SCORING�HIGH SCHOOL�VOLLEYBALL

By Nick Bryant - Maine Association of Volleyball Officials – Revised through August 12, 2025

Originally created by Bob Boese (2011) Acadiana Volleyball Officials

​

SCORING CLINIC PREFACE

• This is a PowerPoint to help high school scorers comply with NFHS scoring procedures.
• First, text on this screen describes happenings on the court. Try to make the correct entries on the scoresheet.
• Then, a sample scoresheet on the next slide shows how to correctly score what happened.

​

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

BLANK TYPICAL SCORESHEET

SYMBOLS AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE BELOW IN THIS CORNER

Forms May Vary!

• The form of scoresheet provided to you may vary from school to school. For instance, some scoresheets have separate comment sections for each team (so you don’t have to include the team name in the comment). But every form should have the same basic format and places to put all the information needed.
• You will need a fresh scoresheet for each set in the match.

​

Scoring is Demanding

• Scoring correctly takes concentration. Put away phones or any other distractions.
• An accurate scoresheet contains all information the R2 needs to recreate what happened on any point in the match.
• Try to be quick and efficient, but don’t hesitate to tell the R2 if you need something explained or need more time.
• Work with your officiating teammates!

Good Scorekeeping Habits

• Never vary. Take each step in order.
• 1 - Complete the box score on the server’s line (point, replay, loss of rally/end of service, timeout, substitution, penalty, etc.)
• 2 - insert substitute player ##, slash # of subs, enter timeout score, enter comments
• 3 - slash running score (if loss of serve, box rather than slash the running score)
• 4 – if loss of serve, box point on the server’s line for next server of other team

​

It’s NOT a Guessing Game

• Don’t ever guess what happened. If you don’t know, ask the R2.
• If the R2 doesn’t explain what happened and there is a serve, make sure you find out what happened at the next dead ball.
• You are responsible to notice each match event, and record it on the scoresheet.
• Check the Libero Tracking Sheet and the timer’s scoreboard against your scoresheet. They should all match.

Be Professional

• The scorer is part of the officiating team with the R1 and R2, Libero Tracker, Line Judges and Timer. Officials depend on each other to do their jobs properly.
• The players on both teams deserve the best efforts of the entire officiating team.
• Don’t behave like a fan of either team while you are officiating.

NEATNESS COUNTS

• The scoresheet can get crowded with substitutions, timeouts, etc.
• If you and the R2 can’t read everything easily, the information on the scoresheet can’t be used to sort out disputes.
• TRY TO BE NEAT.
• Until you are both quick and neat, it is better to take your time and tell the R2 you are not ready yet, rather than be sloppy.

Box Scores Come First - �X Marks the Spot!

• Anything happening during a player’s term of service is first marked in the box score for that server– even if it is something the other team does.
• X indicates action by the non-serving team
• Substitutions: S (or Sx for the non-serving team) and the entering / leaving players’ numbers
• Timeouts: T (or Tx for the non-serving team)
• Penalties: P (or Px for the non-serving team) and the penalized player’s number

​

VOLLEYBALL SCORING�SAMPLE MATCH�2025

• This is a match between Adams High School and Madison High School played at Madison Gym on October 3^rd 2025.
• The scorekeeper is Slyvia Smith, the first referee is Robby Fairref and the second referee is Ulysses Goodump.
• The scorekeeper should be at the table at least 25 minutes before the first set starts.

Basic Information

• Write in
• Schools’ Names (at the very top)
• Date and time
• Location
• Set number (There are 3 to 5 sets per varsity match. First to win 3 sets wins the match. For JV matches, it is best 2 of 3 sets.)
• Indicate the level of play

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

VARSITY

Basic Information

• Write in
• Your name.
• Officials’ names (R1 is the up official and R2 is the down official).
• At the prematch conference (25:00 on the countdown clock) the teams give the R2 a roster of all team members. The R2 will provide this to you. It can be changed by the teams only until 10:00 on the clock.
• Remind the R2 if you are not given a roster just after the prematch conference.

