When the Setup Program starts, it will automatically check for the existence of Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 or higher. If this is not present, the installer will automatically install it. You may see some extra screens flash on your computer before the initial install screen comes up, but there are no actions required by you to install this. (The Microsoft .NET Framework is a free add-on to the Microsoft Windows environment, and may already be installed.)

Once Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 is installed, if necessary, you will see the following screen:

Click NEXT to proceed to installation:

Read the License agreement, then, if you accept, click on the I Agree button (Note: you must agree to the license agreement in order to install 4^th Down Football) and then choose NEXT.

Once you agree to the license agreement, you will be asked to enter your Name and Organization. Enter the appropriate information and click NEXT.

Select the Location to install to. We recommend leaving the default setting, but you may change this if you need to.

This screen confirms the installation, click NEXT to continue

Once Installation is complete, you will get this screen, click CLOSE to close the installation

The final screen you will receive will tell you that the Setup Succeeded. Once you receive this Screen, 4^th Down Football Scout is installed.

The installation of 4^th Down Football Scout installs the “Trial Version” of the software. With the trial version, you can run the program 12 times to “Try it before you buy it”. At any time during the trial version, by clicking the "Activate" button located on the Main Screen will allow you to end the trial version and buy the program. Doing so will stop the 12 use countdown and allow you unrestricted use of the Software. When activated, you will be prompted to enter the code you received with your CD (or in your Confirmation e-mail if you choose to download the software.) Please note that this code is Case Sensitive and must be entered exactly as given. Once this code is entered, it is not necessary to re-enter the code when reinstalling or upgrading on the same machine.

Introduction

4^th Down Football Scout was designed with these basis concepts that any football coach can appreciate:

Ø Easy to setup using your own unique terms

Ø Plenty of receivers and motion players to name and use.

Ø Quick play entry features that utilizes one screen that is mouse controlled (point and click)

Ø Formation setup and maintenance is done on the same screen used for play entry. No need to exit one screen to add a formation, and then come back to the play entry screen.

Ø Formation strength setting that can be set as a default by the user and manually changed if needed.

Ø Setting a motion player’s direction to the strength or to the weak side of a formation with strength on the right or left, and to the left or right in balanced formations. Easy to see if any motion shows a tendency.

Ø Thorough, easy to read and understand reports.

Formation Strength and Motion:

4^th Down Football Scout requires each formation used in the play data to have a "Formation Strength" either to the left, right or balanced (no strength or equal from left and right). The formation strength can easily be set in a default setting which automatically sets the strength when the formation is used or it can be manually set or changed at any time during play entry. The strength of each formation used is an important aspect of breaking down your opponent and is included throughout the reports. Determining formation strength differs from coach to coach. Personally, formation strength to me is always to the tight end. On double tight and no tight end formations, the players are counted on each side of the center of the formation. If the formation has more players on one side than the other, the strength is to that side. Formations having the same number on each side are balanced. If the strength of a formation on a particular team is considered on the same side as their "best tackle", then set the strength of the formation on that side. The formation strength determination is completely up to the user. By establishing the default setting when the formation is added and named, the process of play entry is quick and easy. This default setting can be changed at anytime or changed manually on the play entry screen simply by selecting another option.

Another critical data entry is the motion direction pertaining to formation strength. Motion direction on formations with strength left or right can either be "to strength", or "to weak". Motion direction on balanced formation can either be left or right with the "strength factor" not an option. Any motion used by an opponent is recorded with these aspects to show tendencies.

If any required entry is omitted when entering a play, you will see a pop-up screen telling you exactly the data that is missing when you attempt to progress to the next play, and the program will not continue until the data entry is complete. One data field that is not required on data entry is "Back/ Receiver #". If this field is left blank, "None" will appear on the scouting report under this category.

Normally, the more information you enter into the program, the more you will learn about the tendencies of your opponent. Entering quality data is paramount to a quality report. If any part of a play is missed during taping, instead of guessing at information and spoiling the report, it is better to skip that play and go onto the next.

The purpose of this booklet is to assist in setting up and understanding this program. It is recommended that you read the entire booklet as key information is contained therein that may save time and frustration later.

Chapter 2

Main Screen

Follow the installation instructions in Chapter 1 to install 4^th Down Football Scout on your hard drive. When complete, double click the 4^th Down Football Scout icon on your desktop and the "Main Screen" will load. The "Main Screen" is always the first to load when the program starts. From here, all of the applications listed below are launched.

