The APA Scorekeeper App is the official digital scoring tool of the American Poolplayers Association. Most local league operators have rolled it out or are in the process of doing so. Players are expected to be able to use it, and on match nights with multiple tables running simultaneously, more than one scorekeeper per team is needed.
Available resources for learning the app are primarily video tutorials. This page is a written reference covering the full workflow: account setup, roster management, 8-ball and 9-ball scoring, match editing and resetting, stat definitions, forfeits, and common errors. Procedural information is drawn from official APA tutorial materials.
Two Apps Required
The APA uses two separate apps. Both are required, and they serve different functions.
APA Pool League app (also called the Member Services app) handles your account, stats, schedule, standings, roster, and scoresheet downloads. It's where you create the login you'll use to access Scorekeeper. Set up your online account here first.
APA Scorekeeper app is the live scoring tool used during matches. It uses the same login as your Member Services account. Once logged in, only your team's scheduled matches are visible. Find yours and tap it.
Scorekeeper requires a Member Services account. That account must be established before Scorekeeper will allow login.
Download Links
APA Scorekeeper
APA Pool League (Member Services)
Getting Set Up Before Your First Match Night
Complete setup before match night. The app requires a working Member Services account and active membership before a player can be located in a roster search.
- Download both apps.
- New members need to join and pay membership at join.poolplayers.com before they can be added to a roster. Unpaid members won't show up in the app search.
- Open the APA Pool League app and claim your online account. The APA needs a valid email address on file for this to work. If your account isn't appearing, the email on file may be missing or incorrect. Your league operator can correct it.
- Log into Scorekeeper using those same credentials.
- Find your team's scheduled match so you know where it will be on league night.
Tip: Having more than one person per team set up on the app is recommended. On nights with two tables running simultaneously, two scorekeepers are needed. If the only trained scorekeeper is also playing their own match, the second table cannot be scored.
Charge the phone before leaving. A portable charger is useful on match nights. Keep a blank paper scoresheet in the case as a backup. Your league operator can provide one, or download one through the APA Pool League app.
Editing Your Roster in Scorekeeper
From the matches screen, scroll down below your team's name. You'll see an Edit Roster button underneath each team. Tap it to open the roster management screen.
An informational screen appears first. Read it, then tap Agree to proceed.
To remove a player: tap the red circle with the minus sign next to their name.
To add a player: tap the plus sign next to Add Player. Type the player's name. If they are an active member in your area, they will appear in the search results. Select their name and confirm to add them. Tap Done when you're finished.
A player must be on the roster in Scorekeeper before they can be assigned to a match and scored in the app. If someone shows up on match night and isn't on the roster, add them through Edit Roster before you try to assign them to a game.
Roster lock after week four: Once the session passes week four, roster changes are locked in the app. If you need to add or remove a player after that point, contact your league operator directly.
Do Not Test the App in a Live Match
Do not open a real scheduled match in Scorekeeper to practice or test the app. As soon as anything is scored in a live match, even by accident, the app treats it as played and that match becomes unavailable for the actual league night. There is no practice mode. The tutorial videos in the app's help section are the appropriate way to learn the interface before match night. Access them by tapping your initials in the circle at the top right of the screen.
How to Score an 8-Ball Match: Step by Step
The setup steps below (match selection, coin flip, player selection, lag winner) are the same for both 8-ball and 9-ball. The scoring screen itself works differently for each format. See the 9-ball section below for those differences.
Once both teams are at the table and ready to go:
- Open Scorekeeper and find your team's scheduled match. Tap it to open the roster screen. You'll see both teams listed. Roster changes can be made here by tapping Edit Roster, but after week four of the session that option is locked. If you need a change after that point, contact your league operator.
- Tap the blue Start Match button when both sides are ready.
- Do the coin flip. The team that wins chooses whether to put their player up first or let the other team go first.
- Set the table size for the table you're playing on that night. The app does not prompt for this before submission.
- Select the players. The roster screen appears after table size is set. Select the first player from their team's roster and tap the blue button, then select the second player from the other team and tap the blue button again.
- Select who won the lag by checking the box for that player, then tap the blue button to go to the scoring screen.
- Score each turn. Every time the shooting player's turn ends (miss, foul, or intentional stop), tap the blue Turn Over button. This is how the app tracks innings. The inning count is displayed in the blue bar at the top of the screen and updates with each tap.
- Mark defensive shots as they happen. Tap the Defensive Shot button when a player plays safe.
