NorCal App

Club Admin FAQs

Is using the app mandatory, or can clubs/teams opt out?

For NorCal Premier competitions, the app is replacing paper game cards and paper passes as the required way to record scores and manage match-day check-in — it is not optional for those competitions. Individual features within it (live reporting by a team reporter, posting a lineup, tracking yellow cards) are encouraged but not mandatory. It is not being used for SuperRec this season, and it has no bearing on tournaments, which set their own policies independent of NorCal.

Does this apply to SuperRec, and what about other leagues/tournaments?

Not this year for SuperRec league play generally — most SuperRec leagues use a simplified Excel-based pass upload rather than full GotSport passes and roster building, so the data integration doesn’t yet support it; NorCal may pilot it in one or two SuperRec areas. NorCal Playdates, however, are already using the app. The app has no jurisdiction over independent tournaments (e.g., outside showcases) — those set their own pass/credential policies regardless of NorCal’s system.

Can we livestream with our existing camera (Trace, Veo, etc.)?

Livestreaming works with Veo and Speedio, plus streaming directly from a phone — all at no extra cost, since the entire app is free for all NorCal clubs, teams, and participants.

Does referee assigning change at all with this app?

No — assigning still happens exactly the way it does today through your existing assigning platform. If your assigning is done in GotSport, assigned referees will already be attached to the match in the app automatically; if you use a separate assigning platform, referees will need to scan the match QR code themselves to be logged in, since there’s no manual upload path into the app for a referee crew.

Where can we get training resources to share with our coaches, managers, and referees?

The NorCal App section of the NorCal Website, which will include separate resource pages for referees, team admins, coaches/managers, and players. Club leadership will also receive ready-to-forward, cut-and-paste communications and step-by-step guides (in English and Spanish where noted) to distribute directly to referees, coaches, and managers — no need to write your own materials.

Does the NorCal app apply to ECNL Regional League or Athlete One?

No — ECNL-RL stays on Athlete One, which is a separate, unrelated platform. The NorCal app is built for NorCal Premier competitions only.

Why is NorCal building this app, and what’s the overall goal?

The main drivers are: full integration with GotSport (a single login, roles and permissions carrying over automatically); more secure, real-time enforcement of suspensions (a suspended player or coach’s digital pass is disabled the moment a red card is entered); a much faster reporting workflow that replaces the old red-card form and paper game cards; and a built-in media/highlight platform plus a free sponsorship marketplace for clubs and teams. It has been in development for about a year and was piloted at State Cup Finals and NorCal Playdates before this rollout.

Will club leadership/directors be notified of red cards, ejections, or other major incidents?

NorCal is building out a clearer way to surface red-card outcomes and suspension length to clubs — likely a notification through the app or GotSport, or a public page/email — since this information is currently hard to see in GotSport today. This is an area of active development rather than a finished feature at launch.

Is there an API for pulling roster or match data programmatically (e.g., to feed RefSix)?

Not at this time. The app doesn’t currently expose its own public API for exporting data such as rosters.

Team Admin/ Coach FAQ

Do coaches need to be on the team roster?

While not currently required, it is best practice and STRONGLY RECOMMENDED — as long as a coach holds a valid coaching pass matching the club they’re coaching for, they may coach even if they aren’t listed on the roster.

Is a team “game reporter” required, and who can be one?

No — having a reporter log goals and cards live during the match is strongly encouraged but not mandatory. If no one reports it live, the home team will simply enter the full game report themselves afterward (score, cards) rather than reviewing and correcting pre-entered data. The reporter role must be explicitly granted by a team administrator (coach or manager) in the app— any parent can be assigned this access for a game, a season, or a set period, but they can’t just start reporting on their own.

How does setting the game-day roster and lineup work, and can it be done in advance?

A manager or coach selects players from their team roster to build a game-day roster for each match — this is required because it generates the digital player-ID cards referees check at the field. You can build all of a season’s rosters in advance as soon as the schedule is posted (and hold them unpublished until game day), but there’s no one-click way to automatically clone last week’s roster. Setting a lineup (starting 11 and formation) is encouraged but not required.

How do in-app chats and game-change communications work with GotSport?

Fully integrated both ways — a chat message sent in the app appears in GotSport, and vice versa. It’s essentially a faster, push-notification-based mobile front end for the same GotSport messaging and game-change-request system you use today, not a separate tool.