Ø Maintain your opponents’ games on file

Ø Setup your terms

Ø Launch “Enter Data” screen (enter opponents plays)

Ø Launch the “Print Reports” screen

Ø Quit (shut down) the program

Setup

Find the "Setup Terms" categories on the right side of the "Main Screen" and enter the terms you wish to use. Make your lists as complete as possible to avoid missing terms needed during "Play Entry". If this is the case, exit "Play Entry" to the "Main Screen" and add to your list. Some of your terms are contained in "drop down" menus on the "Entry Screen" and new terms can be typed into the empty box and will be recorded, but not saved to your list. "Setup Terms" is always available for saving your terms from the “Main Screen”.

Ø Setup Hole Numbers- Use the default setting or type in one number of your choice in the appropriate boxes representing the gaps. The running plays will be listed on your reports as the first number to represent the runner and the second number to represent the hole. Example: 21-Dive would represent the "2" back (Fullback) running a dive in the "1" hole (left A gap).

Ø Setup Motion Names- There are nine boxes to name your "motion players" (maximum of three characters). On a play with motion, the motion player is represented as the character(s) you place in the box. When entering a running play on the "Entry Screen", the runner and the hole are represented as a set of numbers. The built-in back numbers are 1 through 9. An example of a running play with motion would read as: LS-R-Lon-21-Dive. In this example the LS (left slot) motioned R (right), the type of motion was Lon (long motion -three characters represent the type of motion), the runner was the 2 (FB), the hole was the 1 (left A gap) and the play was a dive.

Ø Setup Run Plays- Enter the running plays you want to use. The first 29 plays will be displayed in alphabetical order for quick selection on the screen and any plays entered thereafter will be available by a drop down box. Any time a drop down box is present you can type a new name in the box which will appear on your reports, but will not be recorded in your list. To update your list(s) go to the "Setup Terms" on the main screen.

Ø Setup Pass Action- Enter the quarterback action you want to use on a pass play. The first 8 actions are displayed as check boxes and any thereafter will be accessible in a drop down box. These "actions" will be arranged in alphabetical order. Any time a drop down box is present you can type a new name in the box which will appear on your reports, but will not be recorded in your list. To update your list(s) go to the "Setup Terms" on the main screen.

Ø Setup Receiver Terms- You have up to 12 different receivers to name (between 1 and 3 characters). These names will be displayed on the entry screen in the order that you put them.

Ø Setup Pass Routes- Enter the names of the pass routes you want to use. They are organized in alphabetical order and will be displayed in drop down boxes beside the receivers. Any time a drop down box is present you can type a new name in the box which will appear on your reports, but will not be recorded in your list. To update your list(s) go to the "Setup Terms" on the main screen.

Ø Add Team- Click to add a team to your "Team/Game Name" list. The name or abbreviation for the game(s) can't contain any special characters (!,@,#,$,%,^,&,*,(,),_,+,=,|,\,},],{,[,‘,”,;,:,/,?,.,>,,,<). If an incorrect file name is entered an error box will appear. After typing the name into the "Name Box", click "OK". Your teams will be kept in alphabetical order in your “Games” window. Your “Games” list is endless using a scroll bar when the area in the list box is full. When entering multiple games on an opponent, you may use one name and enter all of the games into one file, or separate the games onto different files and enter each game separately. On the "Print Reports" screen, these games can be viewed separately and then combined to view as one. When combining games to print as one, the team/game name will print each of the Games’ Names separated by an & symbol on your reports. It is recommended to keep the names as abbreviated as possible and to the put the current year after the team/game to prevent confusion from year to year.

Ø Delete Team- Click on a team/game in your "Game" list to highlight, click the "Delete Team" button to delete. A window will appear asking you to confirm the deletion. Click "OK" to delete. Once a team/game is deleted, all data entered on that game is deleted and this operation is irreversible.

Ø Enter Data- Highlight the team/game from your "Game" list and click the "Enter Data" button to start entering play data. If the file contains data, a pop-up will appear apprizing you of that fact and prompting you choose to continue or not. If you choose to continue, another pop-up will appear instructing you that the last play entered will be loaded and to click either "Next Play" to continue the same drive or "End Drive" to start a new drive.

Ø Print Reports- From the "Main Screen", click the "Print Reports" button. The "Reports" screen will appear. The reports will be discussed in detail in Chapter 4 of this pamphlet.

Ø Quit Button- Click this button to exit from 4^th Down Football Scout.