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

10-03-2025

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

VARSITY

S. Smith

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

5:00

Pre-Match Conference

• R1 & R2 meet head coaches & captains at 25:00 on the clock. Home team picks bench for Set #1. Visiting team calls toss for serve / receive. Rosters given to R2.
• Madison selected the bench to the right.
• Adams won the toss & elected to receive.
• R2 will give you rosters and tell you which team has which side and who will serve in Set #1. (If a deciding set is needed, R2 will toss coin for serve again.)

​

• Put in the school names again -- on the side of the sheet that matches where each team will be playing on the court. Then mark which team has first serve. R2 will tell you this after the prematch conference at 25:00 on the clock.
• Add line-ups from

line-up sheets when

obtained by R2 from

coaches - no later than

5:00 on the clock.

Think Geographically . . .

• Teams are listed on the same side of the scoresheet as the side of the court they are playing on. The team on your right when you look up at the court must be the team on the right of the scoresheet when you look down at the table.
• Teams in Maine do not switch benches between sets, unless the officials decide a disadvantage requires it. Before Set #5 the R2 will hold another coin flip for serve.

​

​

Lineup Sheet

1c

3

5

7

9

11

ADAMS

42

X

Lineup Tips�

• If the R2 hasn’t given you the lineup sheet for each team when 2 minutes are left in the warm-up (5:00 on the clock), remind the R2. Lineups are due at 1:00 on the clock before later sets.
• If a number appears on the lineup sheet that isn’t on the team roster the R2 gave you after the prematch conference at 25:00 on the clock, tell this to the R2.
• Each lineup should note which player is the floor captain (“c”).

​

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

3

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6

8

10

12

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

Robby Fairref

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

VARSITY

Double-Check the Lineup

• Compare your scoresheet to the Libero Tracking Sheet to make sure they are the same, with numbers listed in serving order and the captain noted, exactly as on the lineup sheet.

LIBERO TRACKING SHEET

1c

3

5

7

9

11

42

23

2c

4

6

8

10

12

ADAMS

Madison

The Forgotten Libero :(

• If a team has not written down a libero number on their lineup sheet, they will not have a libero for that set. Ask the R2 to confirm with the coach this was intended.
• NO LIBERO LISTED = NO LIBERO
• The team may use a libero for a later set or change liberos each set – but only if a libero number is properly listed on the lineup sheet for that particular set.

​

First Serve!

• Mark the start time at the whistle for serve (in this case, 5:01).
• Madison scores two points (points 1 and 2) on #2's serve, then loses the next rally.
• After each point, put that point in Madison #2’s box score & slash that number in Madison’s running score.
• The loss of rally/end of serve sign looks like a sideways “T”:

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

3

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6

8

10

12

1

2

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

Running Score

Box Score

5:01

VARSITY

Before each serve, check the number of player on the court serving the ball against the player number of the server on your scoresheet.

​

If the numbers don’t match, wait until the serve is contacted and then inform the R2. (The R2 may stop the rally, but may decide to wait until the rally is over to double-check the scoresheet.)

Correct Server?

• Adams scores one point (point 1) on Madison #2's loss of serve:
• Put a box around this on Adams’ running score
• Write the point in the first open space on the box score for Adams #1 and draw a box around it:
• Adams scores three more points (points 2, 3 and 4) on #1's serve. Put each point in #1’s box score & slash the running score.
• Then Adams loses the rally. Mark the loss of serve on Adams #1’s box score.

1

1

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

3

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6

8

10

12

1

2

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1

2

3

4

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

VARSITY

5:01

• Madison scores one point (point 3) on Adams #1’s loss of serve. Box around point 3 in Madison’s running score. Write 3 in Madison #4’s box score and box it.
• Madison #4 scores two more points (points 4 and 5). Put these in #4’s box score and slash Madison’s running score.
• Then Madison loses the rally. Mark the loss of serve on Madison #4’s box score.

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

3

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

VARSITY

5:01

Term of Service Tips

• Except for the set’s first serve and last point, each term of service on a box score line must start with a boxed point (earned on the other team’s loss of rally) and must end with a loss of rally symbol.
• When a service position comes round again, a boxed point must follow the loss of rally symbol from the earlier term.
• If a point is boxed on the box score, it must also be boxed on the running score.

