Questions, mostly from refs.
If your question isn't here, email [email protected] — I read everything.
Getting started
Do I need an Apple Watch?
No — Center Ref ships with an iPhone-only mode that runs the same match clock, period structure, and stoppage. If you do have an Apple Watch, the watch becomes your on-field interface (less to hold, haptic transitions) and the iPhone moves to pre-match setup and post-match review. Watch requires watchOS 11+; iPhone requires iOS 18+.
Do I need a phone signal during the match?
No. Center Ref makes zero network calls during a match. Storage is local SwiftData on each device. The watch (or iPhone, in standalone mode) is the sole source of truth on the field; sync between watch and phone happens before (config push) and after (event log push) using WatchConnectivity, which queues and delivers when devices are reachable.
Do I have to use the iPhone app?
If you have an Apple Watch, no — the watch app stands alone for setup and the match itself. If you don't have a watch, the iPhone runs the whole show. Either or both works.
On the field
What happens if I background the watch app mid-match?
The clock keeps correct time. Center Ref uses Date-based timing, not a Timer counter — elapsed seconds are computed as matchElapsedSeconds + (now − matchStartTime). If the watch sleeps or the app backgrounds, the clock catches up to the correct time the moment the app foregrounds. Pause freezes elapsed seconds into the model and clears the start time.
How do I log a goal?
Tap the home or away score column on the active match screen. That opens the event sheet pre-scoped to that team. Tap GOAL, then enter scorer's jersey number on the keypad. There's no separate "+" button — the score column is the tap target. Same flow for yellow/red cards and substitutions.
How does stoppage time work?
Tap STOPPAGE during regulation to start tracking. A yellow chip ticks up showing accumulated stoppage. When the period clock crosses regulation, the watch auto-arms a countdown using exactly the time you tracked. Past zero, the chip keeps counting as advisory and the watch fires a notify haptic — you still call the final whistle, the chip is informational.
What are the haptic patterns?
Score logged: one quick tap. Quarter break: two short taps. Half time: three sharp taps. Final whistle: four sharp taps. Stoppage started: one strong tap. Added time expired: two advisory taps.
The intent is that you can identify any transition by feel without looking at the watch.
Leagues & rules
Which leagues are supported?
AYSO U6–U19 with full preset coverage (period count, period length, field size, offside rule, no-heading flag, mid-half quarter break, 50% min-play). Club Rec U6–U19 with the same field formats but no min-play tracking and no quarter breaks. Custom for high-school, adult, or anything else — pick periods × duration × field size.
Does it track playing-time compliance?
Yes for AYSO matches, post-match. The Min-Play Tracker walks lineup-change and substitution events to compute on-field minutes per player and classifies each as safe / at-risk / impossible against the 50% threshold. The watch deliberately does not surface a live at-risk indicator on the field — the iPhone match-detail view shows the playing-time section after the match. Live at-risk UI may land later in iOS AR (assistant referee) mode.
Can I customize period length?
Yes. Division presets give you sane defaults; advanced setup lets you override period count and duration without changing the rest of the profile.
Privacy & data
Where is my match data stored?
Locally on your watch and your iPhone, in SwiftData. Center Ref does not use CloudKit, does not sync to any server, and does not have user accounts. Your match history doesn't leave your devices unless you choose to share or export it.
Does Center Ref collect analytics?
No third-party analytics, no tracking, no ads. See the privacy policy for the full picture.