Chapter 3

Data Entry (Top Screen Entries)

Add the name of the team/game you want to scout on the "Game" list by following the directions on the "Add Team" setup instructions in Chapter 2. Click to highlight the "team/ game", and then click the "Enter Data" button. If there is no data on file (no plays recorded) on this team/game the "Data Entry" screen will appear. If there is data recorded on the team/game you choose to load, you will get two messages; the first to let you know that your selection has data contained in it and ask if you would like to proceed and the second informs you that the last play entered will be loaded and to choose the “Next” button to proceed with the drive or choose the “End Drive” button to end the drive. Data is always entered from the offensive viewpoint. In other words, choices such as formation name, hash and motion direction are as the offense faces, not the defense.

The run play and pass play entry fields are hidden until a “Play Type” has been selected. Also hidden are the motion player selections. This appears only after the “Left” or “Right” motion box is selected. Below is the entire "Enter Data" screen.

Ø Down and Distance Boxes- Starts at 1^st and 10 on the -20 (default setting) when starting data entry on a new drive. These counters can be changed manually at any time due to penalties or missed plays. It is recommended to view these boxes frequently to make sure they are set correctly.

Ø V. F. P. Box- V.F.P. stands for "vertical field position" and is the yard line where the ball is placed to start a play. Minus V.F.P. is on the offense’s side of the 50 and the plus (which is represented as a whole number with no plus sign) is on the defense’s side of the 50. The default setting is -20 (on their 20 with 80 yards to score) when a new drive is started. Manually change the V.F.P. by either using the scroll buttons or typing the number in the V.F.P. window before you start new drive. If done manually, make sure you type in the minus symbol on the offense’s side of the 50. If the ball is placed on the 50, no minus symbol is used. When a penalty occurs, make sure you change the counters to the appropriate settings.

Ø Hash Buttons- Select the appropriate hash where the ball is placed ready for play: left, middle or right as the offense faces.

Ø Last Play Button- The "Last Play" button re-loads the last play entered on the screen. This feature was designed to take you back to a 3^rddown play (last play entered), if the "Next" button was mistakenly clicked instead of the "End Drive" button to end the drive. In this case, click the "Last Play" button then the "End Drive" button to reset the screen to start your next drive. You may also use this button to go back to a play where a mistake in data entry was made. IMPORTANT: If you use the Last Play button to go back more than one play, any plays skipped over will be lost, and need to be re-entered.

Ø Drive-Play-Total Boxes- These are counters that keeps track of the drive number, plays in the drive, and the total plays entered in the team file. These should not be changed.

Data Entry (Formations)

Ø Formation Screen- Add a new formation by clicking the appropriate circles manually on this screen. The center and guards are pre-loaded to start a new formation. The center's box can not be changed but the guards can be moved if needed. Illegal formations will not be accepted. You must have at least 7 on the line and exactly 11 on the grid. After a new formation is entered, click the save button (small button) to the right of the "Formation Name" box. The "Formation Strength Dialog" box appears. Name the formation and set the formation strength to the left, balanced, or to the right. This setting will be the default setting for the formation strength. Setting the formation strength now will save valuable entry time later by automatically setting the strength feature on the entry screen when that particular formation is retrieved. All formations must be named to be saved in your formations list. Formation names should be kept to a maximum of 18 characters and spaces long in order to fit properly in the space allotted on the reports for the formation name. Click "Save" to preserve the new formation grid, name and strength. The new formation will be kept in alphabetical order in your formations list. When the formations list window is full, a scroll bar will appear for an endless amount of space for additional formations. After saving, another "pop-up" appears stating that the formation was saved on your list. To retrieve a formation, click on the "Saved Formation" button and your list appears with your saved formations. Click the formation to be displayed and click "OK". Permanent changes to the name or the strength of a saved formation can be made at any time by bringing the formation onto the screen, clicking the save button to the right of the "Formation Name" box and following the previous directions. After play entry and the data has been recorded either by clicking the "Next" or "End Drive" button, the last formation entered will re-load on the formation screen for the next play. To delete any unwanted formations stored in your formations list, highlight the formation in the file, then click the "Delete" button. If a formation is erased from you file or altered and re-saved after it has been used in a game, the reports will not show the name of the changed formation on the reports. The reason for this is that 4^th Down Football Scout does not require you to name formation, so when a play is entered the program records the positions of the players and strength but not the name of the formation. When a report is run, the program looks in your formations list to see if it has a name for a given formation. If it does not, then it will display a blank wherever Formation Name would normally appear.

Ø During play entry, sometimes it is easier to manually change from one similar formation to another without going through your formations list. In doing so, it is important to click the appropriate circles to match the formation already stored in your formations list. If not, the program will not recognize the displayed formation and "Unknown" will appear in the "Formation Name" box and no name will be displayed on your reports for that formation. It is important to note that the program does not display the name of a manually entered saved formation in the "Formation Name" box until an entry is made outside of the formation entry screen. A good way to check to see if you have correctly matched a saved formation is to click inside of the formation name box. If your formation name doesn't appear, then it doesn't match the saved formation and unknown will appear.