​

• Adams scores one point (point 5) on Madison #4's loss of serve. Box point 5 on Adams’ running score. Write in 5 on Adams #3’s box score and put a box around it.

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

3

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

5

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

VARSITY

5:01

• Adams’ libero (#42) comes in to serve for #3. (This is not a substitution and only shows up on the Libero Tracking Sheet.)
• At the whistle for the libero’s serve, put a triangle around Adams’ serving position 2 to show that is the only rotation in which the libero can serve.
• Adams’ libero scores three more points (points 6, 7 and 8).
• Put a triangle around each point that the libero scores in both the box score and running score.
• Then Adams loses the rally. Mark the loss of rally in Adams #3’s box score.

Libero Serving Tip

• When the libero is on the court in one position and moves to serve in another position without leaving the court, there must be a double libero replacement. You should see one regular-uniformed player leaving and another entering – behind the attack line. This is not a substitution on the scoresheet. (But the Libero Tracker marks both replacements on the Libero Tracking Sheet.)

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

3

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

Position in Serving Rotation

VARSITY

5:01

• Madison scores one point (point 6) on Adams #42’s loss of serve. Draw a box around point 6 in Madison’s running score. Write the point in the box score for Madison #6 and draw a box around it.
• Madison substitutes #58 for #6. Put an S in the box score of Madison #6, followed by a fraction: 58 over 6 (58/6)
• Slash the first number in Madison’s substitutions line.

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6, 58

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

58

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

6

s

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

VARSITY

5:01

You can also use separate boxes to show substitutions. (You will often need to do this for multiple substitutions, but you don’t have to repeat the S for multiple subs.)

​

Substitutions Come in Threes

• You will mark the scoresheet in three (3) places for every substitution:
• 1) Mark the serving team’s box score (S or Sx depending on which team substitutes, then the entering player’s number / leaving player’s number).
• 2) Change the player number on the substituting team’s service order (add the new number in the player number space to the left of the box score).
• 3) Mark the number of substitutions used by the substituting team at the bottom of the scoresheet (use a slash).

​

• Madison scores two points (7 and 8) on #58's serve. Write each number on #58’s box score and slash each number on Madison’s running score.
• Madison loses the next rally. Mark loss of serve on Madison #58’s box score.
• Adams scores a point (point 9) on Madison #58’s loss of serve. Box this next point on Adams’ running score. Then put that number on Adams #5’s box score and draw a box around it.

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6, 58

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

58

6

7

8

9

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

VARSITY

5:01

• Madison calls a timeout.
• Mark (Tx) on Adams’ #5’s box score. (The X means the non-serving team called the timeout.)
• Then mark the score in Madison’s first timeout box (8-9). (The score for the team calling the timeout always comes first.)

​

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6, 58

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

58

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

VARSITY

5:01

• Adams loses the rally. Mark loss of rally on Adams #5’s box score.
• Madison scores one point (point 9) on Adams #5's loss of serve. Box this on Madison’s running score and write it in Madison #8’s box score and box around it.
• Madison’s libero (#23) replaces #8 (not a substitution) to serve.
• Put a triangle around Madison’s serving position 4 to show this is the only rotation in which the Madison libero can serve.

​

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7

9

11

2c

4

6, 58

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

VARSITY

5:01

• Adams substitutes #30 for #7 (Sx).
• Remember, a substitution requires three marks:

1) Mark Sx on Madison #8’s box score, followed by 30/7

2) write in #30 after Adams #7’s player in the service order for Adams, and

3) slash the next number (1) on the Adams substitutions line.

​

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7, 30

9

11

2c

4

6, 58

8

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Sx

30

7

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

VARSITY

5:01

• Madison loses the rally. Mark loss of serve on Madison #8’s box score.
• Adams scores one point (point 10) on Madison #8’s loss of serve. Box this on Adams’ running score. Enter it on Adams #30’s box score with a box around it.
• Adams scores four more points (points 11 to 14). Put each point in Adams #30’s box score and slash Adams’ running score.
• Madison calls their 2nd time out. Put (Tx) on Adams #30’s box score and the score in Madison’s second timeout box (9-14).

