Scorekeeping Instructions for Minors level and Above

General Notes for Layritz Little League: 

• All games (Mini Minors and Up) must be score kept. All non-coach parents are required to do their part to ensure score keeping takes place. 
• Minors and Majors Divisions score sheets and pitcher eligibility forms must be maintained by Team Manager or Team Coordinator in binder provided – these are the official records of games played and will be used to determine if players have qualified to try out for post season All Star Teams.  As well, if pitchers are "eligible to pitch". Opposing Coaches or league officials may inquire during games and these records must be available and up to date. 
• For all Diamonds that have a score booth, scorekeepers must be stationed in the score shack (not the bleachers).

Scorekeeping is just shorthand for what occurred during the ball game. The statistics obtained from the scorekeeping sheets can provide valuable information to the coaches. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the numbers representing position on the field (ie: codes). These numbers are used to record many events.

STEP 1 – PLAYER LINE-UPS

BB & SB – obtain the batting line-up from the coaches. They should have this ready 15-30 minutes prior to game start

The line-up should have:

• Child’s full name – or, if space is an issue first initial and full last name
• Uniform number
• Position playing (1-9) – if in starting line-up
• Players injured or absent should be clearly marked at the bottom of the line-up sheet
• Also, make sure you have the pitching log (BB only) from Team Manager to keep a pitching record.

STEP 2 – RULES TO BE AWARE OF

MINOR BB & SB:

• Games are 6 innings long – 4 full innings constitutes a game if the entire game cannot be completed.
• There is a three run limit per inning
• All players must play 3 innings – but they do not have to be consecutive.

MAJOR BB & MAJOR, Jr/Sr SB:

•  Games are 6 innings long – 4 full innings constitutes a game if the entire game cannot be completed.
• There is a four run limit per inning until the last inning (determined by the umpire). The last inning is open. The team must get 3 outs.  (Junior/Senior SB 5 run limit with open last inning)
• Check if the runs ahead rule is in effect. The decision about implementation of the runs ahead rule is decided by District 7 each year. The runs ahead rule is a spread of 10 runs or more after 4 innings.

STEP 3 – FORMS

MINOR and above BB & SB:

• Must use the large duplicate score sheet, (triplicate sheets are used by some parks and are used by Layritz for Tournament Play only), provided by home park.  Keep the completed original and give duplicate to opposing team’s scorekeeper – make sure to collect the duplicate from the opposing team’s scorekeeper as well.  
• Completed sheets must be maintained by Team Manager or Team Coordinator in binder provided – these are the official records of games played and will be used to determine if players have qualified to try out for post season All Star Teams.  
• Please attach line-up sheet to its respective score sheet.

MINOR and above BB only:

• Must complete and maintain a pitching log with the completed team score sheets

STARTING TO SCOREKEEP

1. Fill in the team names, park, and date at the top of the sheet.
2. List the entire team – indicate absences (ABS) and/or injuries (INJ).
3. Using the batting line-up – list players in order given and record uniform # and position #.
4. Fill in the summary area – visitors on top and home on the bottom.

PLAY BALL

1. As each child comes to bat, your job is to record what happened at bat and on the field. There are codes recorded on the right side of all the score sheets. Under each batter’s name, record what each pitch was. These stats are valuable to the coaches.

CODES:

2. The batter gets a hit – record the type of hit (1B, 2B, etc) and draw a line from the home plate to the 1st base  on the base path (continue line to 2nd if a 2B).

• However, if they get a single and then advance to 2nd on a throwing error – you should record two separate events (1B and E? (Whoever threw it)). 
• If there are other runners on base, advance them as well.
• If a run scores – colour in the diamond – this makes it easier to see the runs.

Team Managers will advise if they want the following:

• Keep track of the RBI’s (runs batted in) – if a child at bat advances another runner on base so that they score then the child who batted gets an RBI.
• Keep track of base advancement – whether it is a stolen base, wild pitch, or errors.
• Keep track of errors – this is judgmental to some extent. An obvious example – 2nd base throws to 1st base and the throw has a good chance of beating the runner, BUT the throw is way over the 1st baseman’s head – this would be E4, not a 1B hit.

RECORDING OUTS

• Mark the base where a player goes out with an “x”.
• Outs are recorded to show who made them (use field positions numbers) e.g.: throw from SS to 1st base – 6-3 (recorded in out column) – C catches the ball – 8, etc.
• Draw a line underneath the name of the last player who batted. When your team is at bat, you will start with the next batter and one column over.
• AFTER EACH PLAY, scan the field and make sure that your score sheet exactly matches the field.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• MINORS – are allowed substitutions throughout the game, providing that each player plays three innings (not necessarily consecutive). The coach will inform the umpire of each substitution and should then inform the scorekeeper. Mark the player’s name in the appropriate box.
• MAJOR and above – the coach will alert you to pitching changes throughout the game. You do not need to mark positional changes with the exception of pitching, however, this can be useful, so mark it in as a matter of course.

STATISTICS

• MINORS BB – No statistics are kept with the exception of pitching. THIS IS A MUST. Use the Game Pitch Log to track number of pitches thrown for each pitcher. Transfer the information along with number of innings pitched to the Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Form at game end. These forms are available in the clubhouse.
• MAJORS and above – This division keeps track of RBI’s, hits and errors. These statistics are recorded on the score sheet and in the summary box on the score sheet. You must also keep track of the pitching (BB only). Use the Game Pitch Log (BB only) to track number of pitches thrown for each pitcher. Transfer the information along with number of innings pitched to the Pitcher Eligibility Tracking Form at the end of the game. These forms are available in the clubhouse.

GAME OVER – YOU SURVIVED!

• Sign the score sheet.
• Ensure that the umpire signs the score sheet – keep the original and give duplicate to opposing team’s scorekeeper.
• Ensure that the umpire signs the pitching record as well.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

ON D3 and D5:

• Run the lights/scoreboard – usually the scorekeeper from the opposing team will do this while you are scorekeeping for your team, and vice-versa.  Instructions for scoreboard operation are available in the respective score shacks.