- Mark time-outs as they are called. Tap the timeout button when a player calls time. A one-minute timer runs while the timeout is active. Tap again when the timeout is done. The app tracks these automatically.
- Record special events in the game block where they happen: 8-on-the-break, break-and-run, early 8, 8-ball scratch, 8-ball wrong pocket.
- Select how the game ended once a game is over, then tap the blue button. The app moves you to the next game. Repeat for each individual match on the night.
- Review and confirm. After all matches are scored, confirm everything looks correct before submitting.
- Rate your opponent's sportsmanship. 1 star is the lowest, 5 stars is the highest. You can also leave a comment to the league office in the field provided.
- Tap Submit. The score goes nowhere until you hit Submit. Do not close the app first.
Mid-match corrections: Innings and time-outs can be adjusted using the plus and minus buttons on the scoring screen. In 9-ball, if you need to step back to the previous player's turn, tap the Undo Turn button. For a roster change after the match has started, go to the matches screen, scroll down below your team, and tap Edit Roster. Help is available any time by tapping your initials in the circle at the top right of the screen.
To forfeit an individual player match: tap the three dots at the top of the scoring screen and select Match Forfeit. The forfeiting player's match is recorded as a loss and the opponent is awarded the win automatically.
Scoring 9-Ball: What's Different
The setup flow for 9-ball matches is identical to 8-ball: log in, select the match, edit roster if needed, tap Start Match, do the coin flip, set the table size, select players, confirm the lag winner. Once you get to the scoring screen, the interface works differently.
| Feature | 8-Ball | 9-Ball |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring input | Tap Turn Over button after each turn ends | Tap each ball as it is pocketed |
| Innings display | Blue bar at top of screen | Bottom of screen |
| Defensive shots | Tap Defensive Shot button; mark per safety | Bottom of screen |
| Points display | Not tracked this way | Both players' totals visible at top in real time |
| Dead ball | Not applicable | Double-tap ball; appears with X in upper right corner |
| Reactivate ball | Not applicable | Triple-tap ball |
| Undo Turn | Not applicable | Available on scoring screen |
| Special events | 8OB, BR, E8, 8S, 8WP recorded in game block | Not applicable |
In 9-ball, you do not use a Turn Over button. Instead, you track balls as they are pocketed:
- Tap a ball once to pocket it. It moves to the top of the screen under that player's name.
- Tap a ball twice to mark it as a dead ball. It appears in the upper right corner with an X on it.
- Tap a ball three times to reactivate it as a live ball if you marked it dead by mistake.
The top of the scoring screen shows each player's current point total alongside how many points they still need to win. All balls are tracked in real time at the top as they're pocketed.
Innings in 9-ball are tracked at the bottom of the screen, not the blue bar at the top. Defensive shots are also logged at the bottom. Mark them as they happen, the same as in 8-ball.
The overall team match score is always visible at the top of the screen while you're scoring, so you can see where the night stands without leaving the individual match.
When the match is over, select the next players the same way you did at the start: tap each player's name, confirm with the blue button, select who won the lag, and go to the scoring screen for that match. At the end of the night, you can swipe down on the scoreboard or nudge any match to the left to go back and review or edit it before submitting.
Undo Turn: If you need to step back to the previous player's turn at any point during a 9-ball match, the Undo Turn button is available on the scoring screen. Use it to correct an accidental ball tap or wrong turn before the play moves forward.
How to Edit a Match
Timeouts, innings, defensive shots, and match winner assignments can be corrected after the fact. There are two ways to access a match for editing:
- Swipe down on the scoreboard to access the individual match screen.
- Nudge a match to the left on the scoreboard to reveal the edit option for that match.
Once inside the match, select the individual game you need to fix. From there, use the plus and minus boxes next to timeouts, innings, and defensive shots to add or remove what needs changing. If you need to change who won the match, tap the blue button.
There is no Save button. When you're done, tap the back button to return to the scoreboard. Changes apply immediately.
Editing an active match: The swipe-left method also works on matches still in progress (shown in blue). This lets you go back and edit previous racks within that active match using the same process. When you're done, swipe up to resume scoring where you left off.
Resetting a Match
Editing corrects individual stats within a match. Resetting clears all match data and returns it to its initial state. A reset is required when the wrong player has been assigned, the wrong lag winner was designated, or a stalemate requires the match to be restarted.
To reset a match you've already started scoring:
- Slide the scoring screen down from the blue bar at the top. This brings you back to the scoreboard from inside the active match.
