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NLS for Basketball - FAQ

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    💡It is recommended to practice with NCAA LiveStats. Please set up any non-official game manually in NCAA LiveStats and do not use the game key for this. 

    Calling and inputting

    1️⃣Practice Game #1 - 2014 NCAA Men's Championship Game (UConn vs. Kentucky) - View Box Score
    2️⃣Practice Game #2 - 2018 NCAA Men's Championship Game (Villanova vs. Michigan) - View Box Score
    3️⃣Practice Game #3 - 2019 NCAA Women's Sweet Sixteen Game (Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M) - View Box Score

    1️⃣Possibility 1: The caller can deliver information in the order of “Where? – What? – Who?”
    Examples:
    • “Right elbow, missed by 23, jumper, rebound blue 10”
    • “Layup, made by 33, driving, assist 12”
    • “3 pointer left corner, missed by 35, jumper, block 11, rebound white 30”
    • “Left wing, missed by 2, jumper, tip in made by 15”

    2️⃣Possibility 2: The inputter can see the court location and listen to the caller to hear the remainder of the information. The inputter will often know what happened even as the information by the caller is relayed.

    ✅These are some common court markings:
    • Corner
    • Wing
    • Elbow
    • Short corner
    • In the paint
    • Straight away
    • Free throw line
    • Top of the key
    • 10-footer
    • 15-footer
    • Three-pointer
    • Deep three-pointer

    ✅To differentiate sides of the court, far side/near side or bench side/bleacher side may be used.
    ✅Take note of logos, artwork or other lines on the playing floor that can be used as landmarks such as Right logo, Big Ten logo, and Red line.
    ✅Print out a blank court diagram and place that next to the computer for the caller to point to locations on the sheet and the inputter to enter them on the computer. 
    ✅Another possibility is to not call locations and rely on the inputter to see it themselves, or only call out 3-pointer or 2-pointer and let the inputter see the location.

    ✅Either method works well. It's a matter of personal preference.

    Setting up games

    These are the possibilities to set up a regular season game in NCAA LiveStats:

    1️⃣By retrieving a game key from the NCAA School & Conference Manager (NSCM).

    • Sign-in to the NSCM and use the games list to locate the game to set up.
    • Click on the game. The game key will be visible.
    • Copy the game key to the computer's clipboard.
    • On the Create a New Game menu in NCAA LiveStats, choose Enter a Game Key. Paste the game key into the space to create the game.

    2️⃣To set up a practice or exhibition game that is not in the NSCM, create a game manually in NCAA LiveStats on the opening screen. That game cannot be made an official NCAA game.

    If the non-NCAA opponent has a roster in the NSCM, follow these steps:
    1️⃣Find the game in the games list.
    2️⃣Choose the platform LiveStats.
    3️⃣Click on the game and copy the game key to the clipboard.
    4️⃣Create the game in NCAA LiveStats as usual.
    5️⃣As always, verify the accuracy of the rosters before stating the game.

    If the non-NCAA opponent does not have a roster in the NSCM, follow these steps:
    1️⃣Find the game in the games list.
    2️⃣Choose the platform LiveStats.
    3️⃣Click on the game and copy the game key to the clipboard.
    4️⃣Create the game in NCAA LiveStats.
    5️⃣In the Players tab in the game setup progress, enter the roster of the non-NCAA opponent manually. The entered roster will be stored in the NSCM for the next school who might play that opponent.

    1️⃣Obtain the game key from a sports information personnel member from either of the participating schools or request Game Day personnel access in the NSCM from either school.
    2️⃣On the Game Information menu, check the box for Neutral Venue.
    3️⃣On the Teams tab, be sure to indicate which team is the home team and which team in the  away team using the selection buttons.

    ❌Generally no. Wait until the game has been updated in the NCAA Statistics Database with both opponents appearing to create the game with the game key.
    ✅If the game was created before both opponents were listed, NCAA LiveStats will ask if updated data should be used when opening the game. Accept that request and correct data for opponents will populate the game.

    ✅Yes. Without finalizing the game, data does not get pushed back to the NSCM and then on to the NCAA Statistics Database. The game won't appear as completed.
    ✅To verify that all data has been sent, sign-in to the NSCM and verify that the game status is listed as COMPLETED before closing NCAA LiveStats.

    How do I enter...?

    ✅Click on either button and select five players for each team as the starters.
    ✅When the pregame countdown clock reached 7:00 minutes or less, the starters screen will automatically appear if they haven't yet been entered.

    1️⃣Use the slider switch on the bottom of the page to mark a made basket as a fast break basket.
    2️⃣If the made basket occurs within 8 seconds of the previous play, NCAA LiveStats will prompt the words Fast Break? immediately after choosing the shot type. Choose Yes or No.

