Scoring on a touchscreen means looking down at the screen every time something happens. Miss one possession while you hunt for the right button and the scoreboard falls behind the game. Physical buttons fix that: after a quarter or two, a scorekeeper can hit "home +2" or "start clock" by feel and keep their eyes on the field. This guide shows how to set up an Elgato Stream Deck, a numpad or an X-Keys pad to run your live scoreboard and graphics.
How button control works
Most button pads work like keyboards. A Stream Deck key can be set to type a piece of text, a numpad types digits, and an X-Keys pad sends keystrokes you program. So the simplest way to control a scoreboard with buttons is to have each button type a short code that the scoreboard understands.
That's how ScoreCastr does it. On the dashboard, turn on Listening Mode. While it's on, the dashboard listens for 4-digit codes, and each code fires an action, such as adding points, starting the clock or showing a graphic. The code can come from a numpad, a Stream Deck key using the Text action, or an X-Keys pad.
Because the buttons are just typing, there's no plugin to install and nothing to connect over the network. The button pad plugs into the same computer that has the dashboard open.
Choose your hardware
| Device | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Deck MK.2 (15 keys) | One sport, the most-used actions | You'll need folders or pages for the rest |
| Stream Deck XL (32 keys) | Full control of a sport plus overlays on one page | Larger and costs more |
| USB numpad | Cheapest option, a spare in the bag | No labels; the scorekeeper has to learn or tape on the codes |
| X-Keys pad | Crews that already own one | Programmed in X-Keys' own software |
The Stream Deck's labeled LCD keys are the big advantage. A volunteer scorekeeper can read "HOME +3" on the key instead of memorizing a code.
Use a ready-made profile
ScoreCastr has ready-made profiles for the Stream Deck MK.2 (15 keys) and the Stream Deck XL (32 keys). They cover:
- overlays and universal controls
- soccer, football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, MMA, ice hockey and field hockey
To use one:
- Install the Elgato Stream Deck app on the scoring computer and plug in the Stream Deck.
- Import the profile for your model and sport. Stream Deck profile files usually import with a double-click, or through the profile menu in the Stream Deck app.
- Open the match dashboard in a browser and turn on Listening Mode.
- Click into the dashboard window so it's in focus, then press a few keys and watch the scoreboard respond.
For other Stream Deck models, and for sports without a ready-made profile (tennis, pickleball and swimming, for example), you set up the keys by hand.
Build your own buttons
Setting up a key by hand takes a minute per button:
- In the Stream Deck app, drag the Text action (under System) onto a key.
- Enter the 4-digit code for the ScoreCastr action you want.
- Give the key a short title, like "AWAY +1" or "CLOCK", and pick a color or icon.
- Press it with Listening Mode on and confirm the right thing happens.
Lay the keys out the way a scorekeeper thinks:
- Home on one side, away on the other. Match the side of the field or court the teams are on if you can, or always home left. Pick one rule and keep it.
- Most-used actions in easy reach. Score buttons and the clock go in the row your thumb rests on.
- Graphics separate from scoring. Put show and hide graphics, and go to break, on their own row or page so nobody fires a lineup when they meant to add a point.
- Leave a gap around anything that's hard to undo. An empty key between "end period" and "add point" saves a lot of trouble.
Make a separate profile for each sport you score. Name them clearly ("Basketball - XL") so the scorekeeper picks the right one.
Keep the dashboard in focus
This is the number one thing that goes wrong. The Stream Deck's Text action types into whichever window is in front. If someone clicks into another app, or a pop-up steals focus, the codes go there instead of the dashboard.
- Use a computer just for scoring. If the scorekeeper shares the OBS computer, the producer clicking in OBS will steal focus. A cheap laptop with the dashboard and the Stream Deck is better.
- Close everything else. No email, no chat, no second browser window.
- Turn on Do Not Disturb so notifications don't grab the keyboard.
- If buttons stop working, click once on the dashboard and check that Listening Mode is still on.
The dashboard's status dot shows Live, Slow or Offline. If the venue connection drops, keep pressing buttons. Changes made while slow or offline are saved on the device and sent automatically when it reconnects.
Train the scorekeeper
Buttons are faster only once they're familiar. Before game one:
- Score a full game from video with the Stream Deck, using an old recording or a game on TV.
- Keep the dashboard visible beside the buttons so the scorekeeper can glance at it and confirm each action.
- Use the pop-out preview window to see exactly what viewers see.
- Practice the fixes, not just the scoring. Know how to take back a point and fix the clock before you need to.
The scorekeeper should have one job. Our guide to staffing a broadcast crew covers how to split roles. To get the graphics into your stream in the first place, see adding a scoreboard overlay to OBS or using graphics with a hardware switcher. If you'd rather not press buttons at all, running graphics from data is the next step.
Stream Deck checklist
- Stream Deck app installed on the scoring computer.
- Correct profile loaded for this sport and model.
- Dashboard open for this game's match, with Listening Mode on.
- Dashboard window in focus, other apps closed, Do Not Disturb on.
- Every key tested once before the start.
- Score and graphics keys on separate rows or pages.
- A spare USB numpad in the bag as a backup.