HOOPS--The Basketball Scoring Application

hoopsmain substitution teamstat play

Description

Hoops, the basketball scoring application for PalmOS allows you to do real-time scoring of basketball games. Hoops is simple to use--the optimized one touch interface does the right thing, updating all stats necessary for each game event, allowing you to easily keep up with the fast pace of the game. Your selected individual stats are always displayed on-screen, team stats may be viewed from a menu item. Games are automatically saved and may be reloaded from a PalmOS database.

Version 2.0 New Features

Game clock.
Substitution screen.
Automatic calculation and reporting of playing time.
Play by Play recording and viewing.
Timeout recording.
Startup time greatly improved.

The freeware version of Hoops has the following limitations:

Field goals attempted, rebounds and assists stat buttons do not work.
Three point goals are only recorded as made.
You cannot export data to the memo pad or view cumulative stats.
Only one game is available. Using "New Game" simply clears the stats of the existing game.
The game play-by-play cannot be scrolled backward, so only shows the last 12 plays.
Registered users receive PC side play-by-play program.
Playing time is recorded in minutes only, not minutes and seconds.
Fix mode is not available.

The registered version of Hoops costs $7.00. To purchase Hoops visit Handango.com.

Features

One touch updates most stats, allowing you to keep up with a fast-paced game.
Individual stats visible on screen.
Visible stats are selectable.
Manage substitutions and record playing time for each player.
View play-by-play recording of the entire game.
Detailed stats quickly available via button. Stats may be viewed by player or by category (shooting, rebounds, etc). Category stats are sorted in descending order.
Keep track of timeouts and team fouls.
Fix mode provides quick and easy correction of scoring mistakes.
Export stats to MemoPad Memo in csv format for import to Excel or other databases.
Palm database storage of previous games including rosters.

Installing

Download Hoops.zip
Install hoops.prc from the hoops.zip file.
HotSync the Palm device.
Run the Hoops application.

Upgrading From Previous Versions of Hoops

If you are upgrading from a previous Hoops version, be sure to export any games you want to save to the Memo Pad, then delete the previous version of Hoops before following the install procedure. If you do not, Hoops will complain that the database version on you handheld is not compatible with the current version. Hoops will then ask for permission to delete the existing database before continuing.

Version 2.0 of Hoops no longer requires PtoolboxLib. If PtoolboxLib is not used by other applicaitons, you can now delete PtoolboxLib from your handheld device.

Using Hoops

The main screen of Hoops presents the application name Hoops and the current game score at the top of the screen.

The main portion of the screen contains a legend line showing the statistics that may be recorded for the home team, and, separated by a line, the same statistics for the visiting team.

fg refers to field goals and contains two stats, fields goals made on the left, and field goals attempted on the right.
ft refers to free throws and contains two stats, free throws made on the left, and free throws attempted on the right.
th refers to three point shots made.
R refers to rebounds.
A refers to assists.
F refers to personal fouls.
Pt refers to points scored.
T refers to turnovers.
S refers to steals.
B refers to blocked shots.

When first run, a new game named "default" is created, the home team is named "home" and the visiting team named "visitor". All players are given numbers sequentially 0-9.

Tapping on the Hoops title brings up the Hoops menu. See Menu below for detailed a description of menu options.

Customizing the Game

Tapping on the home team name, the visiting team name, or a player name brings up a dialog box that allows changing the name. Because of limited screen space, the names will be truncated when displayed, so be careful to name players with unique letters (or their numbers) at the beginning of the name. Names are limited to a maximum of 32 characters. Full names are saved and printed with statistics.

Scoring a Game

To record statistics simply tap the appropriate statistic and Hoops will "do the right thing". For example, if you tap the field goals made statistic for a player Hoops will increment the field goals made field, the field goals attempted field, update the total points for the player and update the game score line at the top of the screen. Tapping the field goals attempted field simply increments field goals attempted. The same method is used for entering free throws.

For three point goals, tapping the three point goals made field pops up a dialog from which you select made or missed as appropriate. The three point goals made field is updated, along with the points and score if made is selected.

The rebounds, assists and fouls fields simply increment when tapped.

pts

Tapping the points field pops up a dialog allowing you to record additional stats--blocks, turnovers and steals by default.

Team fouls are recorded automatically and may be viewed on the "Game Summary" screen by touching the "fouls" label on the bottom line of the screen. See "QuickButtons" below.

Players 11 and 12

Touching any statistic, or the player name on the 11th statistic line causes a dialog to pop up allowing you to select one of two "extended players" for recording the stat. This allows Hoops to collect stats for 12 players while only being able to directly display 11. The player displayed on this line is the last of the extended players to have a stat recorded.

QuickButtons

The bottom line of the Hoops screen presents a series of buttons to allow quick access to information and actions during a game. The QuickButtons may be activated by tapping with the stylus, or using selected keys on the handheld.

Sub

Tapping the Sub button or pressing the datebook key (basically aligned under the Sub button), brings up the substitutions screen. The substitutions screen allows you to select via checkbox the players currently in the game. It also shows accumulated playing time for each player. Note that in the unregistered version, playing time is only calculated in minutes, not minutes and seconds.

If you press "OK" and have not selected exactly 5 players, you will be warned and allowed to change your selections if you choose.

To reset the clock at the end of a period, press "Clk Rst".

