SCORING METHODS
& SCORESHEETS
Recording game and tournament stats are important parts
of the game because more than just the final scores are
needed by the pitchers and NHPA's national statistics
center (NATSTATS). Easy to use scoresheets have been
designed to collect critical stats but they are not
convenient for pitchers who find it necessary to keep
their own scores. Tournament scoresheets record collective
game scoresheet data with a summary on each contestant for
determining tournament ringer averages. Scorekeepers for
both game and tournament scoresheets are usually volunteer
friends, spouses or pitchers not then scheduled to pitch.
Most tournaments require pitchers to pay game scorekeepers
prior to the start of each game (usually from $0.25 to
$1.00 by each pitcher as set by the tournament director).
When announcing a tournament schedule, the tournament committee should include information on the scoring method and game limit which will be used. Games may be scored as CANCELATION or as COUNT-ALL. Game limits may be determined by a specified number of POINTS SCORED or by a specified number of SHOES PITCHED.
CANCELATION SCORING: The conventional cancelation game between two contestants allows only one of them to score in an inning (an inning is when both pitchers have thrown 2 shoes each at the same stake). However, the number of ringers and shoes pitched are recorded for both pitchers. Ringers score as 3 points if not canceled and shoes lying "in count" (within 6 inches of the stake) score as 1 point each if not canceled: See NHPA RULE 6
COUNT-ALL SCORING: Pitchers call their own scores as determined by the lie of their shoes regardless of the opponent's shoes and both pitcher's stats are recorded. Ringers and shoes lying "in count" are recorded the same as in cancelation scoring.
GAME SCORESHEETS: The conventional scoresheet is ruled with horizontal lines numbered by 2's to represent accumulated number of shoes pitched by each contestant, thus 5 innings (lines) would indicate a total of 10 shoes pitched. The column for shoes pitched is down the center of the scoresheet with 3 additional columns on either side marked "RINGERS", "POINTS" and "SCORE". Summary boxes below the columns are for final totals on ringers, scores, shoes and sometimes such information as total single-count and total "doubles" pitched by each contestant. Each scoresheet must have contestant's names written above their side of the scoresheet and their class lineup round-robin number.
Symbols are used on game scoresheets to indicate ringers. "Live" ringers are shown with a circle ("O") and canceled ringers are shown with an "X". This makes it convenient to summarize by both if necessary for proofing the scoresheet for errors. It is very important that scorekeepers record all ringers to assure that both pitchers receive credit for ringers they pitched, whether live or canceled. "POINTS" column entries should show the number of points called out to the scorekeeper for each inning while the "SCORE" column entry should show each pitcher's accumulated score subtotal. A well kept scoresheet will only show changes in the "SCORE" column instead of repeating the same score from inning to inning, however a dash across the empty SCORE box should be used by the scorekeeper to prevent accidental use of the same box for the next inning. Proofing of game scoresheets should be done by scorekeepers. Some scoresheets have an easy to follow set of summary boxes to help proof the scoresheet. Another, easy to use method finds the diff in scores, diff in ringers x 3, and diff in total single-count, then if the sum of the two smaller numbers equals the greater number the scoresheet very likely has no error. No proofing method however, will find equal number of missing ringers for each contestant. Scorekeepers should not visit or be distracted during a game.
TOURNAMENT SCORESHEETS: Manual tournament scoresheets must record each game scoresheet and their accumulated totals. Electronic (computer) programs which record and print the same data is used by some tournaments. Tournament scoresheet data is to be forwarded to NHPA national statistics center (NATSTATS) where official 3-high ringer averages are recorded.
SCORING DEVICES: Mechanical scoreboard devices are frequently used in tournaments to display scores during the game. Some have numbered disks displaying scores, others have movable clips on vertical boards with numbers along both vertical edges. Still others have movable pegs for numbered peg holes. In any event, it is the scoresheet, not the mechanical device which officially records the game stats. Few attempts at electronic scoreboard devices have been used with practical success but the possibilities still exist.
As pitchers call out the scoring, the scorekeeper must record the ringers and points scored and keep the game scores current, and prepare to stop the game when the agreed-to limit on shoes pitched or total points is reached. The two samples below show first, a conventional scoresheet and second, a modified scoresheet to help the scorekeeper proof for errors. Accurate records are needed to assure that each pitcher receives credit for all ringers and points scored. Ringer averages are found by dividing total ringers pitched by total shoes pitched and multiply the result by 100 (and carry 2 places past decimal).
