We keep track manually be putting a row of H V H V... at the top of the scorebook before the game starts, and crossing off each time the arrow changes. We rarely have any problems.

HVHV
 

That would be a great suggestion for publishers of scorebooks! As long as the scorekeeper remembers!

Scorebooks already have a place for scorekeepers to keep track of next possession. Good scorekeepers will even record the time of the change.

Strokes
 

whistleone, how many strokes will you give an old man if we play a little Nassau?

Working a univeristy game and the coach from team A calls me over after a time-out to explain that the arrow was not switched to start the second half. I was responsible for watchig the scorer change it and he did, but this coach was insistant that it was not changed. To satisfy him I go and ask the scorer if he switched the arrow, to which he says yes. I even go further, because the coach can hear us, and ask if the next held ball will favor team A. He says YES.

I go back to the coach and say the next possesion will be yours and the arrow is pointing in your direction. He is so upset that he is not listening and just keeps repeating "it was not flip" over and over. I decide I have been at this long enough and say, it's right trust me and point at my partner to put the ball in play. It was like a coach complaining that the score was incorrect and he should have 54 points and when you look at the sheet and score clock they DO HAVE 54.

About 5 minutes later in the game I am C infront of his bench and he say's to me "I'm not crazy you know". I really wanted to respond but just nodded and keep on reffing.

Re: Strokes
 

Since I'm unfamiliar with the course "a little Nassau" and I'm guessing it's your home course, not very many ;)

I like to record the time, the color, and, if possible, a short description of why there was an AP situation. That way, when the coach starts kvetching about why he should have the arrow, you can tell him there was a lodged shot at 12:42 - or whatever happened.

Re: Strokes
 

"The first nun had a stroke.

"The second nun had a stroke.

"The third nun couldn't reach."

;)

Sheez, Mark, some of the scorekeepers I've had to deal with can barely push a button correctly, much less start writing anything, even as simple as H V H V. But then there aren't a lot of pre-law-at-GWU folks keeping score at 7th grade girls' games.

The answer to every arrow problem is to always check just as it should change. Then the only thing you have to remember is whether it is (a) correct, or (b) needs dealing with at the next dead ball. Once the habit is firmly established, you have zero arrow problems at any level. I'm saying this from a position of still working on the habit.