Volleyball Scorekeeping
Guide to scorekeeping volleyball

Volleyball Scorekeeping tips for keeping score at a USAV tournament.

Volleyball Scorekeeping the first Set

The service round section and the running score column are the areas of the scoresheet you will be using the most. These sections are used every time someone puts the ball into play. 

The following are situations where you will take action... 

• When a player makes contact with the ball for service, you make a check mark in the box. Make sure it's the correct server before making the check mark. This means you need to be looking at the ball every time a serve occurs. The players number needs to match the player on the scoresheet.


• At the end of the rally, if the serving team wins the rally, you only need to slash the running column of the serving team. If the receiving team wins the rally, first write in the exit score in the box with a check mark. Next, slash through the correct number in the running score of the receiving team.

On the following scoresheet, the first server is 23. As 23 serves the ball, make a check in the first box below 23. BLAST scores the first point. Slash the 1 in the running column. 

Since BLAST won the rally, 23 will go back to serve again. Again, make sure 23 is the player that serves the ball. When you see that 23 serves the ball, you don't do anything on the scoresheet. 

At the end of this rally, TORPEDOS wins the rally and the ball. 

First, enter the exit score in the box under 23. The exit score is the amount of points the team has at the end of this service. 1 is the exit score. Next, slash the first point in the running column for TORPEDOS. 

At this time, TORPEDOS will rotate because they have been awarded the ball. You can see that 26 will be their first server. 

As you see 26 serve the ball, make a check mark in the service box under 26. When Torpedos win the rally, slash the second point in the running column. The score is now 2 to 1. 

Note: You will notice that under each player rotation there are 8 service boxes. You will always check the first service box first. When a player rotates around and serves a second time, you will use the service box that has the number 2 in it. Also, the service boxes go down. 

When volleyball scorekeeping, what do you do when the wrong player serves? 

When the wrong player serves, notify the second referee after the service contact. Even if you see the wrong player is about to serve, don't notify the referee until the ball has been served. 

Don't check mark the number in the service box. You don't make a check here because the service contact wasn't legal. 

Write the exit score in the service box of the player that should have served the ball. Next, slash the next point in the running column of the opposing team. 

There are times when the referee will beckon for service and the team loses the ball before the serve occurs. 

An example of losing the ball before serving is when a player doesn't serve the ball within the allotted time. Remember, if the server doesn't contact the ball for service, you don't check mark in the service box. This is why it's important to not check mark until the right server has served. Remember, enter the exit score in the appropriate service round box under the player who should have served the ball. 

If you enjoyed these tips and would like to keep it close to you at any time, just save this pin to your Pinterest Volleyball Training Board.