Scorekeeping Clinic
Bruce Campbell
Umpire-In-Chief
[email protected]
March 6, 2013
Agenda
• The Role of the Scorekeeper
• Before the Game Begins
• Scorekeeping Basics
− Scoring the Pitching
− Scoring the Batting
− Scoring the Base Running
• Specialty Situations and
Rules
− Pitcher Eligibility
− Batting Out of Order
• The Game Summary Form
• Hands-on Exercise
2
The Role of the Scorekeeper
• To record an accurate, objective record of an official
League games, in a manner consistent with preferred
practices
• To assist in rulings during the game regarding pitcher
eligibility and/or batting out of order
• To assist the Umpire in tracking balls, strikes, outs, and
other information as requested
• To report the outcome and statistics of games to the
League in the form of a Game Summary form
• To ensure a trained scorekeeper is present at all games
• To assist their team during the game with communication
about proper batting order, stats, etc.
3
The Scorebook is:
• The official system of
record of what
happened during the
game
• Used for possible
protests
• Used to keep track of
pitching eligibility
• Optionally used to
provide individual and
team statistics during
the season
Before the Game Begins…
USE A PENCIL!
Generally think about filling in the
Game Summary sheet well ahead
for the game
Scorebook:
• Get lineups from coaches 15
minutes before game time
• Record date, field, teams and
weather conditions
− Good idea to mention division (12U,
etc.) and team color
• Put in the batting order that is given
by both teams in the boxes to the
left hand side in the score book
− Visiting team’s lineup to the left
− Home team’s lineup to the right
7
8
9
6
4
10
3
5
1
2
Before the Game Begins…
• Place player’s jersey numbers to
the left, then enter player’s name,
• Familiarize yourself with defensive
player designations (see diagram
at left)
• List the date, the field location, and
the game number
• Insert the official start time after the
first pitch by the umpire’s watch
(official scorebook requirement)
8
7
8
9
109
4
6
3
5
1
2
− You may have to remind the ump to
call the time
• Note: 9 player positions for 14U
6
Before the Game Begins…
Enter team names
Enter batting order,
jersey #
Enter home/visitor, location,
date, and game start time
(from umpire)
Enter game #
Note that these boxes are helpful for player stats at end of game
7
Before the Game Begins…
Inning summaries are very handy,
especially for tracking RUNS
Cheat sheet on the most
popular ways to score an
event
Cheat sheet on
defensive position
numbers
Pitcher summary
area
Don’t sign
here! Sign
the summary
sheet!
Scorekeeping Basics - Acronyms
F – fly out
SF – sacrifice
L – line out
BB – base on balls
E – error (you make the call!)
HP – hit by pitch
1B – single
DTS – dropped third strike
2B – double
DI – defensive indifference
3B – triple
Int – offensive interference
HR – home run
Obs – defensive obstruction
K – strike out swinging
PB – passed ball
or
- strike out looking
WP – wild pitch
FC – fielders choice
RD – run down
SB – stolen base
IF – infield fly rule
CS – caught stealing
FTK – foul tip strike out
U – unassisted
BOO – batting out off order
LB – Look Back out
9
Scorekeeping Basics
10
Scorekeeping Basics
• These boxes are the sum of the
player’s activity as a batter and
runner for that specific inning
Advancement around bases
• It also includes how the pitcher
performed in that at bat against
this player
• Summary: There are three
things to track here:
− Scoring the pitching
− Scoring the batting
− Scoring the base running
• Softball scorekeeping is
about handling this little box!
