Free Handball Scoreboard — How to Run a Match
Score, Clock, Cards & Sharing — Everything You Need to Run a Handball Match from Your Phone
Last updated: April 6, 2026
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard lets you run a full handball match from your phone — no account, no download, no cost. Select Handball, tap "Create Scoreboard", set up team names and colors, and go live. The admin panel gives you goal event logging with player names, a running clock for 2×30-minute halves with cumulative display, yellow and red card tracking, extra time support (2×5 minutes), font size remote control, and one-tap sharing via QR code or link. Spectators follow the match on any screen in real-time.
Step 1 — Create a Handball Scoreboard
- Go to the Free Scoreboard page on JudgeMate.
- Select Handball from the available sports.
- Tap "Create Scoreboard".
The system instantly generates two links:
- Admin link (with a secret token) — this is your control panel. Only you can change the score, clock, and cards.
- Spectator link (no token) — this is the read-only view for fans, displayed on phones, tablets, TVs, or projectors.
Important: Bookmark or save your admin link immediately. If you lose it, you cannot regain control of the board. The spectator link can be shared freely — anyone with the link sees the live score.
Step 2 — Match Setup
Before the match starts, you'll see the Setup Screen:
- Team names — type up to 20 characters per team (default: HOME / GUEST). Use the actual team names for the best spectator experience.
- Team colors — choose from 12 presets: red, orange, amber, lime, green, teal, cyan, blue, purple, pink, gray, white. Colors appear on both the admin panel and the spectator view.
- 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, clock, and half number in real-time.
Step 3 — Score Controls: Goal Event Logging
Handball scoring in JudgeMate uses a goal event system that logs each goal individually:
- +1 button per team — adds a goal and opens the event log entry
- Event details — optionally enter the scoring player's name or number for a detailed match record
- Minus (−) button — removes the last goal to correct mistakes. The score can never go below 0.
Every goal tap updates the spectator screen instantly — there is no delay. The event log creates a chronological record of the match:
- Who scored
- When (match time)
- Running score at that moment
Why this matters: The goal event log transforms your scoreboard from a simple counter into a complete match record. After the match, you have a ready-made summary for team chats, social media, or post-match analysis.
Tip: In handball, goals come fast — often every 30-60 seconds during intense sequences. Keep the admin panel ready and tap quickly. If you miss a player name, you can always just add the goal without details and move on.
Step 4 — Running Clock (Count-Up, 2×30 Minutes)
Handball uses a running clock that counts up — from 0:00 toward 30:00 in each half.
Basic Controls
- START (blue button) — starts the clock counting up.
- PAUSE (yellow button) — pauses the clock. Use this during timeouts, injuries, or when the referee stops the clock.
Cumulative Display
The clock displays time cumulatively across both halves:
- First half: 0:00 → 30:00
- Second half: 30:00 → 60:00
This matches how handball time is typically referenced in broadcasts and statistics. A goal scored at "42:15" means 42 minutes and 15 seconds into the match (12 minutes and 15 seconds into the second half).
Manual Adjustment (When Paused)
When the clock is paused, adjustment controls appear:
- ±1:00 — add or subtract 1 minute
- ±0:10 — add or subtract 10 seconds
Use these to sync with the official match clock if they drift apart.
Quick Jump Buttons
When paused, preset buttons let you jump to key times:
- 0:00 — start of the first half
- 30:00 — start of the second half
- 15:00 / 45:00 — mid-half checkpoints
Important: Handball's clock runs continuously during play (unlike basketball). You should only pause for official stoppages — timeouts and referee-ordered clock stops. During regular play, the clock keeps running even after goals and free throws.
Step 5 — Half & Extra Time Progression
Handball matches follow this period structure:
| Phase | Clock | Display |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Half | 0:00 → 30:00 | 1st Half |
| 2nd Half | 30:00 → 60:00 | 2nd Half |
| ET 1st Half | 60:00 → 65:00 | ET 1 |
| ET 2nd Half | 65:00 → 70:00 | ET 2 |
Advancing Periods
Tap "Next Period" to advance: 1st Half → 2nd Half → ET1 → ET2.
When you advance from the 2nd Half to extra time, the clock continues counting up from 60:00. Extra time halves are 5 minutes each (matching IHF rules for knockout matches).
What Happens on Period Change
- The period label updates on both admin and spectator screens.
- The clock continues from where it was (cumulative display).
- The score carries over — it does NOT reset between halves.
When to Use Extra Time
Extra time is only used in knockout matches (elimination rounds, cup ties, finals). In league matches and group stages, if the score is tied at 60:00, the match simply ends as a draw. Only advance to extra time if the competition rules require a winner.
Step 6 — Yellow & Red Card Tracking
JudgeMate tracks cards for each team, reflecting handball's progressive punishment system.
Adding Cards
- Yellow card (+) — adds a yellow card (warning) for the team
- Red card (+) — adds a red card (disqualification) for the team
- Minus (−) buttons — remove cards for corrections
What the Cards Represent
In handball, the card system works differently from football:
- Yellow card = Warning. One per player, maximum 3 per team.
- After a team's 3 yellow cards, further infractions go directly to 2-minute suspensions (which JudgeMate tracks as part of the match flow — the scoreboard focuses on cards as visual markers).
- Red card = Disqualification. The player is removed from the match.
Display
Cards are visible on both the admin panel and the spectator view. Fans can see at a glance how many yellow and red cards each team has accumulated, adding context to the match situation.
Note on 2-minute suspensions: While JudgeMate tracks yellow and red cards visually, the 2-minute suspensions (temporary exclusions) are typically managed by the official scorer's table in competitive matches. For informal and local matches, you can use the card counters to note suspensions as well — just keep a mental count.
Step 7 — Share with Spectators (QR Code & Link)
Tap the "Share" button in the top bar to open the share modal:
- QR Code — spectators scan it with their phone camera. Perfect for sports halls and venues where fans are physically present.
- Link — copy and send via WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, email, or any other channel. Works for remote spectators too.
- Native share — use your phone's built-in share sheet (if supported by your device).
The spectator link looks like: judgemate.com/{language}/scoreboard/live/handball/{boardId}
Font Size Remote Control
As admin, you can control the text size on spectator screens:
- A− / A+ buttons or a slider
- Range: 50% to 300% of the default size
- Perfect for adjusting readability on big screens, projectors, or gym scoreboards
Spectators can also tap their screen to reveal a local font slider (70%-160%), but the admin's setting takes priority.
No Login Required
Neither you (the admin) nor the spectators need an account, app download, or login. Everything works in a standard web browser on any device.
Step 8 — End Match, Summary & Rematch
Ending the Match
- 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 — nobody can change it.
- Spectators see the final score with an "ENDED" label.
- The clock is automatically paused.
Post-Match Summary
After ending, the admin panel shows a match summary:
- Duration — total time played
- Total goals — combined score of both teams
- Cards — yellow and red cards per team
Post-Match Actions
- "New Game — Same Teams" — creates a new board with the same team names and colors. One tap, instant rematch. Perfect for tournaments and training matches.
- "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, team chats, or social media.
Board Expiration
Completed scoreboards remain accessible for up to one week. After that, the board expires and spectators see a "Session Expired" message. Save your final score screenshot before the week is up if you need a permanent record.
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