How to Use a Live Lacrosse Scoreboard
From Match Setup to Real-Time Sharing — A Step-by-Step Guide for Any Lacrosse Game
Last updated: April 6, 2026
Running a live lacrosse scoreboard with JudgeMate takes under 30 seconds to set up. Select Lacrosse, enter team names, and tap Create. You get a 15-minute countdown clock that resets each quarter, penalty tracking with 30-second, 1-minute, 2-minute, and 3-minute durations, a goal event log with player names, and a spectator link (QR code or URL) for real-time sharing. One person controls the entire game from their phone — no registration, no app download, completely free.
Getting Started: What You Need
Running a JudgeMate lacrosse scoreboard requires minimal setup — one device and an internet connection.
Requirements
- One device to control the scoreboard: Any smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a web browser
- Internet connection: Wi-Fi or mobile data on the admin device (the scoreboard syncs in real time via the cloud)
- No app download: JudgeMate runs entirely in the browser — works on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and ChromeOS
- No registration: No account needed. No email, no password, no trial period
Who Should Run the Scoreboard?
The scoreboard operator should be someone who:
- Can see the field clearly (ideally from the sideline or scorer's table)
- Can dedicate attention to tracking goals, clock, and penalties
- Has their phone or tablet charged (or plugged in for tournament-length use)
At youth games, a parent volunteer or team manager typically runs the scoreboard. At club or tournament level, the scorer's table operator can run JudgeMate alongside other duties. The operator does not need to be a licensed official — the interface is designed for anyone to use.
Before the Game
- Charge your device or bring a portable charger
- Test the spectator link by opening it on a second device or sharing it with a coach
- If using a TV or projector for the sideline display, test the connection in advance
- Know the penalty durations for your competition level (30s technical, 1–3 min personal)
Match Setup: Creating Your Lacrosse Scoreboard
Setting up a lacrosse scoreboard in JudgeMate is designed to be fast — you should be ready to go in under 30 seconds.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Open JudgeMate in your browser (judgemate.app)
- Select Lacrosse from the sport selection screen
- Enter team names — the home team and away team. You can use full names, abbreviations, or nicknames
- Tap Create — your scoreboard is now live
That is it. The scoreboard launches with:
- A 15-minute countdown clock set to the first quarter
- Score counters for both teams initialized at 0–0
- Penalty buttons ready with lacrosse-specific durations
- A spectator link and QR code ready to share
Customization Options
- Team colors: Select colors for each team to match their jerseys — the spectator display uses these for visual clarity
- Font scale: Adjust the display text size from 50% to 300% — essential when the scoreboard is displayed on a TV or projector at different viewing distances
What the Admin Sees vs. What Spectators See
- Admin view (your phone): Full control panel with clock controls, score buttons, penalty buttons, event log, and sharing options
- Spectator view (shared link): Clean display showing the score, game clock, current quarter, active penalties with countdowns, and recent events. No edit controls — spectators can only watch
The separation between admin and spectator views means only the operator can change the score or clock, while an unlimited number of spectators can follow along.
Score Controls: Tracking Goals and Events
Tracking goals in JudgeMate is designed to be quick — a single tap to add a goal, with optional detail for a complete match record.
Adding a Goal
- Tap the + button next to the scoring team's name
- The score increments immediately and syncs to all spectator screens in real time
- Optional: Enter the player name or number before confirming — this creates a detailed event log
The Event Log
Every goal is automatically recorded with:
- Match time: The exact clock time when the goal was added (e.g., "Q2 — 11:34")
- Scoring team: Clearly attributed to home or away
- Player name/number: If entered by the operator
The event log appears on both the admin and spectator views, providing a complete scoring timeline. After the game, this log serves as an informal match record — useful for coaches reviewing game flow and for reporting results.
Correcting Mistakes
If you accidentally add a goal:
- Tap the – button next to the team's name to decrement the score
- The event log updates accordingly
- The correction syncs immediately to all spectator screens
Score Display
The spectator view shows the score in large, high-contrast numbers that are readable from across a field or gymnasium. Team colors (if set) make it immediately clear which score belongs to which team. The current quarter is displayed prominently alongside the clock.
Clock Management: Running the 15-Minute Countdown
The game clock is the heartbeat of your scoreboard. JudgeMate's lacrosse clock is designed to match how the sport is actually played.
Clock Basics
- Direction: Counts down from 15:00 to 0:00 (standard field lacrosse quarters)
- Reset: The clock automatically resets to 15:00 when you advance to the next quarter
- Controls: Start (play), Pause (stop), and manual time adjustment
Running the Clock During Play
Lacrosse clock management depends on the competition level:
- Running clock (most youth and recreational games): Start the clock at the opening whistle and let it run. Pause only for timeouts, injuries, and the final two minutes of each half
- Stop clock (PLL, international, some high school): Pause the clock on every whistle — goals, penalties, out of bounds, timeouts. This requires more active clock management from the operator
Quarter Transitions
When a quarter ends (clock reaches 0:00):
- The clock stops automatically
- Tap the advance quarter button when ready to begin the next quarter
- The clock resets to 15:00
- The quarter indicator updates (Q1 → Q2 → Q3 → Q4)
- Start the clock on the next face-off whistle
Halftime
Between Q2 and Q3, there is a halftime break (typically 10 minutes). The scoreboard does not run a halftime timer — simply wait until teams are ready and advance to Q3.