How do club pass players get added for a game?

The same way as in previous seasons — club pass players must first be added to the event roster in GotSport by the club/team admin (INSTRUCTIONS). Once added there, they become available to select onto that team’s game-day roster inside the app. You cannot add a club pass player directly inside the app itself.

What if there’s no cell signal or the app isn’t working at a field — can we still use paper backups?

Printed game cards are being phased out and won’t be needed going forward, but as a practical backup, take screenshots of your team’s player passes ahead of time. As long as both teams have a credentialed adult present and every player can show some proof of a valid pass — digital, a screenshot, or a photo — the match should be played, under protest if necessary, with a match report submitted afterward for NorCal to review.

How will suspensions (for players or coaches) show up, and who verifies they were served?

A suspended player or coach’s digital pass is automatically disabled for as long as the suspension applies, and their name shows greyed out on the roster with a note that they are suspended — there’s no separate sign-off form to track this, and no manual referee verification step; it’s enforced automatically as soon as suspended games are entered into the system.

What happens if a team doesn’t do any in-app reporting during the match?

Nothing is lost — if no reporter enters events live, the home team can fill in the post-game report themselves (goals, cards, final score) or just enter the final score, rather than reviewing pre-entered data. Live reporting is encouraged mainly because it saves the post game reporter time and gives your team’s followers real-time updates.

How are forfeits logged?

The same way as today: don’t enter any score for a forfeited game. Submit a NorCal Match Report, and NorCal confirms the forfeit and enters it on the back end.

Do we still need a coach’s signature or sign-off to confirm the final score?

No — there’s no game card to sign anymore, but each team will be presented with the Referee Match Report, which is the referee’s notes on the important moments of the game (goals, discipline). The score becomes official once the home team submits the final score along with a picture of the Referee Match Report. If a score is wrong, it’s corrected through NorCal (typically verified with the referee and both coaches) rather than through a signature process.

Referee FAQs

How do red cards and suspensions work now?

Red cards are reported directly in the app’s post-game report by the referee — no more filling out a separate GotSport red-card form. Select the offense category, which determines the suspension range, then add a description; the PAD/discipline committee uses that description to set the exact length. Once entered, the suspended player or coach’s digital pass is automatically disabled for the length of the suspension — no sign-off forms or manual verification needed. Referees still separately file a NorCal Referee Match Report only for things outside red cards: match abandonment, spectator issues, discriminatory conduct, serious injury, or other incidents NorCal should know about.

What if a player arrives late or is checked in as absent but shows up at halftime?

The eligibility rules are unchanged — a late-arriving player can enter the match as long have a valid player pass. You don’t need your own phone for this: the coach or manager can show you the player’s pass on their device to check them in, even mid-half. A player initially marked absent can be updated later if they show up.

What happens if a referee doesn’t have a smartphone, or their phone dies/goes missing?

Any player or coach check-in can be done on the coach’s or manager’s phone by the referee instead of the referee’s own device. There is no requirement for a referee to carry a personal smartphone during the match, nor should they.

What’s the post-game reporting workflow, and can it be done later that night?

Following the match, the referee presents their match report to both teams so they can take a photo. This report is where the referee records all important match information during the game including goals and any discipline. If there are no red cards issued, then the referee’s job is done, as the home team will report the score. If there is a red card in a match then the referee, can open the game from your app feed (or the emailed web link) and go to post-game event reporting. If a team reporter already logged cards during the match, review and correct that information; if not, enter any cards yourself. The only mandatory post-game reporting for referees is entering any red cards. This can absolutely be completed later that evening rather than immediately after the whistle; referees are encouraged to install the app on their phone vs. the web version so completed games stay in their feed for later editing.

Do all three officials (center and both ARs) need to scan the QR code and do this?

No — this is optional and flexible. It can be done by one official, two, or none at all if nobody has a smartphone available (in which case a coach or manager’s phone can be used). Any official who scans gets access to check-in and reporting for that match and will receive an email link to go back and edit it later.

Does the app integrate with RefSix, Assignr, or referee smartwatches?

Not at this time. There’s no current integration with RefSix or other assigning platforms like Assignr, and no dedicated smartwatch app yet, though an Apple Watch version is in development and not ready for this launch. Referee assigning itself still happens entirely through your existing assigning process — the app doesn’t touch that.

