Applicable to: Team Managers and participants with team management access
Applicable to: Beta users in AFL and Netball Australia
Application(s): PlayHQ App > Team > Game > Actions menu (⋮)
This article will cover the following:
- Understanding Temporary Scoring
- What you'll need before starting
- Inviting a temporary scorer and sharing the link
- Managing an active link and understanding access timing
Understanding Temporary Scoring
Temporary Scoring lets a Team Manager hand live scoring access to anyone — a parent, spectator, or last-minute volunteer — instantly, straight from the PlayHQ app. Previously, whoever was scoring needed a PlayHQ account and the app installed before they could begin. Temporary Scoring removes that barrier: with a single shareable link, your scorer can start scoring in their browser with no account, no app download, and no sign-in required.
Only one active scoring link can exist for a game at any time, keeping access controlled and predictable.
What you'll need before starting
Required information
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- The scorer's first and last name
- A way to send the link to your scorer (SMS or email), or their device on hand if sharing directly
- Confirmation that scoring is enabled for your competition or grade — Invite Scorer only appears where your competition or grade settings already allow clubs to score
💡 Tip: Have your scorer's device ready.
Each scoring link only works on the device it's first opened on, so it's best to generate and send the link once your scorer has their phone or device with them.
Inviting a temporary scorer and sharing the link
Follow these steps to invite a temporary scorer to your game:
-
Open the game actions menu
Open the PlayHQ App and navigate to Team > select the relevant game. Tap the game actions menu (⋮).
-
Select Invite Scorer
Tap Invite Scorer from the menu. This option is only visible to Team Managers and participants with management access, and only appears where your competition or grade settings already permit clubs to score.
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Enter the scorer's name
Enter the scorer's First Name and Last Name. The Confirm button becomes active once both fields are complete.
⚠️ Important: Closing the invite screen early
If you close the invite overlay using the X before both name fields are complete, the link will not be saved. Make sure both fields are filled in before confirming.
-
Confirm to generate the link
Tap Confirm to generate a one-time scoring link for this game. Only one active link can exist per game at a time — generating a new one will require confirming that the previous link becomes invalid (see Managing an active link below).
-
Share the link
Tap Copy Link to copy it to your clipboard (you'll see an on-screen confirmation), or tap Share to send it through your device's native share sheet. A pre-filled message template is provided automatically, with your game details and the link already in place:
Once your scorer opens the link on their device, they're taken directly into the scoring view — no account creation and no app download required.
Managing an active link and understanding access timing
Regenerating a link
If you need to send a new link (for example, your original scorer can no longer make it), open Invite Scorer again and generate a new link. You'll be asked to confirm before the previous link is invalidated.
⚠️ Important:
Regenerating a link immediately invalidates the previous one. If your original scorer already has the old link open, it will stop working once you confirm the regeneration.
When scoring access is available
Scoring links can be created at any time, but access to the scoring view is time-gated around the game's start time:
| Timing | What the scorer sees |
|---|---|
| More than 15 minutes before game start | A pop-up: "Game is not scheduled yet." |
| Within 15 minutes of game start | Proceeds directly into the scoring view |
| After the game result is submitted | An expired-state verification pop-up |
Access closes automatically once the game result is submitted.
Device-specific links
Each link is unique to the device it's first opened on. If your scorer forwards the link to someone else or opens it on a different device, it will not work — you'll need to generate a new link for that person instead.
Important considerations
Impact on reporting and team sheets
Each scorer assignment — the scorer's name, the game, and the Team Manager who assigned them — is recorded to support volunteer contribution reporting and adoption tracking. Let your scorer know their name will appear in the team sheet and Admin Portal in a volunteer capacity for this game.
Frequently asked questions
Who can invite a temporary scorer?
Only Team Managers and participants with management access can see and use Invite Scorer. It also only appears where your competition or grade settings already allow clubs to score.
Does my temporary scorer need a PlayHQ account or the app?
No. The link opens directly in their browser and takes them straight into the scoring view — no account creation and no app download required.
Can more than one scoring link be active for the same game?
No. Only one active shareable link exists per game at any time.
Can I send the link by text or email?
Yes. A pre-filled SMS/email template is provided with your game details and the link already populated, ready to send.
Can my scorer forward the link to someone else, or use it on a different device?
No. Each link is unique to the device it's first opened on. If it's shared to another device, it won't work — generate a new link for that person instead.
What happens if my scorer opens the link too early, or after the game has finished?
If opened more than 15 minutes before the game start, they'll see a "Game is not scheduled yet" message. Once the game result has been submitted, the link expires and shows an expired-state message instead.
Is Temporary Scoring available to my organisation?
Temporary Scoring is currently available to AFL and Netball organisations, and only where your competition or grade settings already allow clubs to score. If you don't see Invite Scorer in your game actions menu, check with your association or contact your sport's support team.