The inning is also over if the defense makes three outs.

  2. If the game is protested, note the exact situation of the game with score, number of outs, position of runners, count on batter and reason for protest (which can only be a rule question and not a quesiton of judgement).

  3. Do not call attention to Batting out of Order situation. This is an appeal play by the managers. You should call attention to ineligible or illegal players or pitchers as it is important for everyone to avoid protest situations.

  4. Substitutions - (For Junior level of Interleague play where continuous batting order is not in use) Sub will take a specific place in the batting order, the field position is only relevant for pitchers. If several subs are entering at the same time make sure that the manager indicates who is going into which position. If the manager fails to do this the umpire may decide the positions in the batting order. Only a starting player may reenter the ball game and only after that player's substitute had played 6 defensive outs and batted once. A sub taken out of the game may not reenter. Record when each substitute comes in to the game (top of the third, one out)

  5. At the end of the half inning record the runs and hits on the bottom line.

After the Game Ends

  1. Enter number of innings pitched by each pitcher and transfer information to pitcher eligibility sheet. Have the umpire sign the book and the sheet. If protest situation occurs it is the responsibility of the Umpire in Chief to file a report with the Board of Directors.

Position Numbers

  Pitcher - 1, Catcher - 2, 1B - 3, 2b - 4, 3B -5, SS - 6, LF - 7, CF - 8, RF - 9

  Therefore, a play from 2B to 1B to retire a runner is coded as 4-3

How Player reaches Base

  single -1B, double - 2B, triple -3B, Home Run -HR, Sacrifice -SAC, Hit by Pitch - HP, Walk - BB, Stolen Base -SB

How a Player is Put Out

  Strike out swinging - K, Strike out no swing - (backwards K), Fly - F(Position Number) ie F7 to Left Fielder

  Ground Ball #-# (person who caught the ball to person who made the out) ie 4-3, 6-2

  Unassisted put out U# (U5 would be third baseman making out by self)

How to Record Certain Plays

  Error E-#, Fielder's Choice- FC, Double Play #-#-# (ie 6-4-3 is SS-2B-1B)

Recording in Book

  Draw a line between bases to indicate advance of runner and record the explanation outside the picture of the diamond in the book. If someone scores then lightly fill in the inside of the diamond. If someone is put out make the line go half way to the appropriate base, draw a small perpindicular line across the base path and record the reaon. Put a circled number in the upper corner of the box to indicate which out it is. At the end of a half inning, make a mark after the last batter so you will be sure to start recording the next batter in the next inning in the next column.

Click here for an example of a scoring page (in acrobat 3.0 pdf format)

Narrative of Scoring sheet:

First Inning - Jones singles. Smith then got on with a Fielder's Choice because he hit to the Shortstop who threw to 2nd base to retire Jones on the force. Henley hit a homerun to score Smith and Henley. West struck out swinging. Taylor flew out to Centerfield.

Second Inning - White got a walk (base on balls) then stole second and stole third. Hughes got to First when hit by a pitch. Thompson flew out to the shortstop for out number 1 who then threw to the catcher to tag out White for the second out. Pelosi struck out looking.

Third Inning - Young is now in for Jones (darkened bar between 2nd and 3rd innings). Grounded out to the Shortstop who threw to the Second baseman covering first base for the force out. Smith got to First on an error by the Third baseman. Henley hit into a double play, Smith out on the throw form the shortstop to the second baseman and Henley out on the relay throw from the secondbaseman to the first baseman.

If it makes sense to you, you are a natural scorekeeper.