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7, 30

9

11

2c

4

6, 58

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Sx

30

7

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

10

11

12

13

14

Tx

9-14

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

8

VARSITY

5:01

Timeout Tips

• Teams usually call time out when the other team is serving and winning points.
• Mark Tx in the box score (or just T if the serving team calls timeout).
• Write the score in the time-out box of the team who called it, their score first.
• A team only gets two timeouts per set. Tell the R2 when they have used two. If that team is given a third, tell the R2.

NOW TRY THESE BY YOURSELF (you’ll see the correct marks on the next sheet):

​

• Madison subs back #6 for #58.
• Adams scores four more points (points 15 to 18), then they lose the rally.
• Madison scores one point (point 10) on Adams #30's loss of serve.

​

​

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7, 30

9

11

2c

4

6, 58, 6

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Sx

30

7

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

10

11

12

13

14

Tx

9-14

Sx

6

58

15

16

17

18

10

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

8

VARSITY

5:01

• Madison #10 tosses the ball to serve, but lets it drop. R2 tells you it’s a re-serve. Mark RS in Madison #10’s box score.
• Madison #8 replaces libero #23 before #10 re-serves, which is not allowed. R2 directs #23 to replace #8 on the court and issues Madison a yellow card for unnecessary delay. In the Comments section note “YUD Madison (10-18).” (Score of offending team goes first.)
• Madison #10 then loses the rally. Mark loss of rally in Madison #10’s box score.

​

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7, 30

9

11

2c

4

6, 58, 6

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Sx

30

7

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

10

11

12

13

14

Tx

9-14

Sx

6

58

15

16

17

18

10

RS

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

8

VARSITY

5:01

YUD Madison (10-18)

• Adams scores (point 19) on Madison #10's loss of serve. Box this on Adams’ running score and on Adams #9’s box score.
• Adams #9 scores two more points (20 and 21), then #2 on Madison calls the R1 a “no talent jerk” and gets a red card.
• Adams scores point 22 on the red card. Enter RC Madison #2 in the Comments section, put Px22 in Adams #9’s box score and slash 22 in Adams’ running score.
• Put RC-Madison-#2 (Set #1) in the Comments section of all later scoresheets.
• Adams scores two more points (points 23 and 24), then loses the rally.

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7, 30

9

11

2c

4

6, 58, 6

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Sx

30

7

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

10

11

12

13

14

Tx

9-14

Sx

6

58

15

16

17

18

10

RS

19

20

21

Px22

23

24

RC Madison #2 (10-21)

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

8

VARSITY

5:01

YUD Madison (10-18)

• Madison scores one point (point 11) on Adams #9's loss of serve. Box this in Madison’s running score and in Madison #12’s box score.
• Then Madison #12 loses the rally. Mark loss of serve in Madison #12’s box score.
• Adams scores one point (point 25) on Madison #12's loss of serve and wins the set. Box this in Adams’ running score and in Adams #11’s box score.

​

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2025

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7, 30

9

11

2c

4

6, 58, 6

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Sx

30

7

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

10

11

12

13

14

Tx

9-14

Sx

6

58

15

16

17

18

10

RS

19

20

21

Px22

23

24

RC Madison #2 (10-21)

11

25

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

8

VARSITY

5:01

YUD Madison (10-18)

• Enter the name and score of winning and losing teams.
• Enter the finishing time of the set.
• The R2 will check and initial the scoresheet.

Madison High Adams High

Madison Gym

10-03-2022

Adams

Madison

X

42

23

1c

5

7, 30

9

11

2c

4

6, 58, 6

10

12

1

2

1

2

3

4

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

6

7

8

9

Tx

8-9

9

S

58

6

Sx

30

7

Robby Fairref

Ulysses Goodump

S. Smith

5:00

10

11

12

13

14

Tx

9-14

Sx

6

58

15

16

17

18

10

RS

19

20

21

PX22

23

24

RC Madison #2 (10-21)

11

25

Adams

Madison

25

11

1^ST REFEREE

2^ND REFEREE

3

8

5:01

5:15

VARSITY

YUD Madison (10-18)

If a set involves going through the service order more than once, change the color of the ink used the next time through the service order.

CONGRATULATIONS! �You are on your way to being a high school scorer.�

​

Have a great season!

​