How to Operate an Electronic Basketball Score Board

You may keep score aloud or in your head during a game of one-on-one or pickup basketball in the driveway or at a park, but if the game is of any consequence, someone needs to formally keep score. In today's digital age, electronic are very popular. Electronic basketball scoreboards range from small, tabletop devices to large, permanent wall- or ceiling-mounted units. Regardless of the style, the operation of each is similar.

Instructions

    • 1

      Familiarize yourself with the basic rules of basketball, especially on the scoring and timing of the game. Understand three-point shots, field goals and foul shots to understand the scoring value of each type of basket.

    • 2

      Plug the electronic scoreboard into a wall socket, using an extension cord if required. If using a portable, tabletop scoreboard, mount it on a table or other elevated surface on one side of half-court so that it can be seen from the entire court of play. If the court has a wall- or ceiling-mounted scoreboard, ensure it is plugged in and obtain the corded or remote control hand controller.

    • 3

      Test the scoreboard prior to the start of the game. Its basic functions will keep track of the time remaining, score, timeouts and fouls. The score areas of the scoreboard will default to "00" once you turn the scoreboard on. Select the "Time" button on the control and enter the time remaining in the quarter or half by typing it. It may be 15 or 20 minutes, depending on the level of the game. To enter 15 minutes, type "1500" with no colon. Press the "Time" button to ensure the clock begins counting down once it is set. Press the button again to make the time stop, just as you'll do during a timeout or after a basket.

    • 4

      Familiarize yourself with the scoring function on the control. It will allow you to enter the score in one-, two- or three-point increments. Advanced scoreboards have buttons reading "+1," "+2" and "+3" for this purpose. Basic scoreboards will have to have the score increase inputted manually by pressing the "Home" or "Away" button, the "+" button and the number button corresponding to the points on the play.

    • 5

      Determine the number of timeouts and fouls allowed at this particular level of basketball. If the scoreboard allows you to keep track of these stats, enter the number of timeouts (usually three) for each team by pressing the "Time" button then the "3" button. Reduce a team's number of timeouts every time it takes one by pressing "Time," either "Home" or "Away," "-" and "1." To add fouls to either team, press "Foul," "Home" or "Away," "+" and "1."