Managing Scorecard Access for Match Officials

Published on December 11, 2025

No matter the sport, whether you are a soccer referee, a baseball umpire, or any other type of match official, Ultimate Scoreboard gives you flexible tools to access scorecards, record events, and submit accurate match results.

Match officials can be invited to your league directly from the League Page under the Invite Users section. Officials receive an email invitation that guides them through creating or connecting their Ultimate Scoreboard account.

If you are assigning officiating duties to existing players, they can hold both a player account and an official account at the same time. This allows players to continue participating in matches while also being assigned scorecards when needed.

You can invite a dedicated referee or umpire who will only have access to the scorecards assigned to them, or you can invite a league admin who will have full access to scorecards along with broader league management tools including divisions, teams, players, and scorecard review.

Roles can be updated or changed at any time, giving you complete flexibility in determining who can manage matches and who can oversee league operations.

Tip: Only grant users the level of access they need. Assign someone as a referee or umpire unless they specifically require full admin tools.

The most structured way to manage scorekeeping is through direct assignment. In this method, league admins assign each scorecard to a specific registered official. An official can only enter or edit a scorecard if it has been assigned to them, ensuring clear accountability and avoiding confusion about who is responsible for recording the match.

For leagues that need more flexibility, there is an optional soft lock setting. When enabled, officials can quickly take ownership of an upcoming scorecard by assigning it to themselves. This allows officials to adapt to last minute scheduling changes while still giving admins visibility into who is handling each match.

Pros

Clear accountability for who is responsible for each scorecard
Ideal for leagues with scheduled officials and predictable staffing
Reduces the risk of unapproved users accessing scorecards
Soft lock option adds flexibility while keeping assignments controlled
Admins always know exactly which official completed each match

Cons

Requires admins to manage assignments ahead of time
Last-minute official changes may require reassignment
Officials cannot take over a match unless soft lock is enabled
Works best when staff availability is stable from week to week

For leagues that want maximum flexibility in scheduling, Ultimate Scoreboard allows you to set up a shared username and passcode that all officials can use to access upcoming scorecards. Anyone with this login information will be able to open and submit scorecards for matches in your league.

This method removes the need to assign scorecards individually and makes it easy to rotate officials or adapt to last minute availability changes. A league manager can configure this shared login on the League Page .

Tip: When using a shared login, consider enabling Live Scorecards so officials can see if someone else has already started working on a scorecard and avoid two people taking charge of the same match.

Shared access is designed with safety in mind. If the username or passcode is ever shared too widely or used by someone who should not have access, a league manager can quickly revoke or update the credentials to prevent unauthorized use. In addition, this login only grants the minimum necessary permissions, limited to opening and submitting scorecards. Administrators still retain full control, and any submitted scorecard can be edited or restarted if corrections are needed.

Pros

Maximum flexibility for leagues with rotating or unpredictable officials
No need to assign scorecards manually
Easy for substitutes or last-minute officials to step in
Fast to distribute using a simple username and passcode
Credentials can be quickly revoked and replaced if needed

Cons

Anyone with the credentials can access upcoming scorecards
Two officials may try to work on the same match without Live Scorecards
Requires occasional credential updates to maintain security
Less granular control than direct assignment
Admins must rely on review tools to confirm accuracy after submission