Ø Saved Formation Button- Click to view the formations saved in your formations list for quick retrieval and loading during play entry. A scroll bar will appear when your formations list is longer than the box provided.

Ø Clear Button- Click to erase the current formation displayed on the formation grid. This feature is for a "quick erase" to start over when manually entering a new formation not saved instead of unclicking each unwanted player position.

Ø Formation Strength Button- These boxes show the strength of the formation displayed on the screen. To set the default strength setting for a given formation, read the "Formation Screen" instructions. Determining the strength of a formation is entirely up to the user and will be automatically displayed by setting the default strength setting. The formation strength can be manually set or changed at any time on the entry screen. Manually setting or changing the formation strength does not affect the default setting if one is set.

Data Entry (Motion)

Ø Motion Buttons- The "No Motion" box is checked as the default and the motion display options are hidden until either the "Left" or "Right" motion box is selected. When selected the motion options will appear. From the drop down menu select the type of motion or manually type a new term not contained on your list. This new term will appear on your scouting report, but will not be saved in your list until entered in the "Setup Terms" on the "Main Screen".

Ø Motion To: Button- Declare if the motion from a strong left or right formation is to the formation strength ("Strong"), or away from the formation strength ("Weak"). Since motion from a balance formation is neither to the strong or weak, the "Motion To" option is hidden from the entry screen leaving the direction and type as the only required data fields.

Ø T.E. Trade Box- Check this box if a team trades the tight end. This button can also be checked if a team shifts from one formation to another without moving the tight end. All of the trading and shifting will be recorded and shown on the "Tight End Trade" pages on the "Motion" reports.

Ø Motion Player Buttons- Click the back that motions.

Data Entry (Pass Play)

Ø Play Type (Pass) Button- By clicking the "Pass Play" button, your pass entry fields appear.

Ø Pass Action Selections- Click the appropriate box for the quarterback action on the pass play.

Ø Receiver Selection- Click the appropriate receiver box intended for the pass. Only one receiver can be selected.

Ø Route Drop Down- Find the pass routes by clicking on the scroll button, scroll down your "Routes List" and highlight. Your pass route will appear in the "route" box. If a route is not in your list, simply type the route into the blank "route" box window. The new term will appear on the scouting reports, but will not be saved in the route menu. To permanently a route, go to "Setup Terms" on the main screen

Ø Passing Results Selections- Click the appropriate box for the pass result. Clicking the "Sack" or "Scramble" button will disable data entry in the "Pass Zone" field, "Receiver" box, and "Route" box. These plays will be recorded as a pass attempt on the scouting reports, but no other data will be provided on the reports since this data isn't accepted.

Ø Passing Zones Buttons- Click the appropriate zone of the pass. Notice the depth of the zones on the left. LOS stands for the line of scrimmage. Only one zone can be selected per play entry.

Data Entry (Run Play)

Ø Play Type (Run) Button- By clicking the "Run Play" button, your run entry fields appear.

Ø Click the box beside the appropriate run play or type in a new run play name in the "drop down" menu box if provided. The new name will appear on the reports, but will not be saved in you run name list until added via the "Setup Terms" on the "Main Screen".

Ø Click the appropriate box for the ball carrier. The numbering system depends on whatever criteria the user wishes. Typically, the quarterback is always 1, fullback is 2, tailback is 3, etc. It is important keep your system simple and easily applied to any formation so you can make sense of it in your reports.

Ø Click the appropriate box for the running hole.

Data Entry (Bottom Screen Entries)

Ø Yards Box- Enter the play results either by typing in the yardage or using the scroll buttons. "0" is set as the default. If manually entering the yardage, lost yardage must have a - (minus) typed before the yardage.

Ø Back/ Receiver # Box- Type in the appropriate back or receiver jersey number. This is not a required field and if no number is entered, "None" will appear in the scouting report. The player's numbers are important for the "Back/Receiver Report" to be useful.

Ø TD Box- Click if a touch down was the result of the play. The program will calculate the correct yardage in the "Yards" box.

Ø Fumble Box- Click if a fumble occurred during the play. When checked, the "Turnover" box appears. Click if the play resulted in a turnover.

Ø Next Button- Click to save the play data entered on the screen and continue with the drive. If you mistakenly click the "Next" button after a 3^rd down play which ended a drive, the next screen displayed will be 4^th down. To correct, click the "Last Play" button at the top of screen to bring up the last play entered, and then click the "End Drive" button. No data is lost and the program is ready for the next drive to start. After a Turnover, Touchdown, or 4^th down play that results in fewer than the yards needed for a 1^st down, the program will automatically end the drive, and the Next Button and End Drive button will do the same thing.

