Sideline manual

How to keep basketball stats

A practical guide for volunteer parents and rookie assistants running the scorebook on weekend tournament games.

Before tipoff: prepare your roster

At breaks: check your totals

Definitions

Standard operational rules

01
02
03
04

Rebounds & steals

Assists & passes

Turnovers & blocks

Fouls & whistles

Begin with shooting and rebounds if you are new to statkeeping. Record a rebound when a player gains control after a missed shot; separate offensive and defensive rebounds.

Use your league’s statistical guidance for assists and other judgment calls. Agree with the coach how you will handle uncertain plays, and do not guess when you miss the action.

Not every fumble is a turnover. Use your competition’s rules to decide possession changes and blocked shots. Mark uncertain plays for later review if game video is available.

Track personal and team fouls accurately to help coaches manage player rotation limits and bonus free throw situations effectively.

Bench routine

Managing the game from the floor

Position yourself near the official scorer's table to maintain clear visibility of referee signals and substitution requests. Keep a quiet line of communication open with the assistant coach so foul counts and timeout totals match the official book.

Use quick halftime breaks to review shooting percentages and turnover tallies. Sharing concise data points with players during the intermission keeps the team focused on fundamental adjustments without overwhelming them.

Paper to tap

From clipboard to iPhone

See how traditional scorekeeping translates into rapid digital entry.

Shots
Roster
Exports

Instant shooting logs

Player rotation tracking

Printable PDF box scores

Record makes and attempts separately for two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws. A made shot also counts as an attempt.

Prepare names and jersey numbers before the game, then record each player’s contribution. Review totals at breaks.

Preview a sample report in Elevate before upgrading. PDF sharing and other features may require a paid plan.

Put these tracking principles into practice

Start with the free plan on iPhone or iPad. Record games, review player and team statistics, and share reports. PDF sharing may require an upgrade.