- Slide the match to the left to expose the options for that match.
- Tap Reset. The app will ask you to confirm.
- Type the word "reset" to confirm. The app requires this step to prevent accidental resets.
- The match clears to empty and reappears as a yellow match. Select it to reassign players and start scoring from the beginning.
Reset cannot be undone. All scoring data for that match is erased. Use Edit for stat corrections. Only reset when the match itself needs to be restarted from the beginning.
What Every Stat Actually Means
Every number entered into Scorekeeper feeds into the APA's Equalizer handicap system, which is how skill levels are calculated and adjusted. Inaccurate scorekeeping affects skill levels for both players and can persist across multiple sessions. Teams with a pattern of inaccurate scoring may lose bonus points or face disqualification.
Each team tracks their own side of the match and submits it separately. The two records don't need to be identical. When there are gaps between what each team submitted, the league operator reviews both scoresheets.
Common Mistakes on Match Night
- Testing the app in a live match. Scoring anything in a live match marks it as played and removes it from the available match list. See the section above.
- Skipping table size. The app does not prompt for table size before submission. Set it at the start of each match.
- Not hitting Submit. Closing the app without submitting means the score may not reach the league operator. Always submit before closing.
- Only one person on the team trained on the app. When that person is playing their own match, the second table cannot be scored. At least two people per team should be set up.
- Catching up on defensive shots at the end of a game. Defensive shots should be marked at the time of the shot, not reconstructed afterward.
- Trying to add a member who is not in the system yet. New members need to complete the join process at join.poolplayers.com first. Unpaid members will not appear in the search. Their match may need to be scored on paper.
- Dead phone. Charge before leaving. A portable backup charger is useful on match nights.
When the App Goes Down
The APA experienced a service outage in March 2026 that affected Scorekeeper access for leagues nationwide. If the app stops working during a match:
- Stop play and wait a few minutes before switching to paper. Brief outages may resolve without intervention.
- Close the app fully and reopen it. Check the phone's signal and Wi-Fi connection.
- If the app is still not responding after 5 to 10 minutes, continue the match on a paper scoresheet from where you left off.
- After the match, contact your league operator. Paper fallback scores are reconciled at the office.
Keep a blank scoresheet in your case. Download one from the APA Pool League app or request a printed copy from your league operator. A paper backup allows the match to continue if the app is unavailable.
Paper Scorekeeping
Paper scoresheets are used when the app is unavailable, when a player is not yet in the system, or when a match needs to be scored by hand for any other reason. The stats tracked on paper are the same ones the app collects. Both 8-ball and 9-ball have their own scoresheet format.
8-Ball Paper Scoresheet
The top section covers match administration. Fill in the date, session week, scheduled start time, actual start and end times, division, table size, and both teams' numbers and names. Each player row includes their name, skill level (S/L), matches played this session (MP), and membership number (PCode). A $ symbol on a player row indicates a membership amount due to the league office.
The main body of the scoresheet records innings and time-outs for each game. Each time a player's turn ends, make one tally mark in the Innings area for that game. An inning is not marked until the player who lost the initial lag misses or otherwise completes their turn. Mark a T in the game box whenever a player calls a time-out.
Special events use the same abbreviations as the app: Early 8 (E-8, also written 8OT or 8WP) and Scratch on 8 (8S). Mark them in the game block where they occurred.
Defensive shots are tracked in the DS column. Mark one per safety, at the time of the shot. At the end of the match, total all defensive shots and circle the number. If there were no defensive shots in the match, write No DS in the block — do not leave it blank.
Match points are determined using the chart in the upper right of the scoresheet. Record them in the Winner and Opponent columns. Update the Running Total box after each individual match completes.
9-Ball Paper Scoresheet
The 9-ball scoresheet uses a number line at the top of each game block. Mark each ball as it is pocketed by crossing it off the line. Balls 1 through 8 count as one point each; the 9-ball counts as two points. The skill level chart on the sheet shows how many points each skill level needs to win.
Dead balls are tracked separately in the Dead Balls area. Any ball not credited to either player goes there. Accounting for all nine balls on every rack prevents confusion over the running score.
9-on-the-break and break-and-run events are marked in the dedicated column on the right side of the scoresheet.
If a player reaches their skill level's maximum possible point total, record the maximum in the Total Points block, not the actual score. A SL5 player's ceiling is 38 points. If they reach 39 by pocketing the 9 on the break in the final game, record 38.