When announcing a tournament schedule, the tournament committee should include information on the scoring method and game limit which will be used. Games may be scored as CANCELATION or as COUNT-ALL. Game limits may be determined by a specified number of POINTS SCORED or by a specified number of SHOES PITCHED.
CANCELATION SCORING: The conventional cancelation game between two contestants allows only one of them to score in an inning (an inning is when both pitchers have thrown 2 shoes each at the same stake). However, the number of ringers and shoes pitched are recorded for both pitchers. Ringers score as 3 points if not canceled and shoes lying "in count" (within 6 inches of the stake) score as 1 point each if not canceled: See NHPA RULE 6
COUNT-ALL SCORING: Pitchers call their own scores as determined by the lie of their shoes regardless of the opponent's shoes and both pitcher's stats are recorded. Ringers and shoes lying "in count" are recorded the same as in cancelation scoring.
GAME SCORESHEETS: The conventional scoresheet is ruled with horizontal lines numbered by 2's to represent accumulated number of shoes pitched by each contestant, thus 5 innings (lines) would indicate a total of 10 shoes pitched. The column for shoes pitched is down the center of the scoresheet with 3 additional columns on either side marked "RINGERS", "POINTS" and "SCORE". Summary boxes below the columns are for final totals on ringers, scores, shoes and sometimes such information as total single-count and total "doubles" pitched by each contestant. Each scoresheet must have contestant's names written above their side of the scoresheet and their class lineup round-robin number.
Symbols are used on game scoresheets to indicate ringers. "Live" ringers are shown with a circle ("O") and canceled ringers are shown with an "X". This makes it convenient to summarize by both if necessary for proofing the scoresheet for errors. It is very important that scorekeepers record all ringers to assure that both pitchers receive credit for ringers they pitched, whether live or canceled. "POINTS" column entries should show the number of points called out to the scorekeeper for each inning while the "SCORE" column entry should show each pitcher's accumulated score subtotal. A well kept scoresheet will only show changes in the "SCORE" column instead of repeating the same score from inning to inning, however a dash across the empty SCORE box should be used by the scorekeeper to prevent accidental use of the same box for the next inning. Proofing of game scoresheets should be done by scorekeepers. Some scoresheets have an easy to follow set of summary boxes to help proof the scoresheet. Another, easy to use method finds the diff in scores, diff in ringers x 3, and diff in total single-count, then if the sum of the two smaller numbers equals the greater number the scoresheet very likely has no error. No proofing method however, will find equal number of missing ringers for each contestant. Scorekeepers should not visit or be distracted during a game.
TOURNAMENT SCORESHEETS: Manual tournament scoresheets must record each game scoresheet and their accumulated totals. Electronic (computer) programs which record and print the same data is used by some tournaments. Tournament scoresheet data is to be forwarded to NHPA national statistics center (NATSTATS) where official 3-high ringer averages are recorded.
SCORING DEVICES: Mechanical scoreboard devices are frequently used in tournaments to display scores during the game. Some have numbered disks displaying scores, others have movable clips on vertical boards with numbers along both vertical edges. Still others have movable pegs for numbered peg holes. In any event, it is the scoresheet, not the mechanical device which officially records the game stats. Few attempts at electronic scoreboard devices have been used with practical success but the possibilities still exist.
CORRECTLY MARKING GAME SCORESHEETS
As pitchers call out the scoring, the scorekeeper must record the ringers and points scored and keep the game scores current, and prepare to stop the game when the agreed-to limit on shoes pitched or total points is reached. The two samples below show first, a conventional scoresheet and second, a modified scoresheet to help the scorekeeper proof for errors. Accurate records are needed to assure that each pitcher receives credit for all ringers and points scored. Ringer averages are found by dividing total ringers pitched by total shoes pitched and multiply the result by 100 (and carry 2 places past decimal).
NOTE: "Single count" (non-ringer points) are recorded in center columns as "1", "2" or "4". They are used in proofing the scoresheet for possible errors. The most common scorekeeping error is when scorekeepers forget to credit the opponent with a cancelled ringer on a "3 ringers, 3 points" call. If an error occurs, first check to see that all cancelled ringers have a matching cancelled ringer for the opponent (compare "X"'s). "Dif" is the "difference" between two numbers as used above in proofing scoresheets.
these are pdf files that will require a pdf reader to download and/or print.