New team...armchair scorekeeper

[elcray]

My son will be playing on a different USSSA team for the fall league. I was one of the score keepers (we keep 2 redundant books) for the summer league, but don't want to overstep my bounds and assume the new coaches will want me involved for the fall league. However, we found the data from this summer to be invaluable and don't want to miss a season. What processes do you guys find to allow you to "score on the fly"? Meaning, I will have all of our players from the online roster, but I won't know what the batting order is, or even how many players they will bat in an inning.

[mprusak]

Its pretty easy to start a game on the fly, especially if you have your team set up already. Setting batting order is quick and easy (even if you have to use Misc->Show Starting Lineup during game to set it as you see it). You can use quick roster for the other team and again just edit names/numbers (if desired) as you go.

Be sure to use leagues to keep data separated.

[Danger]

Like mprusak, I use the "Misc-->Show Starting Lineup" A LOT!

If I already have the roster for both teams, it's a matter of using the "Show Starting Lineup" button to just drag the correct player into order as they come up to bat (or as I catch their number in the on-deck circle). The only tricky part is if the opponent has a new player on the roster and I have to "Add New Player" information while I'm trying to keep up with the pitches.

It's actually easier (for me, anyway) if my opponent is not already in my list of teams. Prior to the game, I add a new team and Create a "Quick Roster". I leave the Number of Players at 12. I set the Number of Batters to 10 (which is typical for travel softball) and set the Default First Name as blank. I use Default Last Name as "Number". Then, as they come to the plate, I simply click on the Batter and enter the correct number for that batter. After the top of the first or after the game, I'll borrow the opponent's lineup card from our scorekeeper (having given the "official" scorekeeper the opportunity to copy it into the book) and enter the actual names for their players. If I learn that the opponent is batting only 9 instead of 10, I'll go to the "Misc-->Show Starting Lineup" function and turn batting off for the 10th player.

In a case where the unknown opponent is the home team and I want to designate their starting pitcher without knowing where she bats in the lineup, I will simply select the Pitcher Position and designate the last player in the order as the pitcher and add her number. Then, when that number comes to bat in the lineup, I'll use the "Misc-->Show Starting Lineup" buttons to drag her to the appropriate spot.

Once I have their complete lineup entered, I'll again use the "Misc-->Show Starting Lineup" button and click "Options-->Copy Lineup to Roster". Then I've got their roster for the next time we meet on the field of battle.

Since I use the "Misc-->Show Starting Lineup" button so frequently because of situations like this, I once asked Customer Support if they could make it a little easier to get to (using an iPhone, I have to scroll down to get to that button whereas lesser-used buttons like "End Inning" are on the first screen). They indicated that they deliberately made it less accessible because newer users tend to confuse that button with the Substitution buttons and they wanted to make sure the user knew what they were doing (or words to that effect) before trying to access the Starting Lineup button, which makes sense.

[mprusak]

Danger - thanks for the detailed post...I didnt have enough time to go into the details, but wanted to provide the basics.

[Camerabry]

Show starting lineup is your friend.