If you're like me, you spend A LOT of time preparing for a broadcast. In football, nothing takes more time than creating your spotting board (also called spotting charts, flip charts, radio boards, tv boards or depth charts). "Old School" announcers still like to write out their boards. Me, I figure if I'm using a highly technical electronic device to get the audio back to the station...why would I use pen and paper to WRITE a spotting board?

I first started working with a computerized spotting board about 2000. Now, I use a web-based, mysql database driven, spotting board. What is mysql? Imagine a web server-based Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Here's a sample of what the layout looks like.

Click on the image for the full sample.

What that means for you is that you can copy-and-paste the roster from the schools website and put that into the database...fill in a few numbers online...and you have a spotting board (complete with stats) in about 15 minutes!

The best thing, all font sizes and colors are customizable...and you don't need to know ANYTHING about mysql in order to use this system!

At playbyplayspottingboards.com, we will do all the technical stuff for you. We will "host" your pages on our server...and give you access to the database so that you can be "up and running" in less than a half an hour.

Plus, we'll be able to answer any questions you may have. We provide this service for just $65 a year (that's less than $5 per game)!

There are other methods of doing spotting boards on the computer...some that even import the stats for you. Of course, they don't work with small colleges or high schools...only the BIG TIME jobs...and they cost upwards of $400 per season! Of course, if you had a BIG TIME job, you wouldn't have to read the birthdays in the morning, do a remote at the local hardware store at noon...and STILL GET TO A GAME AT 7PM that night!

If you are doing high school or small college football play-by-play, this is for you!

If you have any questions, email us at
info---at---playbyplayspottingboards.com

It's all pretty easy for the end user, actually. Our system allows you to copy-and-paste a roster and stats from Statcrew (for colleges) and MaxPreps or ANY other online roster and stats, and upload it to our database. Then you need to edit one html file (the file with the jersey numbers of the 2-deep roster).

Don't worry, it VERY easy and we will walk you through it until you are feeling comfortable. You don't even have to purchase any software to edit the numbers file. That's all done online.

Once your database and "numbers" file are complete, you can print your spotting boards. That's it!

Since this howto video was produced, we've changed the "numbers" file to now use player names. This eliminates the duplicate number problem.

ABSOLUTELY! We have moved to a subscription model, which also offers a five day TRIAL before your credit card or bank is charged. Sign up, give it a try...find it's not for you? Cancel your subscription with Paypal, and you will NOT be charged. But, we don't think that will happen! WHen you realize how many hours our system will save you each week, just keep using it, and Paypal will take care of the rest. Also, you never need to worry about your account running out in the middle of the season. With a self-renewing subscription, your boards will ALWAYS be ready for you.

Also, we have just implamented a referal program. At playbyplayspottingboards.com, we're happy to announce a new program to give you money back on your purchase. Once you become a customer of ours, we'll send you $10 for every customer you refer to us. Refer more than six new customers to us, and we will pay you more than you paid us for your account!

How does it work? If you refer us a new customer, just make sure that they mention your name after they sign up for our service. Once they stay past the five day "free trial" period, we send you $10 via Paypal!

Let us know if you have any questions. Also, contact us for "group" pricing (your station has multiple play-by-play announcers covering numerous games each week)...we'll work out a deal on a case-by-case basis.