# Law 53: Appendix B: The Scoresheet (FIBA Official Basketball Rules)

Basketball · Law 53: Appendix B: The Scoresheet · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/laws/law-53-appendix-b-the-scoresheet/)

The scoresheet's copies and pens, preparing it, starters and substitutes, time-outs, fouls, team fouls, the running score and the signatures.

## 53.531 Before the Game

Copies, pens, preparing the sheet, starters and time-outs.

### Test 1: Preparing the scoresheet

- It consists of 1 original and 3 copies, each on paper of a different colour. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.2)
- Red for the 1st and 3rd quarters; blue or black for the 2nd, 4th and all overtimes. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.2)
- All overtime entries are blue or black, the colour of the 2nd and 4th quarters. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.2)
- The scorer prepares the scoresheet at least 40 minutes before the scheduled start. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.3)
- Team A is the home team, or the first named in the schedule for tournaments and neutral courts. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.3.1)
- Names and initials are written in block capitals in the order of the shirt numbers. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.3.3.2)
- If there is no head coach and no first assistant, the captain acts as player head coach. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.4.2)
- Prepared 40 minutes before; Team A's coach confirms first; starters circled at the start. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.3-B.5)
- Confirm members, confirm coaches, mark the starters, sign. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.4)
- White original for FIBA, blue for the organisers, pink for the winners, yellow for the losers. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.2)

### Test 2: Starters, substitutes and time-outs

- At least 10 minutes before the scheduled start each head coach confirms and signs. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.4)
- The head coach enters a small 'x' beside each starter's number in the 'Player in' column. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.4.3)
- At the start, the scorer circles the small 'x' of the five starters. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.5)
- When a substitute enters for the first time, the scorer draws a small 'x' (not circled). (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.6)
- Time-outs are entered by the minute of playing time in the boxes for H1, H2 or OT. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.7.1)
- Unused boxes are marked with 2 horizontal parallel lines. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.7.2)
- Boxes next to OT are provided for up to 3 overtimes. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.7.1)
- Minute of play in the H2 boxes; unused boxes closed with 2 lines at the end of the half. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.7)
- Starters' 'x' circled at the start; a substitute's first entry is an uncircled 'x'. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.4-B.6)
- No first time-out before 2:00 of the 4th means the first box for the second half gets 2 horizontal lines. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.7.2)

## 53.532 During and After the Game

Foul entries, team fouls, the running score and signing.

### Test 1: Entering fouls

- A personal foul is entered as a 'P'. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.6.1)
- A category 2 technical foul against a player is entered as a 'T'. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.6.3)
- Any foul counting towards game disqualification is entered with a circle. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.3)
- Fouls involving free throws have the number (1, 2 or 3) added beside the letter. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.4)
- Equal penalties cancelled under Article 43 get a small 'c' beside the letter. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.5)
- A second category 1 technical is followed by 'GD' in the next space. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.6.4)
- Each player foul is marked against the team as a large 'X' in turn. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.9.2)
- Remaining team-foul spaces are closed with 2 horizontal parallel lines at the end of each quarter. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.9)
- A thick line between used and unused spaces at half-time; the rest closed at the end. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.7)
- A disruptive foul is entered as 'DI'; 'P' is personal, 'T' technical, 'D' disqualifying. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.8.6)

### Test 2: The running score and signatures

- A valid goal is a diagonal line over the new total; a free throw is a filled circle. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.10.3)
- Free throws get a dot, filled in, over the new total. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.10.3)
- An own-basket goal is entered as scored by the captain of the opponents' team on the court. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.11.2)
- Points scored without the ball entering the basket go to the player who attempted the shot. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.11.3)
- A thick circle around the latest points and a thick horizontal line under them. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.11.4)
- After the table officials and the umpire(s) sign, the crew chief is last to approve and sign. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.12.6)
- Each team may be granted 1 head coach's challenge, entered in its HCC boxes. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.13.1)
- Time ended, final lines, final score and winner, then the table signatures. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.12)
- Table first, umpires next, the crew chief at the very end. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.12.5-B.12.6)
- A 3-point goal is entered by drawing a circle around the player's number. (Source: FIBA OBR 2026, Appendix B, B.11.1)

Sources: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 (v1.1), Appendix B (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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