Your stat keeper already knows the quarterback is 12 for 15 and the point guard has four steals. The question is how to get those numbers onto the broadcast without someone retyping them into a graphic. This guide shows how to link a stats app to your scoreboard so player and team stats fill in on the stream as plays are logged, how to split the work across the crew, and what to do when the link hiccups.
How the pieces fit
A stream with live stats has two jobs running side by side:
- The scorekeeper runs the scoreboard in ScoreCastr: score, clock, period, and which graphics are on screen.
- The stats keeper logs every play in StatsCastr and credits the player.
When you link them, stats flow one way: from StatsCastr into ScoreCastr's graphics. ScoreCastr still owns the score, clock and period, so a stats mistake can never change the score on screen. Stats arrive within about a second and never slow down scoring.
The link needs a ScoreCastr Pro plan ($25 a month). StatsCastr is free right now. As always, confirm with your athletic director or state association that you have the right to stream the game; see our guide to high school streaming rights.
Which sports and which stats
The link works for 9 sports: basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, ice hockey and field hockey. StatsCastr also keeps lacrosse stats, but lacrosse can't be linked to ScoreCastr yet.
Today these fields fill in on the graphics from StatsCastr:
| Field | Where it's useful on the stream |
|---|---|
| Player stats | A player stats graphic after a big play, or during a free throw or pitching change |
| Team stats | Comparisons at a timeout or between periods |
| Halftime stats | The halftime stats graphic with comparison bars |
| The last play | A quick recap for viewers who looked away |
Before game day
- Load rosters in both apps with matching jersey numbers. If they disagree, a stat line can land on the wrong player's graphic. ScoreCastr's roster CSV uses name, jerseyNumber, position, year; StatsCastr's uses number,name,position. You can also import the roster into StatsCastr from the match when you link.
- Create the ScoreCastr match with both teams, colors and logos.
- Decide whether the StatsCastr game exists yet. You can link to a game you've already created or create one from the match during linking. It must be the same sport.
- Add the overlay to OBS as a 1920×1080 browser source. If you haven't done this before, see how to add a scoreboard overlay to OBS.
Link StatsCastr to ScoreCastr
Do this at the venue, with the scorekeeper and stats keeper sitting together.
- In ScoreCastr, open the match and tap Link StatsCastr. You'll see a QR code and an 8-character one-time code, for example K7Q2-M9XD.
- On the stats keeper's phone, scan the QR code with the phone's camera, or type the code at statscastr.co/link. The code expires in 10 minutes, so don't generate it until the stats keeper is ready.
- Pick the game. Choose an existing StatsCastr game of the same sport, or create one from the match. Import the roster if you haven't loaded it yet.
- Check the status chip. It shows Live when everything is flowing.
- Test it. Log a practice play, check that it shows up on the graphics, then delete it before the game starts.
Crew roles
Live stats only work when each person has one job. Don't ask the scorekeeper to keep stats too; they'll fall behind on both.
| Role | Device | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Scorekeeper | Phone, tablet or laptop with the ScoreCastr dashboard | Score, clock and period. Shows and hides graphics from the Overlay Visibility panel when the producer asks. |
| Stats keeper | Phone browser with StatsCastr | Logs every play and credits the player. Watches the status chip. |
| Producer / OBS operator | The streaming laptop | Calls for stat graphics at the right moments and runs breaks. |
| Play-by-play | Headset | Reads the numbers on screen and gives the stats keeper a moment to catch up after busy sequences. |
With a small crew, the producer can also run the scoreboard. The stats keeper should stay a separate person. If you're booking crews for a season, see our guide to staffing a broadcast crew.
When to show stats
Stat graphics work best at stoppages, not over live play.
- Football: the quarterback's line after a long drive, team stats at the end of a quarter.
- Basketball: a player's line at the free throw line or a timeout.
- Baseball and softball: the pitcher's line at a pitching change, a batter's line as they step in.
- Volleyball: team kills and aces between sets.
- Hockey and soccer: shots and saves at intermission or halftime.
Halftime is the big one. The halftime stats graphic with comparison bars stays up long enough for viewers to read every number, so make sure the first half is fully logged and corrected before you put it up.
Troubleshooting
- The code doesn't work. It expires after 10 minutes. Tap Link StatsCastr again for a new one.
- The game you want isn't in the list. Only a game of the same sport can be linked. Check the sport, or create a new game from the match instead.
- The chip says Catching up. Keep logging and give it a moment. If it doesn't return to Live, tap Resync.
- The chip says Error. Tap Resync. If you linked the wrong game, tap Unlink and link again.
- A stat looks wrong on screen. Fix the play in StatsCastr. The totals rebuild, and the score is never affected.
- Two people want to keep stats. StatsCastr has one account per stat keeper and no multiple keepers on a game. Pick one person.
Live stats checklist
- ScoreCastr Pro plan active and the match created.
- Rosters loaded in both apps with matching jersey numbers.
- Overlay in OBS as a 1920×1080 browser source.
- Link made at the venue, status chip showing Live.
- Test play logged, seen on the graphics and deleted.
- Producer and stats keeper agree on when stat graphics go up.
- First half checked before the halftime stats graphic.