Strikes Balls
Outs
Runs Batted In
11
Scorekeeping Basics - Pitching
• Use forward slashes to mark balls
and strikes (/)
• During coach pitch in 8U and 10U,
use back slash (\) over existing
forward slashes resulting in “X’s”
• Strikeouts are registered as “K’s”
− Strikeout swinging, K is upright
− Strikeout looking, K is on it’s
back ( ), or on reversed ( )
• Dropped third strikes (DTS)
− Counts as a strikeout for pitcher
without applying to defensive
outs in inning
•
12U and 14U only at rec level
• New pitchers (NP) are noted in
scorebook when they are inserted in
the inning
12
Scorekeeping Basics - Pitching
/ /
/ / /
Strike Out
Swinging on 3-2
count for 1st out
/
/ / /
Hit by pitch,
3-1 count
/ /
/ /
Strike Out
Looking on 2-2
count for 3rd out
/ /
Dropped 3rd
strike swinging,
runner safe, 0-2
count
/
/ / /
Base on balls,
3-1 count
/ /
/
Dropped 3rd
strike looking, 12 count, thrown
out by catcher
Pitching changes – new
pitcher (NP) #13 comes in in
1st inning after Lucy’s at bat
13
Scorekeeping Basics - Batting
/
/ / /
Single on 3-0
count
Double on
first pitch
Triple on
0-1 count
/ / /
Fly out to 3rd
for 2nd out
Sacrifice to right
field for 1st out
Ground out to
SS on 3-0 count
for 2nd out
/ /
/ /
Home Run
on 2-2 count
/ /
/ /
Hit into double
play (SS-2B-1B)
with 2-2 count
for 2nd out
14
Scorekeeping Basics - Batting (con’t)
/ /
/ / /
Batter safe due to
fielders choice
/
Batter safe due
to error on 1b
/ /
/ /
Batter out trying to
stretch a single to a
double (note arrow)
Infield Fly called
on batter (hit to
2B)
Batter awarded 1B on
catcher’s obstruction
/ /
/ /
Runner out due to
1B unassisted play
15
Scorekeeping Basics - Running
Same runner
/ / /
/ / /
Runner stole
2B after walk
/ / /
Runner goes to
3B on passed ball
/ /
/ /
Runner thrown out
at 2B by SS for 2nd
out – not same play
/ /
/ /
Runner scores on
wild pitch
/ /
/ /
Runner caught
stealing for 1st out
Runner takes 2nd
on defensive
indifference
/ /
Runner caught in
rundown between
3rd and home
16
Scorekeeping Basics –
New Inning
•
There are two ways to
annotate the end of an
inning
1) Put a big “X” in the next
batter to clearly know who
is up next
2) Put a slash through the right
upper corner of the next
batter’s box
///
//
17
Scorekeeping Basics –
Batting Around the Order
• If your team “bats
around” in a single
inning, simply draw an
arrow to the next
column, cross out that
column’s inning number
and write the current
inning there.
///
//
• You’ll need to adjust
future innings, but do it
as you go. You could
“bat around” again!
1
2
1
2
18
Specialty Situations –
Batting Out of Order
− The official scorekeeper CANNOT mention batting out of order to
either team – you are the impartial agent of the umpire. The umpire
can’t either!
− The defensive Field Manager must ask for time and appeal that the
batter is batting out of order
• If they appeal because the batter’s number is wrong, but it IS the correct
batter, change number in book, no penalty
• If they appeal during an active at-bat and the batter IS out of order:
− The batter that should be up replaces the current batter and assumes her
count, no penalty
− Any runner advancement or ours or runs scored during incorrect batter
COUNTS
− If defense appeals after an incorrect batter has completed an at-bat,
they must do so:
1. Before the next pitch is delivered, or
2. If it’s the end of an inning - before the team leaves the field; or
3. If it’s the end of the game, before the umpire leaves the field
− If a pitch is thrown to a new batter or if above conditions happen, batting
order is considered to be correct; no appeal is possible
19
Specialty Situations –
Batting Out of Order (con’t)
− If defense appeals in time and the incorrect
batter has completed an at-bat:
• The improper batter’s time at bat is
NEGATED (it never happened)
− If they got out, the out doesn’t stand
− If they reached safely, they are removed
from field of play
• The player that SHOULD have batted is out
(BOO)
• Any advancement or score of runners during
incorrect at-bat is negated and runners who
were not called out during the incorrect at-bat
must return to the last base occupied
• The next batter is the player whose name
follows that of the player called out for falling
to bat
− Note: This could very well be the batter
that just batted out of order!
20
Specialty Situations –
Pitcher Eligibility
• It would be prudent to help your team track your pitcher eligibility
• Coaches need to disclose eligibility during pre-game meeting
(10U-12U)
− 8U
• No player may play Pitcher and/or Catcher (combined) for more than 2
innings in a 4-inning game
− 10U-12U
•
•
•
•
Eligibility is based on outs per week
Eligibility week is tracked from Saturday to Friday
Maximum outs per pitcher, per week: 18 outs
Strike-outs by coach-pitchers do NOT count toward pitcher strike-out
totals – pitcher needs to earn those on their own – but they DO count
toward outs per week for that pitcher (in 10U)
• Bonus Mystery Question: Why is this especially important to track in 10U
& 12U?
• You should also help your team track your opponent’s pitchers
− It’s good softball to make sure their pitchers are eligible
− Simply ask their scorekeeper how many outs they’ve pitched this
week if you don’t know
21
Questions so far?
Bruce Campbell
Umpire-In-Chief
[email protected]
March 6, 2013
Game Summary
Form
Bruce Campbell
Umpire-In-Chief
[email protected]
March 6, 2013
Official Game Summary Form
(Example)
Official Game Summary Form
Before the Game
Scheduled Date - date that the game was originally
scheduled to be played - you get this from the Official
Schedule
Make-up Date - date that you actually played the game
Team names - recommend both name and team #
Division and Game start time - start time is called by the
umpire after first pitch (you may need to remind the ump to
give you the game time)
Official Game Summary Form
After the Game
Winning Team/Losing Team and Scores - make sure to get this right!
