Sports Scoreboard Customization Guide

Transform your basic scoreboard into a professional broadcast display that makes your team look like the pros. Whether you're streaming the big game, displaying scores at the venue, or both, this guide shows you how to customize every aspect of your scoreboard to match your team's identity and create an unforgettable experience for players and fans.

From basic to broadcast-quality in just a few clicks

Why Customization Matters

Remember watching your kid's game on a grainy livestream, squinting to see the score on that ancient gym scoreboard? Those days are over. With proper customization, you can:

• Make remote family feel like they're courtside with clear, professional displays
• Attract sponsors who want their logos on a broadcast-quality scoreboard
• Build team pride with your actual colors and branding
• Stand out from other leagues still using paper or basic displays

Getting Started: Create Your Scoreboard

If you haven't created a scoreboard yet, let's start there:

1. Click the button above
2. Select your sport (Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, etc.)
3. Enter team names
4. You're ready to customize!

Already have a scoreboard? Great! Jump straight to the customization steps below.

Step 1: Choose the Perfect Layout for Your Needs

The most important decision is picking the right layout for how you'll use the scoreboard. Different situations call for different layouts, and we've designed options for every scenario.

Understanding Layout Options

Navigate to your Setup Panel and find the layout selector:

Scorebug Layout (For Streaming)

Perfect when you're broadcasting games online:

• Compact overlay that sits in the corner of your video
• Doesn't block the action - viewers see every play
• Professional broadcast look like you see on ESPN
• Ideal for: YouTube streams, Facebook Live, Twitch broadcasts

Example: A parent streaming their daughter's basketball game can show the score without blocking her amazing three-pointer.

Full Scoreboard Layout (For Venues)

Best for displaying on gym TVs or projectors:

• Large, easy-to-read text visible from the bleachers
• All game information at a glance
• Traditional scoreboard feel that everyone recognizes
• Ideal for: Gym displays, lobby TVs, outdoor screens

Example: Display on the concession stand TV so parents grabbing snacks never miss the score.

Sport-Specific Layouts

Many sports offer additional options:

• Baseball: Line score showing inning-by-inning results
• Tennis: Compact view for court-side tablets
• Multi-sport: Universal layout that adapts to any game

Pro Tip: Use Multiple Layouts Simultaneously

Here's where it gets really powerful. You can display different layouts on different devices at the same time:

1. Scorebug on your livestream for online viewers
2. Full scoreboard on the venue TV for spectators
3. Mobile view on phones for coaches and stats keepers

To set this up:

1. Click "Open Display Scoreboard" in your preview panel
2. Expand "Different layouts on different devices"
3. Copy the specific URL for each layout you need

NOTE: This is not available for all sports yet.

Step 2: Make It Your Team's Scoreboard

Now let's add your team's personality. Access these options through the Setup Panel in your scoreboard control area.

Team Identity Settings

Names and Records

Make your teams instantly recognizable:

• Team names: Use official names, nicknames, or abbreviations
• Records/Rankings: Add context like "12-3" or "#1 Seed"
• Quick fix: Use "Flip home/away" if you set them up backwards

Example: "Lincoln Eagles (15-2)" vs "Jefferson Hawks (13-4)" tells the whole story at a glance.

Team Colors That Pop

Your team's colors are their identity. Here's how to get them right:

Choosing Team Colors

For each team, you can set:

• Background color: The main team color (like your jersey color)
• Text color: Should contrast sharply with background

Color Combinations That Work

Based on thousands of scoreboards, these combinations look great on any screen:

High Contrast Winners:

• Navy background + White text
• Black background + Yellow text
• Red background + White text
• Green background + White text

School Spirit Combos:

• Purple + Gold (Lakers style)
• Orange + Blue (Knicks style)
• Maroon + White (Texas A&M style)

Accessibility Tip: Ensure at least 4.5:1 contrast ratio between background and text colors. When in doubt, white text on dark backgrounds always works.

Team Logos That Shine

Nothing says "professional" like seeing your team logo on the scoreboard:

Logo Best Practices

1. File format: PNG with transparent background (removes ugly white boxes)
2. Shape: Square logos display best
3. Size: Under 2MB, at least 500x500 pixels
4. Placement: Automatically positioned for optimal visibility

Pro tip: No high-res logo? A simple screenshot of your team logo from your website usually works great.

Step 3: Brand Your Broadcast

Make the entire scoreboard reflect your organization's identity.

