Volleyball Referee Timer

For Apple Watch

Version 2.4.2, build 132

Languages:


English
Deutsch
Español
Nederlands
Português

Organizations:


Volleyball Referee Timer for Apple Watch aids volleyball referees in timing 3+ things: warmups, timeouts, and the interval between sets. Since different rulesets and organizations use variations of these, Volleyball Referee Timer lets you choose the ruleset/organization and lets you customize your timers for matches that you are refereeing. To ensure you never miss anything important, Volleyball Referee Timer will beep (unless silenced) and vibrate to alert you to upcoming actions and display a description of those actions on the screen (such as blowing a whistle or horn).
If you have an Apple Watch and would like to add an organization that isn't covered in the list above, please contact timer@vbref.website. I will be happy to work with you to gather all the necessary information to implement new organizations. Please note that the timing of any new release that includes a new organization will be dependent on Apple's app release schedule (so don't expect miracles!).

Purchasing the Volleyball Referee Timer app:

On your iPhoneOn your Apple Watch
  1. Follow this link to the App Store or search for "Volleyball Referee Timer" in the App Store app on your iPhone.
  2. Purchase the app.
  3. After purchasing Volleyball Referee Timer on your iPhone, launch the Watch app on your iPhone, scroll until you find VBRefTimer on the list of available apps, and click the Install button (if it isn't already installed).
  1. Search for "Volleyball Referee Timer" in the App Store app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Purchase the app.
  3. After purchasing Volleyball Referee Timer on your Apple Watch, launch it via the icon on the home screen.
NOTE: Volleyball Referee Timer requires watchOS 6 or later.
NOTE: the Volleyball Referee Timer app runs stand-alone on your Apple Watch and does not need a connection to your iPhone.
Refer to the Tips and tricks section below for other useful settings.

NEW: Tutorials to help you get the most out of Volleyball Referee Timer!
(English only for now)

Instructions for using the Volleyball Referee Timer app:

The first screen offers a list of Organizations (see below). Scroll to the one you want, and press it. At the bottom of the list is a Configure button. This will take you to the entire list of Organizations and allow you to include or exclude them from your list on the first screen.

Below the Configure button, there is a Preferences button. This will allow you to change the style of the Timeout buttons, change the layout of the Timers screen, and add an image to the Warmup button.

Check the list of supported organizations above. If you don't find a timer that meets your specific needs, I can work with you too add it!

At the bottom of the screen is a "Tips and Tricks" button which shows various tips for making Volleyball Referee Timer work best for you.

Next, for timers that are customizable, you will be shown screens with the default timer. Use the Crown to adjust the timer. Once you have the desired time on the timer, press the Set button. Example: NCAA Women's timeouts can be 1:00, 1:15, or 1:30.

NOTE: if the icon is showing, tapping it will return you to the previous match. This is helpful if you accidentally returned here using the < button.

Here is the list of available timers:
  • Warmup will start the warmup, and allow you to choose team colors for the timeout buttons. Press and hold to change the style of the Timeout buttons, change the layout of the Timers screen, and add an image to the Warmup button.
  • Timeout will start a timeout for the team on your left or right. The number of timeouts that have been take by each team is at the bottom of the button (circles are filled in when timeouts are taken). When a team has taken both timeouts, their Timeout button will be disabled. To swap the teams, simply swipe left or right on one of the timeout buttons. Example: change of sides during a deciding set. NOTE: If you press and hold on the Timeout buttons for more than 1 second, it will change the style of the Timeout buttons.
  • Tap on the left or right of the Interval button to add a win for the corresponding team and start a timer for the time between sets. This will also reset the number of timeouts to zero for each team and swap sides for the timeout buttons as appropriate. If an Intermission is set up, the button name will change to Intermission for the appropriate set. Example: NCAA Women's interval might be extended between sets 2 and 3.
  • The button at the bottom of the screen will display additional timers if they are available:
    • Injury Evaluation.
    • Injury Timeout.
    • Technical Timeout.
    • Media Timeout.
    • will display exceptional substitution information.
  • The button at the bottom left, if it is showing, will allow undo of Timeouts, switching sides, Intervals, etc.
  • The / button at the bottom right will change the first server for the set.
The Timer screen is the meat-and-potatoes of the app. Based on the previously selected organization, settings, and timer, it will countdown as appropriate. The type of timer is displayed at the top. While counting down, it will also display descriptions and actions or what is happening or coming up.

While timing a Warmup, you can select each of the team colors (typically based on jersey color), by tapping on the left or right color selector and changing the color using the Crown. You can swap the selectors by swiping left or right. You can also set the team that serves first by tapping on the arrows to the side of the timer. If you forget your coin, tap the coin in the upper-right to do a coin toss. After the coin toss, tap to hide the coin. During the warmup timer, tapping on the timer (highlighted in blue) allows the user to set the timer to end at a specific time (Match Time). Tapping on the timer while it is highlighted in red, will return to the current timer.

