When the score shown on the board differs from the scoresheet, do not overwrite one record on instinct. First establish what is known. The JBA April 2026 TO handbook gives table-official guidance for its official paper scoresheet. This article summarizes that guidance. If the event has approved electronic-record steps or additional regulations, follow those directions and ask the responsible referee.
A display mismatch or a question about the record?
Section 3.6 of the JBA handbook says that if the scoresheet and scoreboard differ and the scoresheet is correct, the scoreboard should be corrected promptly. If the scoresheet itself is in doubt, or either team protests, the handbook directs the scorer to wait until the game clock is stopped and the ball is dead, sound the buzzer, and notify the crew chief.
These are different situations. Correcting a display after confirming the sheet is right is not the same as resolving a dispute about the record. This is work for the table crew and officials, not an invitation for a spectator or bench member to direct an independent edit.
Correcting an entry on the paper scoresheet
Section 3.1 says a minor clerical mistake is corrected by drawing two horizontal lines through the incorrect entry and writing the correct information in the nearby space. For a substantial entry error, report it to the crew chief during a playing interval or halftime and ask for direction. The handbook does not describe erasing or hiding the original entry.
If you cannot tell whether the entry is correct, or a team protests, do not decide on your own that the error is minor. Use the section 3.6 communication route. These steps are from the JBA simplified handbook for the official paper scoresheet; they may not apply unchanged to electronic records or an event's separate process.
A short in-game check
- Identify the difference between the displayed score and the record on the scoresheet.
- If the paper scoresheet is confirmed correct, correct the display as the handbook directs.
- If the scoresheet is in doubt or a team protests, wait for a stopped clock and dead ball, then notify the crew chief by buzzer.
- Confirm the correction through the event's process. Keep any working note separate from the official record.
This is not an app tutorial. The article does not describe a BoardStrategist screen or correction feature because its current public workflow has not been verified.
Frequently asked questions
What if only the displayed score is wrong and the paper sheet is correct?
Section 3.6 says to correct the scoreboard promptly. Also follow the venue equipment and event instructions.
What if the paper scoresheet itself may be wrong?
Wait until the clock is stopped and the ball is dead, then sound the buzzer and inform the crew chief, as the JBA handbook directs.
Should I erase a minor scoresheet mistake?
No. The handbook says to cross out a minor error with two horizontal lines and write the correction nearby. Report a substantial error to the crew chief during a playing interval or halftime.
Do the same corrections apply to every electronic record?
The cited handbook does not establish that. Ask the event for its approved electronic-record procedure.
Sources
- JBA, TO Handbook (April 2026 edition) — sections 3.1 and 3.6, pp. 6 and 12; the PDF cover is dated April 2026.
- JBA TO manual index — the page states it is an archive snapshot from September 13, 2026. The PDF was read directly; verify whether a newer manual and event rules apply before publication.