How to keep score in basketball
- Tap a team name to rename it.
- Tap +1 for a free throw, +2 for a field goal inside the arc, and +3 for a three-pointer. Tap −1 to fix a mistake.
- Open Clock and game settings and pick a Game format. It sets the quarter (or half) length, and the scoreboard counts periods past regulation as overtime.
- Press Start clock when play starts and again to stop it on a whistle. A buzzer sounds at the end of each quarter. Press Reset clock and + next to the quarter to start the next one.
- Press Full screen to show the scoreboard big on a TV or projector.
A basketball scoreboard for pickup games, PE, and rec leagues
Most gyms outside of school teams don’t have a working scoreboard, and a paper score sheet is hard to read from the far baseline. This page turns any laptop, tablet, or TV into a basketball scoreboard: two big scores with one-tap free throws, twos, and threes, a quarter clock that counts the last ten seconds in tenths, and a buzzer when time runs out.
Choosing a game format
Pick the rules you play under in Game format, and the clock length and period name follow them. The formats come from the published rules of each body: high school games under NFHS rules play four 8-minute quarters, FIBA and NCAA women’s games play four 10-minute quarters, the NBA plays four 12-minute quarters, and NCAA men’s games play two 20-minute halves. For a youth league or a quick pickup game, type your own length into Clock length, or switch the clock to Counts up to play without a limit.
Running the clock
- Stop it on every whistle if you’re playing a timed game with stoppages, and let it run if your league plays a running clock.
- Change baskets at halftime with Swap sides, so each team’s score stays on the side of the court they’re attacking.
- Playing soccer, volleyball, or a classroom quiz instead? The general online scoreboard uses plain periods and a 10-minute clock.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a quarter in basketball?
It depends on the rules you play. High school games under National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules use four 8-minute quarters. FIBA and NCAA women’s games use four 10-minute quarters, and the NBA uses four 12-minute quarters. NCAA men’s games are two 20-minute halves. Youth and rec leagues often set their own lengths, so check your league’s rules and type any length into Clock length.
How does overtime work on this scoreboard?
When you press + past the last regulation period, the display changes from Quarter 4 to Overtime 1, then Overtime 2, and so on. Set the overtime length in Clock length (many leagues play 4 or 5 minutes), then press Reset clock.
Does it track fouls, timeouts, or a shot clock?
No. This scoreboard keeps the score, the game clock, and the quarter. Keep fouls and timeouts on paper, or ask a second helper to track them.
Does it work with a keyboard?
Yes. Press Q and A to add or remove a point for the home team, P and L for the away team, and the space bar to start or stop the clock. For a two or a three, tap the +2 or +3 button.
Will the game survive a refresh?
Yes. Scores, team names, the quarter, the format, and the clock time are saved in this browser, separately from the general online scoreboard.
Can other people follow the score live?
Yes, when a Share live button shows above the tool. It gives you a viewer link and a QR code that follow the game and update every few seconds, and a separate scorekeeper link so a helper can enter scores. Viewers cannot change anything. The scores and names on screen are stored on our server until the link expires 14 days after the last change, or until you press Stop sharing. If you don’t see the button, live sharing isn’t switched on and everything else works as before in your browser.