    Fast Break points can be credited for free throws if a shooting foul occurs during a fast break. NCAA LiveStats automatically includes these free throws in Fast Break points if awarded within eight seconds of the previous entry.

    ❌No.

    Add seconds or tenths of seconds to the clock by one of these options:
    ✅Use the up arrows on the game clock.
    ✅Double-click the clock and enter a new time.
    Input the shot as usual and let the clock expire. If a location is already entered when the clock reaches 00.0, entering the action can be finished.

    ❌There is no need to enter deadball rebound after a free throw.

    If a violation by the shooter or a teammate results in a change of possession on the last attempt,
    1️⃣Click Put on Hold to return to the main entry screen.
    2️⃣Choose a location.
    3️⃣Click Turnover.
    4️⃣Charge it to the offending player.
    5️⃣Choose type FT Lane Violation.
    6️⃣Click on the highlighted play to open it.
    7️⃣Choose Done to clear the Put on Hold.
    • If prompted for a rebound on the initial free throw, it should be an Offensive Deadball rebound.
    • If the violation is on the defensive team and results in a replacement free throw, ignore the cancelled free throw.
    • If there is a double free throw lane violation, click Put on Hold.
    If the offensive team loses possession of the ball on the alternating possession arrow,
    1️⃣Charge a turnover to the offensive player who committed the violation.
    2️⃣Manually change the alternating possession arrow to the proper direction.
    3️⃣Click on the highlighted play to open it.
    4️⃣Choose Done to clear the Put on Hold.

    1️⃣Enter the made basket.
    2️⃣Select assist (or no assist).
    3️⃣Choose a personal foul on the defensive team.
    4️⃣Indicate the player who committed the foul, and choose Shooting as the type. NCAA LiveStats will prompt for 1 free throw.
    5️⃣Click Next and enter the result of the free throw.

    1️⃣Enter the missed basket.
    2️⃣On the rebound result screen choose Block. 
    3️⃣Select the player who blocked the shot.
    4️⃣Choose the player (or team) who got the rebound.

    1️⃣Enter the original missed basket.
    2️⃣On the rebound result screen, choose Missed Tip-In and credit it to the appropriate player. NCAA LiveStats will automatically credit both the rebound and the subsequent missed shot to that player. The Missed Tip-In function can be repeated as many times as necessary.
    3️⃣Choose Made Tip-In and the appropriate player to credit the rebound and the basket.

    ✅On the rebound entry screen, click the name of the team to credit them with a team rebound.

    1️⃣Click Turnover.
    2️⃣Click the name of the offensive team to charge them with a team turnover.
    3️⃣On the next screen, choose turnover type.

    On an ordinary held ball between two players,
    1️⃣Click Jump Ball.
    2️⃣Choose Held Ball as the reason.
    • Based on the alternating possession arrow if the ball goes to the defense, NCAA LiveStats will prompt for the player to be charged with the turnover and for the opposing player to credited with a steal.
    • If, based on the alternating possession arrow, the ball goes to the offense, it will return to the entry screen since there are no statistics to be awarded.
    On a held ball which occurs on a rebound after a missed shot,
    1️⃣Enter the missed shot.
    2️⃣On the rebound entry page, choose Jump Ball.
    3️⃣Choose Contested Rebound as the reason.
    • Based on the alternating possession arrow, NCAA LiveStats will prompt for a rebound for a member of the team which will now have possession of the ball.
    On a blocked shot tie-up which results in a jump ball,
    1️⃣enter the missed shot.
    2️⃣On the rebound entry page, select block and choose the player to credit the blocked shot.
    3️⃣Click Jump Ball.
    4️⃣Choose Block Tie-Up as the reason.
    • Based on the alternating possession arrow, NCAA LiveStats will assign a rebound for a member of the team which will now have possession of the ball.
    On a shot which become lodged in the basket or comes to rest on top of the rim,
    1️⃣Enter the missed shot.
    2️⃣On the rebound screen, choose Jump Ball.
    3️⃣Choose Lodged Ball as the reason.
    • NCAA LiveStats will award the ball to the team with the alternating possession arrow, and redirect to the entry screen. The associated deadball rebound will be credited automatically.

    1️⃣Charge a foul to the defensive player.
    2️⃣For foul type, choose Double.
    3️⃣Select the offensive player to receive a foul.
    4️⃣Verify the possession of the ball and the alternate possession arrow are both pointing in the proper directions. Change manually if needed.

    1️⃣On the substitution screen, click Switch to Wave Sub to remove all five players from the game.
    2️⃣Choose five players to put back into the game. NCAA LiveStats will record the substitutions properly.