NOTE: if the icon is showing, tapping it will return you to the previous match. This is helpful if you accidentally tapped the Warmup button.

NEW: Tap on the gray buttons labeled "Team name…" to enter each team name. This will bring up a list of previously entered names (for the current rule set). Use the Crown to scroll through the list.
  • Tap to choose the current name in the list.
  • Tap to clear the name.
  • Tap to add a new name; you can enter using:
    • A keyboard on your connected iPhone (best option). This works even in Airplane Mode.
    • A keyboard on the watch (watch size dependent).
    • Scribble.
    • The microphone.
  • Tap to delete the current name in the list.
  • Tips:
    • Keep the names short. Use abbreviations.
    • You can even include emojis!
    • Team names will not display if your Timeout buttons use icons.

For Intervals, the team colors and serving team for the upcoming set are shown to the sides of the timer. You can swap team sides by swiping, and change the next serving team using the / button at the bottom right. During the Interval, you can tap the win count with the arrow to change which team won the previous set. For odd-numbered sets, if you forget your coin, tap the coin in the upper-right to do a coin toss for a deciding set. After the coin toss, tap to hide the coin.

For Timeouts, the team color is used for the timer and the number of timeouts taken by each team are indicated on the left and right. If an arrow is showing on the narrow Timeout counter, you can tap there to change which team called the Timeout. The number of substitutions taken displays below the timer when appropriate. Tapping on either substitution counter will allow you to adjust that count of substitutions.

When the referee needs to perform an action such as blowing a whistle or horn, the app will beep (if not silenced) and vibrate, to help ensure you don't miss anything.

If needed, the timer can be paused using the Pause button. While paused, the time can be adjusted using the Crown. To make it easier to resume a paused timer, you can now tap on any part of the screen below the timer.

Five seconds after the timer reaches zero, it will automatically return to the Timers screen.

NOTE: If you press and hold on the Timeout buttons for more than 1 second, it will change the style of the Timeout buttons.

NOTE: Volleyball Referee Timer allows you to track the number of substitutions used by each team. Some rulesets have no substitutions or unlimited substitutions. In these cases, noi substitution buttons are shown. When they are shown, you can:

  • Tap the substitution button to add 1 to the counter.
    • A green progress bar will show in the middle of each substitution button.
    • When the substitution count nears the maximum, the progress bar will turn yellow and the watch will vibrate to remind you to inform the coach that they are almost out of substitutions.
    • When the maximum number of substitutions is reached, the progress bar will turn red, and the counter will display as X.
  • Swipe down on the button to subtract 1 from the counter.
  • Press-and-hold on either substitution button to hide both buttons. A yellow button will show to the right of the Warmup button to allow you to show the substitution buttons again.
For screens that have an arrow in the upper-left corner, this will immediately return you to the previous screen. IMPORTANT: For the Timer screen, this will stop the timer!

Tips and tricks for using the Volleyball Referee Timer app:

SymptomSolution
Notifications keep interruptingWhile you are refereeing, it is really inconvenient to have notifications for emails, text, and such popping up, especially when you are trying to time something using Volleyball Referee Timer.

In the Watch app on your iPhone, go to General, Airplane Mode, and turn off Mirror iPhone, otherwise the iPhone can still partially turn Airplane Mode back on on your watch. Then turn on Airplane Mode on your Apple Watch until you are done refereeing. Volleyball Referee Timer runs just fine without being connected to your iPhone.

If you are still getting Notifications in Airplane Mode, go to Settings on your watch (while in Airplane Mode), go to Bluetooth, and turn off Bluetooth. From then on, Bluetooth will be off in Airplane Mode.

Side benefit: in Airplane Mode, your Apple Watch will use less power, increasing battery life (good for those long tournament days!).

I don't want sounds for upcoming eventsTurn on Silent mode on your Apple Watch. Volleyball Referee Timer will still vibrate for upcoming events.
Vibrations are not very strongIn the Watch app on your iPhone, go to "Sounds & Haptics" and click the "Prominent" setting. This will make the vibrations a bit stronger. Also, make sure your Apple Watch is snug on your wrist.
Hard to find the app on the watchBefore WatchOS 10: In the Watch app on your iPhone, go to "Dock", make sure "Dock Ordering" is set to "Favorites", and add VBRefTimer to the dock (I put it first in the dock, so it's easy to access). On the watch, bring up the dock by pressing the side button.

Add a VBRefTimer Complication directly to your watch face.

Use this to launch directly from your favorite watch face.

