Free Scoreboard — Admin Guide
Step-by-step setup for every sport, from board to final score
The JudgeMate Free Scoreboard lets you run a game from your phone — no account needed. Pick from 15 sports (football, basketball, volleyball, and more), tap "Create", set up team names, and you're live. Spectators follow via a QR code or link in real-time. This guide walks through every button and situation in the admin panel.
Step 1 — Create a Scoreboard
- Go to the Free Scoreboard page on JudgeMate.
- Choose from 15 available sports — including Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Table Tennis, and more.
- Tap "Create Scoreboard".
The system instantly generates:
- An admin link (with a secret token) — this is YOUR control panel.
- A spectator link (no token), this is what fans see.
Important: Bookmark or save your admin link. If you lose it, you cannot regain control of the board.
Step 2 — Game Setup
Before the game starts, you'll see the Setup Screen:
- Team names — type up to 20 characters per team (default: HOME / GUEST).
- Team colors, pick from 12 presets (red, orange, amber, lime, green, teal, cyan, blue, purple, pink, gray, white).
- Tap "Start Game" when ready.
While you're in setup, spectators see a waiting screen: "Game Starting Soon — Waiting for the host to start..."
Once you tap Start, the board goes LIVE and spectators see the score in real-time.
Step 3 — Score Controls (All Sports)
The score area is split into two tap zones:
- Left half → Home team
- Right half → Guest team
Each side has:
- A large "+" button to add points.
- A smaller "−" button to undo (score never drops below 0).
Basketball is special: you get +1, +2, +3 buttons per team instead of a single +1.
Every tap updates the spectator screen instantly.
Step 4 — Clock Controls (Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey)
Three sports have a game clock. Volleyball does not — skip this section for volleyball.
Basic controls:
- START (blue) — starts the clock.
- PAUSE (yellow), pauses the clock.
When paused, two extra controls appear:
- ±1:00 — adjust by 1 minute.
- ±0:10, adjust by 10 seconds.
Quick jump buttons let you skip to a specific time (e.g., 0:00, 45:00, 90:00 in football). These only appear when the clock is paused.
Clock direction:
- Football — counts UP (0:00 → 45:00 → 90:00...).
- Basketball, counts DOWN (10:00 → 0:00).
- Ice Hockey, counts DOWN (20:00 → 0:00).
Football — Complete Guide
Periods
Football has up to 5 phases:
| Phase | Period | Clock range |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Half | 1 | 0:00 → 45:00 |
| 2nd Half | 2 | 45:00 → 90:00 |
| Extra Time 1st Half | 3 | 90:00 → 105:00 |
| Extra Time 2nd Half | 4 | 105:00 → 120:00 |
| Shootout (SO) | 5 | No clock |
The clock is cumulative — it never resets to 0:00. After the 1st half, the 2nd half starts from 45:00.
Tap the "→ Next Half" button to advance to the next period. You can also undo a period change if you tapped it by mistake.
Stoppage Time
When the clock passes the period end (e.g., 45:00), it switches to stoppage time format: 45+1:23.
Set stoppage time with quick buttons: +1, +3, +5, +7, +10 minutes, or type a custom value (0–30 min). Tapping the same value again clears it.
When stoppage time is set, a yellow indicator shows how much was added. If the clock exceeds the stoppage time, the display turns red with a pulse animation.
Cards (Yellow & Red)
For each team:
- Tap Yellow or Red card button.
- Optionally enter a player number or name in the pop-up.
- Confirm — the card is recorded with the current game time.
Auto-conversion: If the same player receives 2 yellow cards, the system automatically converts them to 1 red card. This only works when you enter the player name/number.
Undo: The "Undo last card" button removes the most recent card for that team.
Shootout
When you advance past Extra Time, the scoreboard enters Shootout mode:
- The clock disappears — only a "SO" label is shown.
- START/PAUSE and clock adjustment buttons are hidden.
- Use the +/− score buttons to track penalty kicks.
Basketball — Complete Guide
Quarters & Overtime
Basketball has 4 quarters of 10 minutes each (FIBA rules), plus unlimited overtime periods of 5 minutes.
| Phase | Clock |
|---|---|
| Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 | 10:00 → 0:00 |
| OT1, OT2, ... | 5:00 → 0:00 |
Tap "Next Period" to advance: Q1 → Q2 → Q3 → Q4 → OT1 → OT2...
Quick jump buttons (when paused): 10:00, 5:00, 2:00, 0:00.
Scoring: +1, +2, +3
Unlike other sports, basketball has three score buttons per team:
- +1 — free throw
- +2, field goal
- +3, three-pointer
Shot Clock
Two reset buttons:
- 24s — standard reset (new possession).
- 14s, offensive rebound or certain violations.
The shot clock runs independently from the game clock.
Fouls & Bonus
Track fouls per team with +/− buttons. When a team reaches 5 fouls, the bonus indicator lights up in red.
Foul reset rules (FIBA):
- Fouls reset at halftime (transition from Q2 → Q3).
- Fouls reset when entering overtime.
- Fouls do NOT reset between Q1 → Q2 or Q3 → Q4.
Timeouts
Tap the "Timeout" button to increment the count for each team. Timeouts reset automatically at the start of each quarter.