Game completed – if it was completed, and how many innings it took. If not
Completed, check the reason why or write in reason. Also put in game end
time – this can be by your watch or the umpires watch (preferred)
Time Limits*
8U / 10U - No new inning starts after 90 minutes
12U / 14U – No new inning starts after 100 minutes
*Interclub games that are played away may have 2 hour drop dead time limits as determined by home team
*Time limits must be reached unless they get to a complete game before the time limit
Official Game Summary Form
Pitching Statistics
Who just pitched?
•The form must have the uniform # and the name of the pitchers that pitched during
the game. If it’s an 8U game, we need the # of innings pitched. For other divisions,
we need the # of outs pitched.
• We also need the number of runs scored against each pitcher, and the number of
base-on-balls and strike-outs.
• 10U note: strike-outs by coach-pitchers don’t count toward that pitcher’s
strike-out total, but outs made when a coach is pitching does apply to their outs.
• A girls name in a column is not sufficient reporting to determine eligibility.
We recommend you track who pitches what innings during the game, and fill in stats later.
Official Game Summary Form
Signatures
Signatures
• Make sure umpire signs the form. They will usually just want to see score
and winning team. Umpires can sign before the form is fully filled out.
• Fill out form and make sure both managers review the data on the
summary ensuring that the pitching information is right. This has the
greatest potential for dispute followed only by score. A protest needs to be
documented on the back of the form with as much info as you can get.
• Turn the form into the communications box in the snack shack. This is
located in a box under the snack shack counter. Turn these in as fast as
possible. They are important and the data is used right away.
• Remember, if both managers didn’t sign it, it didn’t happen! Make them
review for Game Summary form!
Questions now?
Bruce Campbell
Umpire-In-Chief
[email protected]
March 6, 2013
Hands-on Scoring
Exercise
Bruce Campbell
Umpire-In-Chief
[email protected]
March 6, 2013
3-Inning Scorekeeping Exercise
• The following is a 3-inning exercise based on a real
game between the Devils and The Purple Thunder
• Use the blank pages to keep score
• We’ll go over the proper scoring after you try
• You will only be scoring for the visiting team, the
Purple Thunder
31
3-Inning Scorekeeping Exercise
Staenhke, number 14, pitching for the Devils
• Inning One:
− The first pitch was taken by Hyde for a ball. Umpire Mike Patterson
declared that the game started exactly at 5:30 PM. After fouling one
pitch off, Hyde singles to center on a 3-2 count.
− Plum received two wild pitches that Hyde took 2nd base and 3rd base
on respectively. With a 3-2 count, Plum walked.
− On the first pitch to Cox, Plum went to second with no throw. After a
full count, Cox fouled off two more pitches before grounding out to
the second baseman scoring Hyde, with Plum going to third.
− Schmitz grounded out on the first pitch to first base, scoring Plum.
− DiLeonardo hit the first pitch to right field for a single.
− With an 0-2 count, Cerros flied out to right field.
32
3-Inning Scorekeeping Exercise
• Inning Two:
− Clum, with 0-1 count, grounded out to second base.
− On a 0-2 count, Haley hit a blooper to second that should
have been caught but was dropped, allowing Haley to
reach first base safely.
− Alden comes up and one passed ball allowed Haley to
get to second. Alden struck out swinging on the next
three pitches.
− With a 3-2 count Guzman strikes out looking.
33
3-Inning Scorekeeping Exercise
Dotson number 11 for the Devils now pitching.
• Inning three:
− After an 0-2 count, Hyde singled to left field.
− Plum hit the first ball she saw and it was misplayed by the second
baseman. Hyde went to third on the play.
− With Cox up, Plum went to second without a throw on the first ball to
Cox. At 1-1, Cox grounded out to the first baseman scoring Hyde
and sending Plum to third.
− Schmitz now up - with one strike on her Schmitz singled to left field
scoring Plum.
− With DiLeonardo up, Schmitz took second on a wild pitch and third
on a passed ball. With a 3-2 count, DeLeonardo fouled a pitch off
then struck out swinging.
− After 3 balls and1 strike, Cerros walked.
− With Clum up, Cerros went to second without a throw on the first
pitch to Clum, which was a ball. Clum popped the next pitch up to the
second baseman.
34
Scoring –
1st inning
Scoring
2nd inning
Scoring
3rd inning
Scoring
All 3 innings