    ✅The Wave Sub function may be used on the substitution screen to clear the floor of all players and re-enter them as they take the floor for the next period. It is advised to get in the habit of using Wave Sub at each time out, and re-entering players as they return to the floor by doing the following:

    1️⃣Click the Wave Sub.
    2️⃣Click the appeared Reselect Starters button to put the original five starters back in the game.

    1️⃣On the Enter Free Throw Results page, click the Substitution button. Subs can be made for either team.
    2️⃣Return to the Free Throw Results page when finished.

    1️⃣Enter in the technical foul for the offensive team. A team turnover will be charged automatically.
    2️⃣Enter in the defensive team’s free throws.
    3️⃣If the shooter misses the last of the free throws, credit a deadball rebound to the offensive team to properly return possession back to them.

    1️⃣When the pre-game countdown clock has expired, choose Technical Foul for the team charged with the violation.
    2️⃣Choose the team's name to charge a team technical foul.
    3️⃣Verify the correct number of free throws and select the player who will shoot them.
    4️⃣If the final free throw is made, enter it and proceed to the Jump Ball button to start the game. If the final free throw is missed, temporarily ignore the rebound screen and choose Jump Ball to clear that screen.
    5️⃣Click Jump Ball again to start the game.
    6️⃣Once the jump ball has been completed, double click the free throw attempts in the action log to open the play in the editor.
    7️⃣Credit a deadball rebound to the team that won the opening tip.

    1️⃣Click Technical Foul.
    2️⃣Choose the player and assign as type Class B technical. One free throw is awarded.
    3️⃣If the free throw is missed, choose Dead Ball Rebound, and credit it to the team who will be in possession next.
    4️⃣Under the Game menu, add a comment to indicate that this technical foul was due to a flop.

    The first violation is a warning. There is nothing to enter into NCAA LiveStats for a warning. 
    1️⃣Click Technical Foul.
    2️⃣Choose Bench.
    3️⃣Select type Faking Being Fouled. Two free throws are awarded.
    4️⃣If the last free throw is missed, choose Dead Ball Rebound and credit it to the team who will be in possession next.

    The first violation is a warning. There is nothing to enter into NCAA LiveStats for a warning. A Bench Technical foul is charged to the team in women's basketball.
    1️⃣Click Technical Foul.
    2️⃣Choose Bench.
    3️⃣Select the appropriate type of bench technical. Two free throws are awarded.
    4️⃣If the last free throw is missed, choose Dead Ball Rebound and credit it to the team who will be in possession next.

    ✅For men's basketball, the proper entry is a Flagrant 1 foul.
    ✅For women's basketball, the proper entry is an Unsportsmanlike foul.

    During live game action, follow this procedure:
    1️⃣Charge the defensive team with a technical foul.
    2️⃣Choose No Free Throws.
    3️⃣Manually change the ball indicator to the other team.
    4️⃣Charge the opposing team with a technical foul.
    5️⃣Choose No Free Throws.
    6️⃣Manually change the ball indicator back to original team.
    If the action log needs to be edited to remove false turnovers, follow this procedure:
    1️⃣Delete both technical fouls.
    2️⃣Insert a technical foul to the defensive team with the proper timestamp.
    3️⃣Find a location in the action log where the other team is on defense. 
    4️⃣Insert the other technical foul.
    5️⃣Re-open the second technical foul and edit the timestamp to match the first. NCAA LiveStats will order the plays properly.

    ✅Under the Game menu, choose Comment.
    Examples of comments may look like this:
    • 10:00 (1st) Administrative Tech - Purdue
    • 9:21 (2nd) Intentional/Unsportsmanlike Foul - Indiana #23
    • 3:45 (3rd) Disqualifying Foul - Purdue #12
    • 1:22 (3rd) Flopping Technical- Indiana
    • 56:03 (4th) Delay of Game Technical- Purdue

    ✅For small adjustments, use the up or down arrows located next to the clock display.
    ✅To type in a new time, double-click on the clock and enter a corrected time.
    ✅If the clock is below 1:00 and needs to be changed to a time greater than 1:00, use the arrows to push the time above 1:00. Edit if needed.

    1️⃣Open the action log.
    2️⃣Click the play closest to where the wrong basket should go.
    3️⃣Choose Insert Earlier or Insert Later than the play.
    4️⃣Select Shot from the drop-down menu.
    5️⃣Choose a location for the play.
    6️⃣Choose the team that will have two points added to their score.
    7️⃣Choose shot type Wrong Basket.
    8️⃣When returning to the main input screen, switch the BALL indicator to the team now in possession of the ball. Change it manually by clicking on the indicator, if necessary.

