Should I use pen or pencil, and how should I write entries?

Question

Accepted Answer

From the 2025-27 USA Volleyball Scoring Instructions:

When	Use
Before the first serve (headings, officials, team names, X's for serve/receive, lineups, start time)	Blue or black ink
During the set (checkmarks, point slashes, exit scores, substitutions, timeouts, sanctions, remarks)	Pencil or ink
After the last point (end time, circled exit scores, set results, T-bars, match winner, signatures)	Blue or black ink

National Scorers must use ink for everything.

Format rules

Use printed CAPITAL letters for everything except signatures.
Dates: MM/DD/YY (or MM-DD-YY) with leading zeros.
Times: 24-hour HH:MM (9:10 AM = 09:10, 1:15 PM = 13:15).
When an entry needs both scores (timeouts, substitutions, sanctions, remarks), write the score of the team causing the action first.
Fix mistakes immediately with correction tape, an eraser, or an X through the wrong entry.