Where do I start when keeping score at a youth soccer game?
Short answerStart by writing both team names on a simple sheet, then add one mark for each goal and keep a running total. Confirm the final score with the referee or coach.
Setting up the scorecard
Write both team names at the top of the sheet or enter them in a score app before kickoff. Many youth leagues ask one parent or volunteer to log goals, so check with the coach before the first game.
Note the time of each goal as well. Goal times help settle questions later, especially if the final score is disputed.
- Write the team names at the top before kickoff.
- Mark one goal for the team that put the ball into the net.
- An own goal counts for the team that benefits, not the player who touched the ball.
- Write the final score, initial it, and hand it in as the league asks.
Tracking goals during play
Update the score right after each goal instead of waiting until halftime, because it is easy to lose count in a fast game. If the referee waves off a goal for offside or a foul, do not record it.
Check your numbers against the referee's count at each break. A quick check at halftime catches most small mistakes before the game ends.
Common mistakes
- Recording a goal the referee disallowed for offside.
- Waiting until the end of the game to write scores, which invites memory errors.
- Crediting an own goal to the player who touched the ball instead of the team that benefited.