Screen returns to watchIn the Watch Settings (on the watch or iPhone):
  1. Go to "Display & Brightness", then turn on "Wake on Wrist Raise". Recommended: tap "Wake Duration" and select "Wake for 70 Seconds".
  2. Go to "General", then "Return to Clock". Set "Return to Clock" to whatever you want for other apps. Scroll to and select "VBRefTimer" and select "Custom" and "After 1 hour" and turn on "Return to App".

Version History:

2.4.2
  • Updated NL: Ere/Topdivisie.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.4.1
  • Fixed bug when displaying exceptional substitution information.
2.4
  • You can select a background image for the Warmup button.
  • Press and hold the Warmup button to change how the layout looks.
2.3.4
  • Updated NAIA: Men.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.3.3
  • Updated High School: CT.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.3.2
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.3.1
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.3
  • Added the ability to change which team used a Timeout, during the Timeout.
  • Added the ability to change which team won the previous set during the Interval.
  • Created a Preferences screen where the style of the Timeout buttons can be changed, and the layout of the Timers screen can be changed.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.2.1
  • Added SCVA variations (15 Substitutions) to USAV Juniors.
  • Added the ability to adjust substitutions during a Timeout.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.2
  • Changed "Pandemic" settings to "No Change Sides".
  • Updated NCAA: Men DI/II.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.1.3
  • Added CCCAA: Men.
  • Added CCCAA: Women.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.1.2
  • Display substitutions used during timeouts.
  • Many changes to improve readability of user interface.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.1.1
  • Updated High School: TX.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.1
  • Added tracking for the number of substitutions.
2.0.18
  • Updated High School: ND.
  • Updated High School: NH.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.17
  • Updated High School: CA.
2.0.16
  • Updated High School: AZ.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.15
  • Updated USAV Juniors.
  • Updated High School: OH.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.14
  • Per NFHS Officials Manual, updated High School: CA, HI, IA, KS, LA, MO, NH, NM, WY.
2.0.13
  • Added Olympics.
  • Updated FIVB Beach.
  • Updated NL: 1e Divisie.
  • Updated NL: Ere/Topdivisie, renamed from NL: Eredivisie.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.12
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.11
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.10
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.9
  • Added images to coins for holidays and other fun days.
2.0.8
  • More layout improvements on smaller watches.
2.0.7
  • Improved layout on smaller watches.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.6
  • Added ability to return to the previous match.
2.0.5
  • Added NL: 1e Klasse Gemengd.
2.0.4
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.3
  • Updated NCAA: Men DI/II.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.2
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0.1
  • Updated NCAA: Men DI/II.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
2.0
  • Let user specify team names.
1.10.8
  • Updated High School: CA.
1.10.7
  • Updated High School: CA.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.10.6
  • Removed D-II Conference Carolinas from NCAA: Women.
1.10.5
  • Updated NL: Beach Topdivisie.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.10.4
  • Added NL: Beach Topdivisie.
1.10.3
  • Updated High School: OH.
1.10.2
  • Updated High School: NY.
1.10.1
  • Updated High School: MN.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.10
  • Coin toss now shows the coin larger, and a second tap shrinks it again.
1.9.8
  • Updated AVP.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.9.7
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.9.6
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.9.5
  • Added "No Change Sides" and "Change Sides" variations to NAIA: Men.
1.9.4
  • Colors of the Ukrainian flag now appear in several places in the user interface.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.9.3
  • Fixed bug when manually changing sides during first set doesn't persist.
1.9.2
  • Updated Lineups due at 0:30 for Intervals for NAIA: Men, NCAA: Men DI/II, and NCAA: Men DIII.
1.9.1
  • Allow warmup times for USAV Juniors timers to exceed the normal time.
1.9
  • Added Spanish.
  • Allow user to change the style of the Timeout buttons.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.8.5
  • Updated Tips & Tricks to reflect changes to Apple's Settings.
  • Added Lineups Due for Warmup and Timeout for various USAV timers.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.8.4
  • Allow user to set warmup timer to end at match time.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.8.3
  • Updated NL: Eredivisie.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.8.2
  • Added logos to buttons for Organizations.
1.8.1
  • USAV rules modified to make "No Change Sides" the default. Updated related organizations to have "No Change Sides" and "Change Sides" variations.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.8
  • Added Sets Won to the Interval button. Tap on the left or right of the button to add the win for the corresponding team.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.7.5