Ø End Drive Button- Click to end a drive and to start the next drive. If you mistakenly click this button when you wanted to continue the drive, click the "Last Play" button at the top of the screen to bring up the last play entered, then click the "Next" button to continue the current drive. After a Turnover, Touchdown, or 4^th down play that results in fewer than the yards needed for a 1^st down, the program will automatically end the drive, and the Next Button and End Drive button will do the same thing.

Ø Exit Button- Click to exit the "Play Entry" screen to return to the "Main Screen". IMPORTANT: The data on the screen when the Exit Button is pressed is not recorded. When finished with play entry, click the "End Drive" button first, then the "Exit" button. This is so that the “Play Verification” scripts will not run, forcing a valid play entry before exiting the program.

Ø Reset Screen Button- Click to clear the entire data entered on the screen. This option does not change down and distance, V.F.P., drive, or play counters.

Chapter 4

Football Reports

To preview or print your reports, select the team/game from your "Team Name" list by double clicking the box beside your choice. Make sure the box to the left of the team/game selected contains a check mark. Two or more games can be combined into one report by double clicking more than one game from your list. To preview a report, click the report, then the "View Selected" button and the report will load onto the screen. To preview all of the reports, click the "Select All" button then the "View Selected" button. In the preview mode, to view all of the pages of each individual report use the scroll button in the upper right corner of the window. IMPORTANT: You can not print reports in the preview mode. You must first exit the preview mode, click the report(s) you want to print, or click the "Select All" button, and then click the "Print Selected" button. To return to the "Main Screen", click the "Exit" button.

Ø Formations- draws all of the formations entered in the order from most used to the least. Each formation displays the total number of plays from the formation, total number of runs and passes from the formation with percentages of each.

Ø Play Summary- displays each type of run and pass used with the play results and summarizes these into general run/pass categories.

Ø Play List- lists the plays in the order that you entered them. Displays play #, drive #, play in drive #, d/d, hash, formation and strength, tight end trade, motion player, motion direction, motion type, the play and the results. If two or more game files are combined in the report, the play lists will be listed one after the other on the same report.

Ø Big Plays- lists all of the plays from the play list that gained 15 yards or more.

Ø Back/ Receiver Tendency- lists the backs by position, # of carries, total yards gained and play average. Lists the receivers by position, # of passes thrown, catches made, completion percentage, yards gained, and the average of yards per catch. This report is more useful if back and receiver numbers are entered during play entry.

Ø Game Summary- summarizes run/ pass play percentages, down and distance statistics, general running/ passing direction tendencies, running/ passing direction tendencies from strong right/ left, and balanced formations, motion tendencies, and totals run/ pass area tendencies with percentages. Runs to the left or right refer to plays from "B" gap (between the guard and tackle) outward. Runs in the center gaps refer to plays from "A" gap to "A" gap (between the guards and center). Passes to the left or right refer to the passes in the outside zones (deep thirds, deep outs, flats, curls and left/right screens). Passes to the middle refer to the passes in the middle zones (mid third, hook, and middle screen).

Ø Hash Tendency- breaks down the field into three areas: "coming out", "midfield", and "going in", and shows the run/ pass tendencies with direction from formation strength and motion direction categories. These categories are: strong left or right formations with no motion (StrLtNM) and (StrRtNM). Strong left or right formations with motion to strong (StrLtMTS) and (StrRtMTS). Strong left or right formations with motion to the weak (StrLtMTW) and (StrRtMTW). Balanced formation with no motion (BalNM). Balanced formations with motion on the left or right (BalMLT) and (BalMRT). At the end of each V.F.P. zone, a total column adds each hash with respect to the direction of the plays. On the last page of the report all of the V.F.P. summaries are repeated to compare and contrast. Lastly, all of the zones are totaled into one column for a play direction/ field position tendency. Scrambles and sacks are not recorded into the hash tendency report.

Ø Down and Distance- breaks down the four downs into long, medium and short categories with the formations and plays in each with the general run/ pass percentages.

Ø Motion Tendency- separates all of the plays into "no motion", "tight end trade", and "motion types" into separate reports. Each report is broken down into three areas of strength of formation, or motion direction concerning formation strength with a list of the plays used in each.

Ø Formation Tendency- draws each formation from most frequently used to the least and gives a more concentrated report on the passing areas, running holes, backs and receivers with a list of running/ passing plays used in each. Also contain on this report is a chart showing the formation down and distant tendency.