    ✅Use the Step Back button at the lower left of the main entry screen to go back one step to the last entry.
    ✅Use the Cancel & Delete button at the lower right of the main entry screen to cancel the current play being entered.

    Editing plays

    ✅Click a play to make changes. In the play editor, any element of the play including the time can be adjusted.
    ✅If the play was earlier, click the arrows icon in the action log header to open it in full screen. Review and filter the entire play-by-play using the sorting option in the left column.
    ✅To edit a play in full screen mode, click the pencil icon in the edit column.
    ✅If a missing play needs to be inserted:

    1️⃣Choose a play from the list.
    2️⃣Click either Insert Earlier or Insert Later at the top of the screen.
    3️⃣Choose the type of action to insert.
    4️⃣Enter the play.

    ✅If an action is assigned incorrectly, assign actions to a benched player rather than miscrediting stats. It's easier to add missed plays later than to fix incorrect lineups.
    ✅The timestamp of a substitution can be adjusted to align with the action.
    ✅Reverse a sub to remove it from the action log.

    ✅To make an adjustment in playing time requires to insert, delete or adjust the time stamp on a sub, the same as other plays.
    ✅Adding or removing a substitution may create other flagged plays, as subsequent lineups are affected.
    Those plays can be opened in the editor and fixed. By clicking Save, NCAA LiveStats will add the necessary substitution actions in order to clear the flags.

    ✅The recommended procedure is to reverse the sub to undo the action:

    1️⃣Take out the players that were formerly put in.
    2️⃣Put in the players that were formerly taken out. This will remove the play from the action log.
    3️⃣Use Insert Earlier or Insert Later to add lineup changes at the desired point of the game.

    ✅From the main menu, choose Load Past Game.

    1️⃣Choose the made/missed shot in question on the action log.
    2️⃣Under the court diagram, choose Edit Location.
    3️⃣Move the location of the shot inside the three-point arc (or outside the three-point arc).
    4️⃣Choose Done and then Proceed. The corrected value of the shot will now be reflected in the score.

    For instance, a sub out must always be linked to a sub in and a missed shot is always linked to a rebound. 

    ✅When returning to edit the play, click the red review flag in the upper left corner to read the error message.
    ✅Click on any play in the action log to flag and proceed.
    • If the flag was placed, it will be cleared once returning to edit the play (even if there aren't any changes).
    • When reaching the end of the period, NCAA LiveStats will prompt to check all flagged plays.

    If no more data has been entered:
    ✅Click the court again to change the location of the play.
    ✅Step Back may be used to clear the clicked location.
    If the entire play was entered, the court location can be fixed in the editor:
    1️⃣Click on the play in the action log.
    2️⃣Under the court diagram, choose Edit Location.
    3️⃣Adjust the location of the play accordingly.
    4️⃣Click Done and then Proceed.

    If there is a mistake in a player’s jersey number or a player must change jerseys,
    1️⃣Go to the Game tab on the top of the screen.
    2️⃣Choose Edit Players.
    3️⃣Make the necessary changes to either team’s roster.
    4️⃣Click Save & Confirm.

    If the teams are not playing offense in the direction expected,
    1️⃣Go to the Game tab on the top of the screen.
    2️⃣Choose Switch Team Sides.

    Other questions

    ✅If the computer can be shut down and re-started, re-open the game and the local file will be preserved at the same point it was left off. Then enter missed plays, or insert missed plays in the editor.
    ✅Cloud recovery: If there is a second computer available, the game key may be entered into that computer, and take over scoring on that machine.

    1️⃣Click the Jump Ball button located underneath the game clock.
    2️⃣Indicate the two players participating in the jump.
    3️⃣Click Start Clock when the ball is put into play, and then indicate the team that recovered the opening tip.

    At the end of a period, follow these steps:
    1️⃣Next to the clock, click End Period In the same location.
    2️⃣Click Confirm Period.
    3️⃣NCAA LiveStats will prompt to Confirm Now, Edit Events, or Confirm Later. Confirming the period won't prevent making edits later.
    4️⃣NCAA LiveStats will prompt to resolve any flagged actions. They may be addressed or not.
    5️⃣NCAA LiveStats will prompt for an attendance if it is not entered. Enter or edit the attendance any time by choosing the Game menu and selecting Edit Game Information.
    6️⃣Next to the clock, click Set Up Period. The clock will reset for a new period. If necessary, the two teams will switch sides on the screen. 

    Setting up an overtime period:
    ✅Click Set Up Period if the game is tied after the final regulation period or a subsequent overtime period. It will set the game for an overtime period or an additional overtime period.

