How to Use a Live Floorball Scoreboard
Free Setup, Countdown Clock, Penalty Tracking & Spectator Sharing — A Complete Walkthrough
Last updated: April 6, 2026
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard lets you run a professional-quality floorball scoreboard from your phone in under 30 seconds. Select the sport, enter team names, and start — no registration required. You control the countdown clock (20:00 → 0:00), track goals, manage penalties with live countdown timers (2, 5, 10 min), and handle overtime and shootouts. Spectators follow on any device via a shared link or QR code, seeing the score, clock, period, and penalty timers in real time.
Getting Started: Create a Scoreboard in 30 Seconds
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard requires no account, no app download, and no payment. Here is how to get started:
Step-by-Step Setup
- Open JudgeMate in any web browser on your phone, tablet, or computer
- Navigate to the Free Scoreboard section
- Select the sport — choose Floorball from the available sports
- Enter team names — type the names of both teams
- Tap Create — your scoreboard is live immediately
You now have two links:
- Admin link: This is your control panel. Only you (the scorekeeper) use this link. It gives you full control over the score, clock, penalties, and match state.
- Spectator link: This is the public display. Share this with everyone who wants to watch — fans, parents, coaches, tournament organizers. It shows the score, clock, period, and penalty timers in real time.
Who Should Be the Admin?
The ideal admin is someone who can focus on the match without playing in it. Common choices:
- A bench coach or team manager
- A parent or volunteer sitting courtside
- A tournament official managing the scorer's table
- Anyone with a phone who can watch the game and update the score
The admin controls are designed for one-handed phone operation — large buttons, clear layout, and instant feedback on every action.
No Registration Means No Barriers
The deliberate lack of registration means you can start a scoreboard at a moment's notice. Arrived at a school tournament and realized there is no scoring system? Open JudgeMate, create a scoreboard in 30 seconds, and the match has a proper live display. No bureaucracy, no setup time.
Match Setup: Configuring Your Floorball Scoreboard
Once your scoreboard is created, the default configuration matches standard floorball rules. Here is what is pre-configured and what you can adjust.
Default Floorball Configuration
| Setting | Default Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Periods | 3 | Standard floorball format |
| Period Length | 20:00 | Countdown from 20:00 to 0:00 |
| Clock Direction | Countdown | Matches IFF official format |
| Overtime | Enabled | Configurable duration |
| Shootout | Enabled | Available after overtime |
| Penalties | 2, 5, 10 min | All three durations available |
Team Names and Colors
Enter the team names during creation. The spectator display shows team names prominently alongside the score, making it easy for fans to follow — especially in tournaments where teams may not be familiar to all spectators.
Period Configuration
The default 3 periods of 20 minutes matches the standard IFF format. If you are running a modified format (e.g., 3x15 for youth, 2x15 for small court), the period length can be adjusted to match your specific competition rules.
Pre-Match Checklist
Before the match starts:
- Confirm team names are correct on the spectator display
- Verify the clock is set to 20:00 for the first period
- Share the spectator link or QR code with fans and the display screen
- Test the connection by tapping the score + button and immediately correcting it with -
- Position your phone where you can see the court and reach the controls comfortably
Score Controls: Tracking Goals in Real Time
The core of any scoreboard is tracking the score. JudgeMate makes this as simple as possible.
Adding a Goal
When a team scores:
- Tap the + button next to the scoring team's name
- The score updates instantly on both the admin panel and all spectator devices
- The goal is logged as an event with a timestamp (the game clock time when it was recorded)
That is it. One tap, instant update, everyone sees it.
Correcting a Mistake
Made an error? Tap the - button next to the team's score to remove the last goal. This is important because mistakes happen — a referee may disallow a goal after initially signaling it, or the admin may accidentally tap the wrong team. The correction is reflected instantly on all connected devices.
Goal Event Log
Every goal is recorded in the match event log with:
- The scoring team
- The game clock time at the moment of recording
- The period in which it was scored
This event log provides a complete scoring timeline of the match — useful for post-match review, tournament records, and settling any disputes about when goals were scored.
Best Practices for Score Tracking
- Update immediately when the referee signals a goal — do not wait
- If a goal is under review by the referees, wait for the final decision before updating
- Keep the phone visible so you can glance at the court and the screen simultaneously
- In fast-paced floorball matches, goals can come in quick succession — stay alert and update each one promptly
Clock Management: Running the Countdown Timer
Floorball uses a countdown clock — each period runs from 20:00 down to 0:00, stopping on every whistle. Managing the clock accurately is one of the most important responsibilities of the scorekeeper.
Starting and Stopping the Clock
- Tap to start the clock when the referee signals play to resume (whistle or hand signal)
- Tap to stop when the referee blows the whistle for any stoppage — goals, penalties, free hits, ball out of play, injuries
The clock control is a single prominent button on the admin panel, designed for quick, one-tap operation. The current time is displayed in large digits on both the admin and spectator views.
