A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to display the score. When a point was made, a person would put the appropriate digits on a hook. Most modern scoreboards use electromechanical or electronic means of displaying the score. In these, digits are often composed of large dot-matrix or seven-segment displays made of incandescent bulbs, LEDs, or electromechanical flip segments. An official or neutral person will operate the scoreboard, by a control panel.

The most popular scoreboard maker in the US is Daktronics.

=Scoreboards in various sports=

American Football

---

In American football, the minimum that is usually displayed is the time and score of both teams. A typical high school scoreboard will additionally display the down, the yardage of the line of scrimmage, the yards to go until a first down, the team with the possession and the quarter. Higher levels will also include play clocks and the number of time outs left for each team. Football scoreboards may include a horn to signal the end of a quarter.

Basketball

---

A basketball scoreboard will at the minimum display the time left in the period and both team's scores. Most high school scoreboards also include a display of the number of team fouls, the number of the last player to commit a personal foul (with the total number of personal fouls for that player), the period, and indicators of which team has a bonus and possession. College basketball scoreboards include shot clocks and the number of time outs left for each team. Larger scoreboards include statistics on the players in the game. Basketball scoreboards almost always have a horn or buzzer to signal the end of a period.

Baseball

---

For baseball the scoreboard will at the minimum show both team scores. In addition the number of balls, strikes and outs and the number of hit and errors are indicated. Larger scoreboards offer an inning-by-inning breakdown of the scores and the time of day.

Ice Hockey

---

A hockey scoreboard will at the minimum display the time left (in North America) or played (in Europe), the number of goals scored by each team as well as any penalties currently being served. Additional information such as shots on goal may be shown on smaller scoreboards located in the arena.

Track and field

---

In track and field there is usually an elapsed time display. Sometimes the team scores are displayed. Often in higher levels there is a variable message display next to each field event area that displays the standings and who is up next. Other indicators may show track side wind speed.

Soccer

---

A soccer scoreboard usually shows the score for the home and away team, as well as the current match time. A board displaying the current stoppage time is usually held up by one of the match officials towards the end of the first and second half.

Wrestling

---

Wrestling scoreboards will display the team scores, the current match time, the match score, and the weight class.