  • Improved haptic feedback by using long vibrations.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.7.4
  • Updated High Schoool: IL.
  • Updated High Schoool: IN.
1.7.3
  • To make it easier to resume a paused timer, you can now tap on any part of the screen below the timer.
1.7.2
  • Added D-II Conference Carolinas to NCAA: Women.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.7.1
  • Moved Intermission button to the main Timers screen.
1.7
  • Added Portuguese.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.6.7
  • Updated Paralympics.
1.6.6
  • Added Paralympics.
1.6.5
  • Added High School: LA.
  • Added High School: WY.
  • Updated High School: MA.
  • Updated High School: MO.
1.6.4
  • Added High School: AK.
  • Added High School: GA.
  • Added High School: MD.
  • Added High School: NJ.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.6.3
  • Added High School: NM.
  • Added High School: OK.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.6.2
  • Added a coin toss to the warmup and interval screens.
1.6.1
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.6
  • Added a button on the Additional Timers screen to display information about Exceptional Substitutions.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.11
  • Added High School: CA.
1.5.10
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.9
  • Added Technical Timeout to NAIA: Men, NCAA: Men DI/II, and NCAA: Men DIII.
  • Added Media Timeout to NCAA: Women.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.8
  • Added High School: KS.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.7
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.6
  • Added High School: CO.
  • Added High School: NV.
  • Added High School: SC.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.5
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.4
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.3
  • Updated some user-interface elements to improve readability.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.5.2
  • Updated High School: UT.
1.5.1
  • Added High School: TN.
1.5
  • Added High School: TX.
  • Track team that serves first in each set.
  • Show Set number on Timers screen.
  • Added "Tips and Tricks" button on the Organizations screen.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.4.5
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.4.4
  • Added NCAA: Beach.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.4.3
  • Updated High School: WA.
1.4.2
  • Updated High School: MT.
  • Added Pandemic settings for USAV Juniors.
1.4.1
  • Added High School: HI.
  • Added High School: ND.
  • Added High School: PA.
  • Added High School: VA.
  • Updated FIVB.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.4
  • Updated DE: DVV.
  • Added an Undo button.
1.3.9
  • Updated NAIA: Men, NCAA: Men DI/II, and NCAA: Men DIII to increase the maximum intermission time to 10 minutes.
  • Added AVP.
  • Added USAV Beach.
  • Added USAV Beach ParaVolley.
  • Added USAV Sitting.
  • Added FIVB Beach.
  • Added FIVB Snow.
1.3.8
  • Updated High School: OH.
  • Added some purple team colors.
1.3.7
  • Updated High School: MN.
1.3.6
  • Updated NCAA: Women to have lineups due at 0:30 for between sets.
  • Added Pandemic settings for NCAA: Women.
  • Added Pandemic settings for all High School timers.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.3.5
  • Added High School: NC, including Pandemic setting (no switch of sides between sets).
1.3.4
  • Added High School: ID.
  • Added High School: MS.
  • Added High School: NE.
  • Added High School: OR.
1.3.3
  • High School: MA - added Pandemic setting (no rosters, no switch of sides between sets).
1.3.2
  • Corrections and improvements for NL: 1e Divisie and NL: Eredivisie.
1.3.1
  • Fixed problems with 30 second countdowns when waking from sleep.
1.3
  • Added 30 second countdowns when rosters and lineups are due.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.2.1
  • Added High School: AL.
  • Updated High School: MO.
1.2
  • Updated USAV Juniors.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.1.6
  • Added some Watch Face Complications to make it easier to launch Volleyball Referee Timer.
1.1.5
  • Added High School: FL.
  • Updated USAV Adults.
  • Added FIVB.
1.1.4
  • Added High School: NY.
1.1.3
  • Added High School: AR.
  • Added High School: DC.
  • Added High School: DE.
  • Added High School: IN.
  • Added High School: VT.
1.1.2
  • Added High School: AZ.
  • Added High School: IL.
  • Added High School: MI.
  • Added High School: MO.
  • Added High School: MT.
  • Added High School: SD.
  • Added High School: WA.
  • Added High School: WV.
1.1.1
  • Added High School: IA.
  • Added High School: KY.
  • Added High School: MN.
  • Added High School: OH.
1.1
  • Internationalization!
  • Added Deutscher Volleyball-Verband (Deutschland).
  • Added 1e Divisie (Nederland).
  • Added Eredivisie (Nederland).
1.0.3
  • Added High School: ME.
  • Added High School: WI.
1.0.2
  • Added High School: RI.
  • Split up NCAA: Men into NAIA: Men, NCAA: Men DI/II, and NCAA: Men DIII.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.0.1
  • Added Injury Evaluation and Injury Timeout capability (hard press on the Timers screen).
  • Added All Off and All On capability on the Configure screen (hard press on the Configure screen).
  • Added High School: UT.
  • Added USAV Adults.
  • Miscellaneous minor improvements and bug fixes.
1.0
  • Initial release.
Pre-history
  • Volleyball Referee Timer was originally a product for the Pebble smartwatch. When the Pebble was discontinued in 2016, any further development was off the table (although, as of 2020, if you have a Pebble with the app installed, it still works!).


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