Overtime
If the game is tied after Q4:
- Advance to the overtime period
- The clock adjusts for overtime duration (varies by rules — typically 4 minutes for NCAA)
- Run as sudden death — stop the clock immediately when a goal is scored
Tips for Accurate Clock Management
- Keep your thumb near the pause button during live play — you need to react quickly on whistles
- Watch the officials, not just the play — the whistle is your cue to pause
- Small adjustments: If your clock is a few seconds off from the official clock, use the manual adjustment to sync up during a stoppage
Penalty Tracking: Managing Man-Up and Man-Down
Penalty tracking is one of JudgeMate's most valuable features for lacrosse — most generic scoreboard apps do not support the sport's unique penalty durations.
Adding a Penalty
- Tap the penalty button for the team that committed the foul
- Select the duration: 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, or 3 minutes
- Optional: Enter the penalized player's name or number
- Confirm — the penalty timer starts counting down immediately on both admin and spectator views
Penalty Timer Display
On the spectator view, active penalties are displayed with:
- Team attribution: Which team is man-down
- Live countdown: Seconds remaining, updating in real time (e.g., "1:24" → "1:23" → ...)
- Player info: Name or number if entered
Multiple simultaneous penalties are displayed separately, giving spectators a clear picture of the penalty situation — including scenarios where a team has two players in the box (5v3 or equivalent).
Releasable vs. Non-Releasable Penalties
JudgeMate tracks the penalty timer regardless of penalty type. The operator manages the distinction:
- Releasable penalty (30s technical foul): If the man-up team scores, manually remove the penalty by tapping the dismiss button. The timer clears from the display
- Non-releasable penalty (1–3 min personal foul): Let the timer run to completion. Do not dismiss it on a goal — the penalized player serves the full duration
Removing a Penalty Early
If you need to remove a penalty before it expires (e.g., releasable penalty after a goal, or a penalty called in error):
- Tap the active penalty on the admin view
- Confirm removal — the penalty disappears from both admin and spectator displays
Common Penalty Scenarios
- 30-second technical foul (offsides, pushing): Start timer. If the man-up team scores, remove manually. Otherwise, it expires after 30 seconds
- 1-minute personal foul (illegal body check): Start timer. Do NOT remove on a goal. Timer expires after 60 seconds
- 2-minute personal foul (slashing): Start timer. Serves in full — 120 seconds
- 3-minute personal foul (unsportsmanlike): Start timer. Full 180 seconds — a major penalty situation
- Simultaneous penalties: Add penalties to both teams. If durations match, teams play 4v4 (or equivalent). If durations differ, the team with the longer penalty goes man-down after the shorter one expires
Sharing with Fans: QR Code, Spectator Link & Big Screens
One of JudgeMate's most powerful features is the ability to share the live scoreboard with an unlimited number of spectators — parents, fans, teammates, and remote viewers — in real time.
Sharing Methods
- QR Code: Tap the Share button on the admin panel to display a QR code. Spectators scan it with their phone camera — no app needed, the scoreboard opens in their browser instantly
- Spectator Link: Copy and share the URL via text message, WhatsApp, email, or any messaging platform. Anyone with the link sees the live scoreboard
- Social Media: Post the spectator link on the team's social media page or group chat so fans who cannot attend can follow along remotely
What Spectators See
The spectator view is a clean, read-only display showing:
- Score: Large, high-contrast numbers with team names and colors
- Game clock: Live countdown timer showing minutes and seconds
- Current quarter: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, OT
- Active penalties: Team, player (if entered), and live countdown timer
- Recent events: Goal log with times and player names
Using a TV or Projector
For sideline displays, tournament screens, or gymnasium TVs:
- Open the spectator link on a laptop connected to the display
- Adjust the font scale from the admin panel — increase to 200% or 300% for large screens
- The scoreboard scales perfectly to any screen size and aspect ratio
- For outdoor use, ensure the screen brightness is high enough for daylight visibility
Tournament Setup
For multi-field tournaments:
- Each field gets its own independent scoreboard with a unique admin and spectator link
- A central display can show multiple scoreboards by opening multiple browser tabs or using a split-screen layout
- Tournament organizers can share all spectator links in a single message so fans can switch between fields
Performance and Reliability
- Spectator views update in real time — there is no polling delay. When you add a goal, it appears on spectator screens within 1–2 seconds
- The scoreboard works on any device with a web browser — iOS, Android, laptops, tablets, smart TVs
- No limit on the number of simultaneous spectators. Whether 5 parents or 500 fans are watching, the experience is identical
- If a spectator loses connection and reconnects, the scoreboard automatically syncs to the current state — they never see stale data
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