You may reset all players playing time by tapping "Rst Play".

Playing time is recorded and exported as a number of seconds played when you save the game to the Memo Pad.

Pressing the OK button or the Datebook key dismisses the substitution screen.

Stats

Touching the stats button on the bottom line (or pressing the To Do key on the handheld), brings up the stats dialog which lists the teams and players by name. Selecting a team or player brings up a statistics window which lists the total stats for that team or individual and gives shooting percentages.

Also listed are statistics by category. Touching a category displays that statistic by player sorted in numerical order. Shooting statistics are sorted by number of shots made.

Pressing the OK button or the To Do key dismisses the stats screen.

Fix

When you make the inevitable mistake in scorekeeping, Hoops allows you to correct it easily and at your convenience. As soon as possible following the error, select the fix mode button or press the Phone Book key. Fix mode is indicated by inverse video on the fix mode button and inverse video on the dashes on the screen. When in fix mode, any stat button touched decrements that stat field and other appropriate fields instead of incrementing them. For example, touching the field goals made button decrements the field goals made field, the field goals attempted field, removes two points from the player's point total and two points from the teams point total. Very quick changes to mistakes may be made using fix mode to back out incorrect entries, then re-entering the correct data in normal mode. Fix mode also works in the three dialog and extended stats dialog and on the timeout screen. To leave fix mode simply tap the fix mode button a second time.

Pressing the fix button or the Phone Book key leaves fix mode.

Clock

The game clock is displayed in the middle of the bottom line of the screen. The clock may be operated by touching the clock display with the stylus, or using either the page up or page down buttons on the handheld. When the display is touched or one of these buttons pressed, the clock behaves like a stopwatch--if stopped it is started, if started it is stopped. When the clock is running, it is highlighted in inverse video.

To reset the clock, touch the Sub button and then "Clk Rst".

Game Summary

Touching the fouls button brings up the game summary screen which shows personal fouls for all players, gives team foul information, and timeout information.

To clear team fouls at the appropriate time, touch the "clear" button in the team fouls box.

To record a timeout, touch the appropriate type of timeout for the team.

Timeouts may be configured on the configuration screen. If you need to add timeouts (for an overtime, for example), enter fix mode, then the game summary screen. Fix mode is now enabled and touching a timeout will increment rather than decrement.

A useful option is to select fouls as an extended statistic (see Customizing the View below). Fouls cause a time out and you have lots of time to record the foul as an extended statistic. Then, by touching the foul button, you can get a quick view of the current foul situation.

Play by Play

Pressing the Memo Pad key on the handheld brings up the Hoops play-by-play screen. Hoops records each game event and the time at which it occurred. The play-by-play screen allows you to review previous game events. Hoops displays the time of the event, the player or team involved, and what the event was. Use the GoTo button to go to a specific event number. Use the numbers on the bottom left of the screen to navigate to particular locations. These numbers give the current position in the game log and the total number of events recorded.

You may also navigate the play-by-play log by using the page up and page down keys.

Pressing the OK button or the Memo Pad button dismisses the play by play screen.

Customizing the View

On the main screen, the default listing includes FG, FGA, FT, FTA, TH (dialog for made or missed), R, A, F and PT. The extended stats under PT are Steals (S), Turnovers (T) and Blocks (B). The non-shooting stats may be customized by touching the column header and selecting the stat to be displayed in that column. For example, touching the 'R' column header pops up a list of statistics. The statistic you select becomes the statistic displayed and recorded in that column.

Similarly, when you touch the PT button and then, within the dialog, touch the name of one of the statistics (steals, turnovers or blocks), you are presented with the same selection list. The statistic you select then becomes the one displayed at that point in the dialog. In this manner, you can select which statistics you want available at one touch on the main screen, and which you want available only as "extended statistics".

Menu Functions

Tapping on the Hoops title drops down the hoops menu:

Export CSV--Export statistics in csv (comma separated values) to a Memo. All individual player statistics are written to a MemoPad memo in comma separated format suitable for importing to a spreadsheet or data base. A dialog is shown indicating the export is in progress. Wait for the completion message before proceeding.
New Game--The existing game is saved to the hoops_data database, a dialog is popped up prompting for a name for the game, then a name for the visiting team in the new game and the screen is redrawn. The player names and home team name are kept.
Clear Game--All stats in the existing game are cleared. Player names and team names are not changed.
Name Game--Pops up a dialog allowing the current game to be given a name. Game names are limited to 128 characters.
Select Game--Pops up a dialog listing the currently saved games. Up to 12 games may be saved. Choosing a game by name will cause Hoops to load that game.
Delete Game--Pops up a dialog listing the currently saved games. Select any valid game to be deleted. The record is permanently deleted. The most recent game is then loaded.
Set Config--Bring up the configuration screen which allows setting of default values for timeouts and period time. Just touch the appropriate field to configure the value. The period time configuration value will be used the next time the clock is reset. The timeout configuration values will be used when the next new game is created.
Register--Pops up the registration dialog. Enter your registration code to enable the full functionality of Hoops.
About--A dialog box giving basic information about Hoops.
Quit--quit the application.

Acknowledgements

Hoops was developed using PocketC from Orbworks.

Enhancements/Suggestions?

If you have suggestions for improvements to Hoops, please email tbrown.tthkbw.verizon.net.