Overall Appearance Settings

Board Colors

Control the scoreboard's overall look:

• Board Background: Usually neutral (black, dark gray, navy)
• Board Text: Timer, period, general information
• Title Bar: Optional header with event name
• Possession Indicator: Arrow color for possession sports

Organization Branding

Add your league or venue logo:

• Where it appears: Center or bottom of scoreboard
• Perfect for: Tournament logos, sponsor recognition, school branding
• Size: Automatically scaled to fit

Example: Youth tournament organizers love adding their tournament logo - it appears in every photo and video parents share.

Typography and Sizing

Font Selection

Choose fonts that match your style:

• Classic: Traditional scoreboard fonts
• Modern: Clean, contemporary options
• Bold: High-impact, easy to read
• Custom: Match your organization's brand guide

Size Scaling

Adjust text size for your venue:

• 0.5x - 1x: Standard for close viewing or streaming
• 1.5x - 2x: Large venues or outdoor displays
• Pro tip: Test from the furthest viewing distance

Step 4: Configure Display Elements

Customize what information appears on your scoreboard. Every sport is different, so you control exactly what's shown.

Essential Elements by Sport

Basketball

• Shot clock (with customizable duration)
• Team fouls (with bonus indicators)
• Timeouts remaining
• Period/Quarter display
• Possession arrow

Hockey

• Period and time
• Penalties (with player numbers)
• Shots on goal
• Power play indicators

Soccer

• Match time (count up or down)
• Stoppage time
• Cards (yellow/red)
• Substitution count

Baseball/Softball

• Inning (top/bottom indicator)
• Count (balls, strikes, outs)
• Bases occupied
• Line score

Custom Labels

Make the scoreboard speak your language:

• Change "Period" → "Quarter" or "Half"
• Rename "Timeouts" → "T.O." or "Time"
• Adjust "Fouls" → "Team Fouls" or "PF"
• Customize any label to match your terminology

Step 5: Timer Configuration

The game clock is crucial - here's how to set it up perfectly:

Timer Options

• Direction: Count up (soccer) or count down (basketball)
• Starting time: Set default for your game length
• Format: MM:SS or HH:MM:SS for longer games
• Visibility: Show/hide based on sport needs

Special Timer Features

• Auto-stop at zero: For count-down sports
• Tenths of seconds: For final moments
• Overtime indicators: Show OT, 2OT, etc.
• Running clock option: For mercy rule situations

Step 6: Share Your Masterpiece

Once customized, your scoreboard is ready to shine:

For Live Venues

1. Click "Open Display Scoreboard"
2. Copy the display URL
3. Open on venue TV or projector
4. Double-click for fullscreen
5. Enjoy the "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd

For Streaming

1. Copy the overlay URL (with transparent background)
2. Add as browser source in OBS/Streamlabs
3. Position in corner of video
4. Stream with confidence

For Remote Viewers

Share the public URL via:

• Team group chats
• Social media posts
• QR codes at the venue
• Email to traveling family

Best Practices by Scenario

Indoor Gymnasium Setup

Challenge: Varying light conditions, viewing distances

Solution:

• High contrast colors (avoid light backgrounds)
• 1.5x to 2x font scaling
• Full scoreboard layout
• Position screen away from windows

Outdoor Field Display

Challenge: Sunlight, weather, distance

Solution:

• Maximum contrast (white on black works best)
• 2x font scaling
• Weatherproof display housing
• Consider multiple screens for large venues

Streaming Setup

Challenge: Balancing scoreboard visibility with game action

Solution:

• Scorebug layout in corner
• 80% opacity for slight transparency
• Consistent positioning across streams
• Test on mobile devices (where many watch)

Multi-Court Tournaments

Challenge: Multiple games, consistent branding

Solution:

• Create template with tournament branding
• Use consistent color scheme
• Add court numbers to team names
• Central control station for all courts

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"My logo looks pixelated"

• Upload higher resolution image (minimum 500x500)
• Use PNG format instead of JPG
• Ensure transparent background

"Colors look different on venue TV"

• Adjust TV color settings to "neutral" or "sports"
• Test colors in actual venue lighting
• Consider ambient light when choosing colors

"Text is too small from bleachers"

• Increase font scale to 1.5x or 2x
• Use full scoreboard layout instead of scorebug
• Test visibility from furthest seat

"Scoreboard doesn't fit on screen"

• Check TV display settings (should be "fit to screen")
• Try different layout options
• Adjust browser zoom level

Get Support

Our community of scoreboard operators is here to help:

• Email: [email protected]
• Response time: Usually within hours
• User community: Share tips with other operators
• Video tutorials: Step-by-step guides available

Remember, you're not just displaying scores—you're creating memories. That perfectly customized scoreboard becomes part of every highlight video, every proud parent's photo, and every player's favorite moment. Make it count.

Ready to make your games look professional? Start customizing your scoreboard now and give your players the big-league experience they deserve.