Scoreboard Setup & Game Operation

1. Start with the Equipment and Software Check

Complete these checks before creating a new game. It is much easier to solve a display or audio problem before the teams are ready for the opening sprint.

Open Water Polo Scoreboard Pro v3. Wait for the main control screen to load completely.
Activate the control window. Click inside it and leave the mouse pointer over the control screen so the keyboard shortcuts remain active.
Confirm the pool scoreboard is displaying the program output. Make sure the control screen and the large scoreboard are both visible and responding.
Test the Horn and Buzzer buttons. Confirm both sounds play through the pool media system.
Correct the sound before continuing. If either sound is missing, raise the laptop volume. If needed, turn Bluetooth off and back on, then test again.

2. Configure the Game Settings

From the main control screen, select Options, then open the Game Setup tab. Check every value before each game.

Setting	Required Value	What to Know
Period time duration - JV	6:00	Use six minutes for a JV game.
Period time duration - Varsity	7:00	Use seven minutes for a varsity game.
Timeouts per game	4	This is the starting number shown for each team.
Timeout 1 duration	1:00	This setting should already be correct and normally does not change.
Timeout 2 duration	0:30	This setting should already be correct and normally does not change.
Shot clock duration 1	30 seconds	This is the shot clock used during the game.
Shot clock duration 2	Do not change	Ignore the second shot-clock setting for this setup.

Water Polo Scoreboard Pro v3 Game Setup options screen showing period, timeout, shot clock, and game settings — **Options > Game Setup:** This is where the period length, timeout count, timeout durations, and shot clock are checked. The pictured example shows 2 timeouts per game; change that value to 4. Click the image to enlarge it.

Check the timeout count carefully

Timeouts per game must be set to 4. If the Options screen shows 2, change it to 4 before starting the new game.

3. Enter the Teams, Logos, and Event Title

Team names and logos

In Options, open the Teams tab.
Put the light-cap team on the left and the dark-cap team on the right.
Enter each team name in the correct field.
Select Change beneath the logo box.
Open the team logo from the Scoreboard Photos folder on the PC desktop.
Confirm the logo appears in the preview block.

Scoreboard title

In Options, open the Other tab.
Select the Scoreboard title option.
Enter a useful game title, such as Mason Invite or Mason Dual Match vs. Sycamore.
Select Apply to save while keeping Options open.
Select OK to save and return to the control screen.
Verify the title, names, and logos on the large scoreboard.

Teams tab showing the light-cap team on the left and dark-cap team on the right — **Teams tab:** Enter each team name and choose its logo. Light caps are Team 1 on the left; dark caps are Team 2 on the right.

Scoreboard Photos folder: Select the correct team logo from the desktop folder, then choose Open.

Other tab in Water Polo Scoreboard Pro v3 showing the Scoreboard title field — **Options > Other:** Select Scoreboard title and enter the event or matchup name, then choose Apply and OK. Click any setup image to enlarge it.

4. Know the Main Control Screen

These are the controls you will use most often. Light caps stay on the left side of the program and dark caps stay on the right.

Options / Horn / BuzzerSetup and audio test controls

Period TimeCurrent quarter clock and break-time entry

New GameClears the prior game and loads starting values

Light Caps - LeftTeam score, timeouts left, and exclusions

QuarterUse +1 to advance from Q1 to Q2 and so on

Dark Caps - RightTeam score, timeouts left, and exclusions

Shot Clock30-second display with reset, start, and stop controls

Water Polo Scoreboard Pro v3 main control screen ready for a varsity game with seven-minute period, four timeouts per team, and a 30-second shot clock — **Main control screen:** The central area contains the period clock, quarter, and shot clock. The light-cap controls are on the left and the dark-cap controls are on the right. Click the image to enlarge it.

Start a fresh game

Select New Game on the main control screen.
Select Yes when the confirmation message appears.
Verify the period clock shows 6:00 for JV or 7:00 for Varsity.
Verify both teams show 4 timeouts left, the quarter is correct, and the shot clock shows 30.
Confirm both scores are zero and the correct team is on each side.

Large pool scoreboard displaying team names, score, timeouts, quarter, and shot clock — **What spectators see:** Verify changes on both the laptop control screen and the large pool scoreboard.