Defensive shots follow the same rule as 8-ball: mark one per safety, total and circle at the end of the match, and write No DS if none occurred.
Match points in 9-ball are determined by the loser's skill level. Use the Score of Match chart at the bottom of the scoresheet. Find the row for the loser's skill level, locate their point total across the columns, and record the match points shown for each player.
Update the Running Total box after each match, the same as in 8-ball.
Both teams keep their own paper scoresheet and submit independently. The two records do not need to match. Discrepancies between the two sheets are reviewed by the league operator, the same as with the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the APA Scorekeeper App free?
Yes. Both the APA Scorekeeper and the APA Pool League app are free on iOS and Android.
Do I need two apps to score APA matches?
Yes. The APA Pool League app is where you set up and manage your account. The APA Scorekeeper app is the live scoring tool. Scorekeeper uses the same login as your Pool League account, so you need that account established first.
Can I use the APA Scorekeeper App for 9-ball?
Yes, but the scoring screen works differently than 8-ball. In 9-ball you tap each ball as it's pocketed rather than using a Turn Over button. Tapping a ball twice marks it dead (it shows an X in the upper right corner); tapping three times reactivates it. Innings and defensive shots are tracked at the bottom of the screen. Points for each player are visible at the top in real time. The setup flow (match selection, coin flip, player selection, lag winner) is the same as 8-ball.
What if the app goes down during a match?
Allow a few minutes before switching to paper. If the app does not recover after 5 to 10 minutes of troubleshooting, continue the match on a paper scoresheet from where you left off. The league operator handles the reconciliation afterward. The APA recommends keeping a blank paper scoresheet in the case as a backup.
What is a defensive shot in APA scoring?
A safety play. When a player shoots with no intention of pocketing one of their own balls, that counts as a defensive shot. The shooter should call it before they take the shot. If they do not, the scorekeeper can still mark it based on what they observe. Record one per safety. Safeties do not count as innings on their own.
Can I practice using the app before league night?
Not in a real scheduled match. Scoring anything in a live match, even unintentionally, marks it as played. The app includes tutorial videos in the help section, accessible by tapping your initials in the circle at the top right of the Scorekeeper screen.
How do I edit my roster in Scorekeeper?
From the matches screen, scroll down below your team name and tap Edit Roster. An informational screen comes up first -- tap Agree to continue. To remove a player, tap the red circle with the minus sign next to their name. To add a player, tap the plus sign next to Add Player, type their name, and confirm when they appear. Tap Done when finished. Players must be on the roster before they can be assigned to a match in the app.
What if a player is not showing up in the roster search?
Three things can cause this: the player has not yet joined at join.poolplayers.com, their membership is unpaid, or the APA has an incorrect or missing email address on file for them. Any of those blocks them from appearing in the app. Their match may need to be scored on paper.
Do both teams need to use the app, or just one?
Both teams score their own side and submit separately. The two scoresheets do not need to match. Differences between them are reviewed by the league operator. This is intentional and helps catch scoring errors from either side.
I assigned the wrong player or lag winner. What do I do?
If you've already started scoring the match, you'll need to reset it. Slide the scoring screen down from the blue bar at the top to return to the scoreboard, then slide that match to the left and tap Reset. The app asks you to type the word "reset" to confirm. Once cleared, the match reappears as a yellow match and you can reassign the correct players and restart. If you haven't started scoring yet, simply go back and correct the selection before tapping the blue button.
Can I rate my opponent's sportsmanship in the app?
Yes. After all matches are scored and before you submit, the app gives you a sportsmanship rating screen. One star is the lowest score, five stars is the highest. There's also a comments field for your league office with a yes/no checkbox to indicate whether you want the comment sent.
How do I forfeit an individual player match?
Tap the three dots at the top of the scoring screen during that match and select Match Forfeit. The forfeiting player is recorded as the loser and the opponent wins automatically.
Can a match be scored across multiple nights?
Yes. The app supports partial match scoring for situations where a match needs to continue on a different day. Submit the partial score at the end of the first night and pick it back up at the next session.
You've got the scoring handled. Now make sure your lineup is locked in. Lineup Magic calculates every valid lineup combination for your roster, applies the 23-Rule skill cap automatically, and shows you your strongest legal five before match night.
🎱 Make the Call with ConfidenceLineup Magic is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by the American Poolplayers Association (APA) or any pool league organization. Procedural information on this page is drawn from official APA tutorial materials and reorganized into written reference format.