Period Transitions
When the clock reaches 0:00, the period ends. The admin then:
- Confirms the period is over
- The scoreboard automatically advances to the next period
- The clock resets to 20:00 for the new period
- The spectator display shows the updated period indicator
Intermissions
During the 10-minute intermissions between periods, the game clock is stopped. The spectator display continues to show the current score and period status, so fans always know the match state even during breaks.
Overtime Clock
If the match goes to overtime, the admin activates the overtime period. The clock is set to the appropriate overtime duration (typically 10 minutes for standard IFF overtime, configurable for other formats) and counts down just like regulation periods.
Clock Adjustment
If the clock needs to be corrected — for example, if the admin started or stopped it a few seconds late — manual adjustment is available. This ensures the displayed time matches the actual game time, even if there is a brief delay in admin response.
Tips for Accurate Timekeeping
- Watch the referee, not just the play. Start and stop the clock based on the referee's whistle, not when you see the ball go out of play.
- In recreational matches without a dedicated timekeeper, the clock does not need to be perfect — a few seconds here and there will not affect the match outcome
- For tournaments with strict timing, designate a dedicated timekeeper who focuses only on the clock
Penalty Tracking: Live Countdown Timers
Penalty tracking is one of JudgeMate's most valued features for floorball — because accurate penalty management is critical in a sport where minor penalties are always served in full.
Recording a Penalty
When a referee calls a penalty:
- Tap the penalty button for the offending team
- Select the penalty duration: 2 minutes (minor), 5 minutes (major), or 10 minutes (match penalty)
- The penalty countdown timer starts immediately and is visible on the spectator display
What Spectators See
On the spectator display, active penalties are shown with:
- The team that is penalized
- A live countdown timer showing the exact time remaining
- When the timer reaches 0:00, the penalty indicator disappears and the team returns to full strength
This gives everyone in the sports hall — players, coaches, and fans — the same information that professional arena scoreboards display. Players on the court know exactly how long the power play lasts. Coaches can time their strategies around penalty expiration. Fans understand the tactical situation at a glance.
Multiple Simultaneous Penalties
Floorball matches can have multiple penalties running at the same time — for example, one team with two players in the penalty area (5v3 situation), or both teams with a player each in the box (4v4). JudgeMate tracks all active penalties independently, each with its own countdown timer.
The "Always Served in Full" Rule
Remember: in floorball, minor penalties do not end early when the opposing team scores. This means the countdown timer runs for the full 2 minutes regardless of goals scored during the power play. This is different from ice hockey, where a minor penalty ends when the power play team scores. The JudgeMate timer reflects this rule correctly — it counts down the full duration without interruption.
Penalty Tracking Best Practices
- Record the penalty as soon as the referee signals it — the countdown should start when the penalized player leaves the court
- If you are unsure whether the referee called 2 or 5 minutes, wait for the hand signal confirmation before recording
- In matches with many penalties, stay organized — the spectator display handles the visual presentation, so focus on accurately recording each penalty as it happens
Sharing with Fans: Link, QR Code & Large Displays
One of JudgeMate's most powerful features is real-time spectator access — anyone with the link can follow the match live on their own device.
Sharing the Spectator Link
Every scoreboard has a unique spectator URL. Share it via:
- QR code: JudgeMate generates a QR code that fans can scan with their phone camera. Display the QR code on a poster, printed sheet, or screen at the venue entrance.
- Direct link: Copy and paste the URL into messaging apps, team group chats, social media, or email. Anyone who receives the link can open it in a browser and see the live scoreboard.
- Tournament website: Embed or link the spectator URLs on a tournament website so fans can follow any match from anywhere.
Large Display Setup
For venue displays (TV, projector, arena screen), connect a device to the display and open the spectator link in a web browser:
- TV/Monitor: Connect a laptop or tablet via HDMI. Open the spectator link in full-screen browser mode.
- Projector: Same as TV — connect any device and project the spectator view onto a wall or screen.
- Smart TV: Open the browser directly on the Smart TV and navigate to the spectator link.
The spectator view is designed for large displays — high-contrast colors, large fonts, and a clean layout ensure readability from across the sports hall.
Multi-Court Tournament Setup
In tournaments with multiple courts running simultaneously:
- Each match has its own independent scoreboard with its own admin and spectator links
- Assign a different admin (scorekeeper) to each court
- A central display can rotate between spectator links, or multiple screens can each show a different match
- Parents and fans can follow specific matches on their phones via the spectator links, even if they are sitting at a different court
This setup is especially valuable for youth tournaments and school competitions where families want to track results across multiple courts.
Remote Spectators
The spectator link works from anywhere with an internet connection — not just inside the sports hall. Parents who cannot attend, tournament organizers at other venues, and fans following from home can all see the live score, clock, period, and penalties in real time. Share the link before the match starts so remote spectators are ready when the first period begins.
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