To promote, develop, supervise, and voluntarily assist in all lawful ways, the interest of those who will participate in Little League Baseball and Softball."
The form appears complex but once examined makes perfect sense.
Innings run across the top. Spaces for the player name along the side. There are extra spaces for pinch hitters and extra spaces for an extra inning game. Each grid, where the inning and player name meet, has a small diamond that represents the actual playing field. Spaces on the right side of the sheet are used for tracking the players final statistics at the end of the game.
You begin by filling in the players name using the team line-up. Use a second page to place the visiting team's line-up on a card. When each player comes to bat in an inning you fill in the small diamond with the appropriate code and actions taken.
Knowing The Player Numbers
There may be many different methods of scoring and many different types of scorecards but there is only one player numbering system. You have probably heard the play-by-play announcer on television or radio call a play "6 to 4 to 3" then mention what a great infield and double play combination your favorite team has. He is using the following chart to describe the play and you should memorize this chart and be able to recall it as easy as you can recall your favorite players vitals.
Basic Abbreviations
Abbreviation
Definitions
1B
Single
2B
Double
3B
Triple
BB
Base on Balls
BK
Balk
CS
Caught Stealing
DP
Double Play
DH
Designated Hitter
E
Error
FC
Fielder's Choice
FO
Force-Out
HBP
Hit By Pitch
HR
Home Run
I
Interference
IW
Intentional Walk
K
Strikeout
PB
Passed Ball
SB
Stolen Base
SF
Sacrifice Fly
SH
Sacrifice Hit
WP
Wild Pitch
Scoring Samples
Seeing is believing and this section was meant to actually show you some sample boxes so you can see how they were scored for a single specific event. The previous section illustrated the numerous abbreviations used on a score card and this is the method in which you would actually put the batters actions onto paper.
Scoring Samples
These are just a few of the basics often seen in similar formats on most every scorekeeper's card. Many variations exist but after a few moments of comparison you should be able to figure out a fellow scorekeeper's system, doing this may also teach you a new way of doing something better and add to the overall enjoyment you are sure to receive from scoring a game.