Do referees need to keep their phone on them during the match?

No, in fact they shouldn’t. Referees only need the app (or a coach/manager’s phone) at check-in and again after the match to finalize any cards. There is no requirement to hold or check a phone during play — center referees should track goals and cards on paper as they always have and provide that report to both teams after the match.

How does check-in and reporting work if the field has poor or no cell signal?

If connectivity is a known issue at a venue, teams should keep a backup — a screenshot or printed copy of player passes works as verification. Play the match using whatever proof of a valid pass is available, note that the game is under protest if the digital check couldn’t be completed, the referee should  submit a Referee Match Report. NorCal is working on offline access to player passes for a future release, but it isn’t available yet.

How does the QR code check-in actually work?

The coach or manager displays a QR code from their app; the referee scans it, which assigns that referee to the match within the app. If the referee already has the app and is logged in, scanning takes them straight to the match details. If they don’t have the app, scanning opens a simple web page asking only for name and email before giving access to the digital passes — no GotSport account is required to do this, and it doesn’t create one. All three officials (center and both ARs) can scan the same code if each wants to check in a team or file information themselves; it’s fine if only one person handles it.

What if the referee (or a player) is a minor — are there special concerns?

Liability considerations are unchanged from today’s process. NorCal considers the in-app environment safer than open social media, since content is AI-moderated and user-controlled. Minor referees use the same QR-code check-in and reporting flow as any other referee, including using a coach or manager’s phone if needed. No referee information is shared publicly through the app. The “assignments” are only visible to NorCal on the back end.

How are jersey numbers corrected during check-in?

Jersey number corrections are made on the roster screen, not during Digital ID Check itself. A referee (or the team’s manager/coach) opens the team roster, selects the player, and updates their number — about three taps. This then updates the player’s number in the player cards.Ideally the manager fixes this before the game as part of setting the game-day roster.

Will the app be available in Spanish for Spanish-speaking referees?

Not at launch, but will be available by the end of August. This is on the development roadmap, and NorCal knows it’s needed, but there’s no confirmed timeline yet. Referee training materials will be provided in both English and Spanish, however.

Why doesn’t the referee’s name appear in the game report or game facts?

This is intentional, to protect referee identity — especially for youth officials — from public view. NorCal still knows exactly who was assigned to every match (since scanning the QR code logs that), so referees can always be followed up with directly if there’s a question or dispute.

Does the app track yellow cards?

Yellow cards can be logged and will show in the game feed, but NorCal does not currently require yellow card tracking — it’s optional, not mandatory.

Can I provide feedback in the app?

Yes — NorCal will be building post game forms to solicit feedback from all match participants, including feedback on referee performance, sideline behavior, as well as coach and team behavior. This information will be shared with clubs in aggregate toward the end of the season.

How do I record an own goal?

When logging a goal, there’s a goal-type option where you can select “own goal” instead of entering a scorer for the attacking team.

Should the center referee still keep personal notes during the match?

Yes. The referee remains the authoritative witness on the field, so keeping your own notes (goals, cards, times) protects you if a team’s in-app reporting differs from what actually happened — the referee’s report is what governs and overrides any discrepancy. Referees as well as home and away teams should take a photo of the Referee Match Report for their records.

Does this apply to SuperRec, and what about other leagues/tournaments?

Not this year for SuperRec league play generally — most SuperRec leagues use a simplified Excel-based pass upload rather than full GotSport passes and roster building, so the data integration doesn’t yet support it; NorCal may pilot it in one or two SuperRec areas. NorCal Playdates, however, are already using the app. The app has no jurisdiction over independent tournaments (e.g., outside showcases) — those set their own pass/credential policies regardless of NorCal’s system.

How do I add coaches who are not on the roster?

As outlined in the NorCal handbook, teams are strongly encouraged to add all credentialed adults who are going to be in the technical area to the game day roster. However, it is not required as long as each credentialed adult has a valid US Club Soccer pass. If coaches are not on the roster, take a note of their name in your match notes.

How do we get and record agreement from both teams that a relative is one of the officials on the match?

This is done verbally with each coach individually. If there is not agreement from both coaches, then the match should proceed without that official, with a different licensed official if available or a club linesman. Agreement should be noted on the written referee report.