Applicable to: Association Administrators, Club Administrators, Team Managers and Scorers

Application(s): Electronic Scoring Application and the PlayHQ Mobile apps

Applicable Sports: Football Australia

This article will cover the following:

1. Ensuring eScoring is activated
2. Accessing the scoring application
3. Setting the lineup and positions
4. Recording goals
5. Making a substitution
6. How substitutions appear in the app Related articles:

• Accessing the Electronic Scoring Portal
• Setting up an electronic scoring session
• Electronic Scoring via PlayHQ Apps
• Submitting a game result using electronic scoring
• E-Scoring FAQs and Troubleshooting (All Sports)

Overview

Football eScoring lets a scorer record goals in real time from a phone or tablet, so results and player statistics update as the match is played.

Substitutions let the scorer move players between the field and the interchange during the match, so the lineup shown in the app reflects who is actually playing. Substitutions are controlled by a grade setting, which means your association decides whether scorers are asked to capture them.

1. Ensuring eScoring is activated

Football eScoring lets a scorer record goals in real time from a phone or tablet, so results and player statistics update as the match is played.

Substitutions let the scorer move players between the field and the interchange during the match, so the lineup shown in the app reflects who is actually playing. Substitutions are controlled by a grade setting, which means your association decides whether scorers are asked to capture them.

2. Accessing the scoring application

eScoring is enabled by an Association Administrator through the Allow clubs to enter scores via electronic scoring setting on the competition.

Substitutions additionally require the Player Position grade setting, which is off by default.

3. Setting the lineup and positions

Getting the lineup right before kick-off is what makes substitutions work during the match, because the interchange is built from it.

1. Assign on-field positions Set a position for each player who's starting on the field. [Screenshot: Lineup and position selection screen]
2. Leave the rest on the interchange Any player in the lineup who isn't given an on-field position is placed on the interchange automatically — there's no separate step to fill the bench. You only need to assign the players starting on the field; everyone else becomes available to bring on.

4. Recording goals

1. Select the goal type Football eScoring distinguishes between a Goal, a Penalty Goal, and an Own Goal.
2. Assign the goal to a player Select the player who scored. The player's total and the team score update immediately, and the event is added to the event log.

5. Making a substitution

Substitutions require the Player Position grade setting to be enabled for the grade (see Ensuring eScoring is activated above).

1. Select the on-field player coming off
2. Select the interchange player coming on
3. Confirm the change The outgoing player moves to the interchange and the incoming player moves onto the field. [Screenshot: Substitution confirmation screen] Once confirmed, the substitution appears as its own event in the event log and in play by play, and flows through to the app for participants and spectators to see. What happens to positions A straight swap keeps the incoming player in the outgoing player's position — if a Defender comes off, the player coming on takes that Defender slot. The Goal Keeper limit of one still applies: a goalkeeper change is a swap into the same single Goal Keeper slot, not an additional one. Making multiple substitutions at once Several players can come on and off at the same time. Batch substitutions are recorded as a single Interchange event rather than one event per player, so a triple change at the hour mark reads as one moment in the match, not three.

6. How substitutions appear in the app

Substitutions appear in play by play as their own card, rather than as a row in a list. The card header shows the match time, an Interchange title, and the team crest. Below it, a plain-language summary describes the change — for example, "Player A was brought on. Player B was taken off." Where several players change at once, the wording is pluralised.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I make a substitution? The Player Position grade setting must be enabled for the grade. Without it there's no interchange, so there's nobody to bring on. Contact your association to have it turned on. 

Do I need to put players on the bench manually? No. Anyone in the lineup without an on-field position goes to the interchange automatically. Assign the starting eleven and the rest becomes your bench. 

Can I have two goalkeepers in a lineup? No. Goal Keeper is limited to one player. The outfield positions are unlimited. How do I record a goalkeeper change? The same way as any other substitution. The incoming player takes the single Goal Keeper slot vacated by the outgoing player. 

I substituted several players at once — will that clutter the play by play? No. Players changing at the same time are grouped into a single Interchange card, with the summary wording pluralised. 

What position does the player coming on take? A straight swap keeps them in the position of the player who came off. 

What do I do if I need further help? Visit the Contact Us page and select your sport to find the preferred support contact method for your organisation.