Scorekeeping at games and tournaments (Rookie Division and up) helps teams to keep an accurate score. Each team (“Home” and “Away”) should have a scorekeeper, especially for all Minor and Major Division games, and for tournaments at all division levels. Scorekeeping at some of your child’s weekly games is one way to fulfill team-level volunteering expected from all parents, and scorekeeping at tournaments can help you to fulfill your league-level volunteering requirements.
The scorekeepers for opposing teams should back each other up and agree on the final score–however, the “Home” team’s scorekeeper is considered to have the official score. At tournaments, scorekeepers may be asked to submit documentation to the tournament desk after the game for official record keeping.
Scorekeepers should arrive at least 15 minutes before the game starts, to meet with the opponents’ scorekeeper and/or Team Manager (Head Coach) and to set up the scoresheets with team names, batting lineups and player numbers, and any other important information.
Some familiarity with game rules for the appropriate division will help you to keep an accurate score, but if you’re fairly new to baseball, not to worry–coaches and other parents watching the game can help you to interpret plays that affect the score. Be sure to keep a close watch on umpire signals, too, especially for upper division level games and tournaments.
For the Minor and Major Divisions, a pitch count must also be maintained, for pitcher safety. An advanced scorekeeper can keep track of the pitch count at the same time as scorekeeping, or the role of pitch count can be assigned to a separate parent volunteer.
Please return the scorebook/scoresheet and the pitch count sheet to the Team Manager or Head Coach for record keeping after the game.
Rookie Division Scoresheet
The following simplified scoresheet can be used by scorekeepers for the Rookie Division. Scorekeeping at the Rookie level is generally just a matter of keeping track of runs and outs (typically 5 runs max or 3 outs max per team per inning).
Some Rookie coaches and scorekeepers do prefer the additional detail of the scoresheet for the Minor and Major Divisions (see further below), so please check with your child’s coach for more information if you are scorekeeping.
Minor & Major Divisions Scorekeeping
The following is a sample scoresheet from the MVP Athletic Supplies Scorebook that New West Little League teams use for scorekeeping at the Minor and Major Division levels (and occasionally for Rookie Division). Please ask your child’s coach for a scorebook if you are scorekeeping.
These instructions (below), from the MVP Athletic Supplies Scorebook that New West Little League teams use for the Minor and Major Divisions, can give you an idea of how to go about scorekeeping for these divisions. The level of detail to record will vary by division. Please ask your child’s coach for further information if you scorekeeping. Familiarity with game rules for the appropriate division can also give you a sense of how much detail to record.