Ice Hockey — Complete Guide
Periods, Overtime & Shootout
Ice hockey has 3 regular periods of 20 minutes, plus overtime and shootout.
| Phase | Clock |
|---|---|
| 1st, 2nd, 3rd Period | 20:00 → 0:00 |
| Overtime (OT) | 5:00 → 0:00 |
| Shootout (SO) | No clock |
Tap "Next Period" to advance: 1st → 2nd → 3rd → OT → SO.
Quick jump buttons change by phase:
- Regular periods: 20:00, 10:00, 5:00, 0:00
- Overtime: 5:00, 2:00, 1:00, 0:00
During Shootout: the clock disappears, clock controls are hidden. Only score buttons remain.
Penalty System (Time-Based)
Ice hockey penalties are tracked with countdown timers, not just counts.
To add a penalty:
- Select the team (Home or Guest).
- Optionally type a player number or name.
- Tap the penalty duration: 2 min (minor), 5 min (major), or 10 min (misconduct).
The penalty timer starts immediately and syncs with the game clock (runs when the game clock runs, pauses when it pauses).
Active Penalties
All active penalties are listed with:
- Team color indicator.
- Player name (or team name if not specified).
- Duration.
- "Remove" button to end a penalty early (e.g., power-play goal scored).
Volleyball — Complete Guide
No Clock
Volleyball has no game clock. The clock controls section is hidden.
Sets & Scoring
Volleyball uses a best-of-5 sets format:
- Sets 1–4: first to 25 points, win by at least 2.
- Set 5 (Tiebreak): first to 15 points, win by at least 2.
The display shows:
- Current set number (e.g., "Set 3") with a "Tiebreak" label for set 5.
- Target score: "Playing to 25 (win by 2)" or "Playing to 15 (win by 2)".
- Sets won by each team.
Ending a Set
When a team reaches the target score with the required 2-point advantage, a pulsing "End Set" button appears automatically.
Tapping it:
- Records the set score in the history (e.g., 25-23).
- Resets both scores to 0-0.
- Advances to the next set.
- The team that lost the set automatically becomes the server.
Set History
Completed set scores are displayed as a running log:
- Set 1: 25-23
- Set 2: 24-26
- Set 3: 25-20
- ...
Serving Indicator
A yellow dot shows which team is currently serving. Tap it to switch the server manually. After each set ends, the server switches to the losing team automatically.
Match End
The match ends automatically when either team wins 3 sets (best of 5). The scoreboard status changes to ENDED and the score freezes for all spectators.
Sharing & Font Size Control
Sharing with Spectators
Tap the "Share" button in the top bar to open the share modal:
- QR Code — spectators scan it with their phone camera.
- Link, copy and send via any messenger.
- Native share, use your phone's share sheet (if supported).
The spectator link looks like: judgemate.com/{language}/scoreboard/live/{sport}/{boardId}
No login or app download is required. Works on any phone, tablet, laptop, or Smart TV.
Font Size Remote Control
As admin, you control the text size on spectator screens:
- A− / A+ buttons or a slider.
- Range: 50% to 300% of default size.
- Perfect for adjusting readability on big screens or projectors.
Spectators can also tap their own screen to reveal a local font slider (range: 70%–160%), but the admin's setting takes priority.
Ending the Game & Post-Game
Ending the Game
- Tap "End Game" in the top bar.
- A confirmation dialog appears: "End game? This will freeze the score for all spectators."
- Tap "Yes, End Game" to confirm, or "Keep Playing" to cancel.
Once ended:
- The score is permanently frozen — no one can change it.
- Spectators see the final score with an "ENDED" label.
- The clock (if any) is automatically paused.
Post-Game Stats
After ending, the admin panel shows a match summary:
| Sport | Stats shown |
|---|---|
| Football | Duration, total goals, yellow cards, red cards |
| Basketball | Duration, total points, total fouls |
| Ice Hockey | Duration, total goals, penalty minutes |
| Volleyball | Set scores (e.g., 25-23, 24-26, 25-20) |
Post-Game Actions
- "New Game — Same Teams", creates a new board with the same team names and colors. One tap, instant rematch.
- "New Game, Change Sport", takes you back to the sport selection screen.
- "Share Final Results", opens the share modal again so you can send the final score to fans.
How Long Does the Board Last?
Completed scoreboards remain accessible for up to one week. After that, the board expires and spectators see a "Session Expired" message.
Features
Free, No Registration
Create a live scoreboard with one tap. No account, no email, no app download — just pick a sport and go.
Real-Time Score Updates
Every point, card, and period change appears on spectator screens instantly via a shareable link or QR code.
15 Team Sports
Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Handball, Floorball, Water Polo, Lacrosse, and 5 more — each with sport-specific rules and controls.
Remote Font Sizing
Control the text size on the spectator screen directly from your phone. Scale from 50% to 300% — ideal for big venue displays.
One-Tap Rematch
After a game ends, create a new board with the same teams and colors in one tap. Perfect for tournaments and series.
Works on Any Big Screen
Open the spectator link on a Smart TV, projector, or jumbotron. No app needed — just a web browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Solutions
Try JudgeMate at Your Next Competition
Create a free account and set up your first event in 15 minutes. The wizard walks you through every step — from event details to scoring criteria.