    At the end of the game:
    1️⃣Next to the clock, click End Period In the same location.
    2️⃣Click Confirm Period.
    3️⃣NCAA LiveStats will prompt to Confirm Now, Edit Events, or Confirm Later. Choose Confirm Now.
    4️⃣NCAA LiveStats will prompt to resolve any flagged actions. If unavoidable, having unresolved flagged plays will not prevent finalizing the game.
    5️⃣If no attendance figure is added, NCAA LiveStats will prompt for an attendance. Edit the attendance by choosing the Game menu and selecting Edit Game Information.
    6️⃣Next to the clock, click Finish Game.
    7️⃣In the same location, click Finalize Game.

    ❌No.

    1️⃣Open the game in NCAA LiveStats under the Help menu.
    2️⃣Choose Game Information. The ID number is listed as Game ID or NCAA Game ID.

    1️⃣The first step when a game is postponed is to notify the NCAA Media Coordination and Statistics office at 📩NCAAstats@ncaa.org as usual.
    2️⃣Once the NCAA database updates, the new date will appear in the NSCM.
    3️⃣If it doesn't show up, use the same game key and adjust the date and time on the Game Information tab.

    1️⃣Access the world time here.
    2️⃣Go to Change Date & Time In the computer settings.
    3️⃣Put Set time automatically to On.
    4️⃣If necessary, use Change Date & Time to manually set the computer clock to match the world clock.

    ✅Close the game in NCAA LiveStats and re-open it to save it.
    💡To test the space bar, use the Pregame Countdown clock before the contest begins.

    Those indicators will change automatically. In special situations (like a foul or kicked ball after a held ball has been called), both can be adjusted manually by clicking on them.

    ✅A dribbling turnover can be:
    • A double dribble
    • A discontinued dribble
    • A palming the ball violation

    ❌No.

    1️⃣Click Put on Hold to pause the free throw attempts.
    2️⃣Enter in the subsequent plays (such as a technical fouls and associated free throws).
    3️⃣When needing to return to the interrupted free throws, click the play in the action log. It will lead to the play editor.
    4️⃣Complete the remaining free throw(s) in the play editor.

    Match this clock to the arena’s scoreboard countdown and it will provide users an accurate timer leading up to the start of the game. When the pregame clock reaches 7:00, NCAA LiveStats will prompt the inputter to enter the starters if they haven’t done so already.

    1️⃣Open the action log editing window full screen by clicking on the arrows icon above the action log.
    2️⃣Choose filters in the left-hand column to locate a particular play. Choose one or multiple filters for the play list display.

    ◾Name: The full name of the school, for example, “Middle Tennessee State University”.
    ◾Short Name: An abbreviated version, for example, “Middle Tennessee St.” or "Blue Raiders".
    ◾Short Team Code: This must be exactly 3 characters, for example, “MTS”.
    ◾Long Team Code: A school’s most common acronym, using 1-6 characters, that will be used on reports, for example “MTSU”.

    For instance, "Wisconsin" can be changed to "#16 Wisconsin".

    1️⃣In the Print Settings tab, use Default Report for Quick Print to specify a specific report (usually Box Score) and the number of copies to print using the Quick Print function during game setup.
    2️⃣During the game, click Quick Print at the top of the entry screen to produce the requested number of reports.
    3️⃣Add additional printers to the Quick Print function and thereby print to multiple printers with a single click of the Quick Print button on the main entry screen.
    4️⃣Set a default printer in the Print Settings tab. Use Number of Copies to Print to establish a default number of copies for any report printed from the Reports tab. This may be a different number of copies than in the Quick Print function.

    • The Game Message is drop-down box  to indicate to viewers that the game has been temporarily delayed in some way.
    • The Score Unreliable toggle gives the indication to fans that the current score displayed may not be correct due to an entry error or some other malfunction.

    To set up a game with a game key:
    1️⃣Copy the game key from NSCM to the computer’s clipboard.
    2️⃣On the Create a New Game menu in NCAA LiveStats, choose Enter a Game Key. Paste the game key into the space to create the game.

    ❌With rare exceptions, users are not permitted to turn on or off different statistics.

    ❌No, there is no keystroke option.

    ✅With that data, users can run any available reports.

    This information will appear in the header on most reports.
    ✅If it's a tournament, enter the name of the tournament.
    ✅If it’s a regular season game, we recommend using “NCAA Men’s Basketball” or “NCAA Women’s Basketball”.

    Error messages

    ✅Close all programs and re-start the machine.

    Downloadable game files

    Find the game files with the rosters pre-loaded for practice purposes here: