Slam-In - The Academic Competition Scoreboard System

Slam-In Online Help

It is our goal to produce a system that is so easy to use that you don't need a detailed user's manual. However, we understand that you may need help configuring or setting up Slam-In the first time you use it. For those of you who actually read user's manuals - and we know that there are very few of you who do - we have written a detailed online HTML Help system for you.

Standard Formats

Refer to our Formats page to review the rules for standard academic competition formats. If we have partnered with a local expert in your area, we have links to PDF "cheat sheets" that give you all you need to know about Slam-In to play your match according to your rules. Don't see a "cheat sheet" for your format? Call or write to us, and we'll create one for you.

"Keys" to Slam-In Success

You may operate the Slam-In Scoreboard software in Play Mode using either a host remote control, your mouse, or the keyboard. From a single host/moderator standpoint, a host remote control is easiest since it frees you to move around the room while leading the game.

The second easiest way to operate the Slam-In Scoreboard software, in our opinion, is to use its built-in keyboard shortcuts. You might want to put stickers on these keys for easy reference:

• Play Question/Start Timer = Spacebar
• Right Answer = B key
• Wrong Answer = Backspace
• Time Out = W key

Operating the program with a mouse might be the most intuitive, especially for new users, but it takes longer than either a host remote or keyboard shortcuts, and it introduces the possibility of highlighting and/or clicking on something "on your way" across the screen that could cause you to have to stop the game and correct errors. Seeing the mouse cursor move about the screen is also distracting for an audience viewing the scoreboard during a match.

Operating Slam-In using keyboard shortcuts is much faster than using your mouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to our FAQ page for answers to frequently asked questions on all sorts of things, not just usage-related topics.

Downloading Slam-In

Make sure you have the most current version of Slam-In for your environment. There are currently 3 different versions of Slam-In 1.2:

Toss-Up & Single-Part Bonus Question Format (for Kentucky/KAAC competitions)                  Windows Macintosh

Lightning Round & Team Question Format (for Florida, OAAC, and Colorado competitions)     Windows Macintosh

Toss-Up & Multi-Part Bonus Format (for IHSA & IESA competitions)                                          Windows Macintosh

Early Ring-In Detection & Multi-Part Bonus Format (for NAQT & Brain Brawl competitions)      Windows Macintosh

Not from Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, or Colorado? Here's how you can tell which version to download:

• If you need to know if a team or player rings-in early (i.e., interrupts the reading of a question) OR if you play multi-part bonus questions, download the Early Ring-In Detection & Multi-Part Bonus Format.

• If you only play Toss-Up Questions OR if you play Team Questions in which all teams are given the same question(s) to answer at the same time, download the Lightning Round & Team Question Format.

• If you play a Toss-Up & Bonus Questions, but the Bonuses do NOT have multiple parts to score, download the Toss-Up & Single-Part Bonus Question Format.

Still not sure? Call or write to us, and we'll help you decide which Slam-In version is best for you.