5. Learn the Three Keyboard Controls

The game clock and shot clock are operated with three laptop keys. Keep the control window active before pressing them.

C

Start Both ClocksStarts the period clock and shot clock together.

V

Stop Both ClocksStops the period clock and shot clock together.

S

Reset Shot ClockReturns the shot clock to 30 seconds.

6. Run the Game

Watch the referee and the ball, not just the computer. The clock operator must respond to whistles, possession changes, exclusions, shots, and goals.

Teams Line UpClocks remain stopped.

Referee WhistlesThe opening swim-off begins.

Ball Enters PlayWait for a player to gain possession.

Press CStart the period and shot clocks.

What Happens in the Pool	What the Operator Does
A player gains possession after the opening sprint	Press C to start both clocks.
There is a clear change of possession	Press S to reset the shot clock to 30.
The referee whistles a foul	Press V to stop both clocks. Press C when play resumes.
The shot clock expires and the horn sounds	The period clock also stops. Press S, then immediately press C to restart the period clock.
A player is excluded	Press S to reset the shot clock.
A clear shot hits the post or is blocked and the ball stays in play	Press S to reset the shot clock.
A goal is scored	Press V, click the scoring team’s green +1 button, and reset the shot clock. Press C when the referee restarts play.

Verify every score change

After clicking a green +1 button, look at both the control screen and the large scoreboard. Make sure the goal was added to the correct team before play resumes.

7. Run Period and Halftime Breaks

Use the Period Time display as the break timer, then advance the quarter and reset the regulation clock.

2:00Quarter Break

Use between the first and second periods and between the third and fourth periods.

5:00Halftime

Use between the second and third periods.

At the end of the period, click the Period Time display at the top of the control screen. An orange border should appear.
Type 2.00 for a quarter break or 5.00 for halftime, then press Enter.
Select the green Start button beside ALL TIMES to begin the break countdown.
When the break ends, use the quarter +1 button to advance from Q1 to Q2, Q2 to Q3, and so on.
Select Reset beside Period Time and confirm the prompt.
Verify a fresh 6:00 or 7:00 period appears before the next sprint.

8. Run a Team Timeout

Respond as soon as the referee grants the timeout, then manually reduce the correct team’s timeout count.

Select the Timeout (2:00) button on the main control screen.
The game clock will stop and temporarily disappear while the two-minute timeout countdown runs.
When the countdown ends, the game clock returns. The shot clock should return to the time that remained before the timeout began.
Under the team that called the timeout, click the red -1 button beside T.O. Left.
Confirm the timeout was removed from the correct team and verify the remaining count on the large scoreboard.

9. Troubleshooting

Pause, identify what is not responding, and use the matching fix below. Tell the referee or table lead immediately if a clock, score, or horn problem affects the game.

Keyboard keys do nothing

Click inside the main control window and move the pointer off the Windows desktop. Try the keyboard command again.

Horn or buzzer cannot be heard

Test the on-screen Horn and Buzzer buttons, then increase the laptop volume.

Pool audio is still disconnected

Open Windows system settings, turn Bluetooth off, turn it back on, and retest both sounds.

Wrong period time, shot clock, or timeout count

Return to Options > Game Setup, correct the value, select Apply, and verify it on the control screen.

Team is on the wrong side

Return to Options > Teams. Light caps belong on the left; dark caps belong on the right.

Name, logo, or title did not update

Return to the appropriate Options tab, make the change, select Apply, then OK. Confirm it on the large scoreboard.

Period clock stopped when the shot clock expired

This is expected. Press S to reset the shot clock, then immediately press C to restart the period clock.

Next period shows the wrong quarter or time

Use the quarter +1 button, select Period Time Reset, confirm, and verify the full 6:00 or 7:00 period.

10. Final Pre-Game Checklist

Do not begin the opening sprint until every item below is correct.

Control screen is active and keyboard shortcuts respond.
Horn and buzzer can be heard over the pool audio system.
Light-cap team is on the left and dark-cap team is on the right.
Team names, logos, and scoreboard title are correct.
Period clock shows 6:00 for JV or 7:00 for Varsity.
Quarter indicator is correct.
Both teams show four timeouts remaining.
Shot clock shows 30 seconds.
Both scores are zero.
The operator knows C, V, and S and is ready to watch the referee.