How to Keep Score in Basketball

Basketball is a great game played by young and old alike with fast action and movement happening throughout the court. The score you keep is a reflection on both the offense and defense of both teams.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pad of paper and pen (if a scoreboard is unavailable or you track player statistics)
• Scoreboard control panel
• Scoreboard

1. Keep your eyes on the ball for the entire game. If you look away from the game for a second or two, points can be scored.
2. Watch for the placement of a shooter's feet. If the player shoots the basketball with any part of his shoe touching the 3-point line (the outermost painted semi-circle arc at each end of the basketball court), the shot is only worth 2 points.
3. Mark down 2 points for a basket when the basketball falls through the appropriate hoop for the team advancing the basketball. Two-point shots occur from anywhere on the floor inside the 3-point line.
4. Check the time. The shot must occur with time remaining on the game clock and shot clock (if one is used). If time expires before the ball is thrown to the goal, the shot does not count. If the ball is in the air before time runs out, the shot counts even if time runs out before the ball goes through the hoop.
5. Mark down 3 points for the appropriate team for any shot made from the floor with the player located outside of the 3-point line when the shot takes place. It is possible for a player to initiate the shot from outside the line and land inside and still gain 3 points. If the ball is in contact with the player and the player's foot touches or crosses the 3-point line, 2 points are awarded.
6. Add 1 point to the score for each free throw made by a player. A free throw may take place after a foul with the clock stopped. Players line up alongside one another facing the middle of the court near the goal and one player faces the basket. When the person facing the basket throws the basketball through the hoop from beyond the free throw line, 1 point is made.

Tips & Warnings

• Know the rules for the game you are keeping score of. Games for young children use different rules than high schoolers and professionals.
• You can also keep track of the fouls committed by different players to know when a player must leave the game or "foul out."
• If you are required to run the scoreboard for a game, you may need to keep track of the time for the game, shot clock, fouls and time outs.