What to expect from the waitlist: Guide for players (App + Web)

OpenSports has an ordered waitlist that allows players to immediately get notified when a spot opens for them!

Overview of this guide

Part 1: Waitlist Overview

Part 2: How to use the waitlist: App

• How to join the waitlist
• How to track your position on the waitlist
• Notifications: how do you know if a waitlist spot opened?

Part 3: How to use the waitlist: Web

• How to join the waitlist
• How to track your position on the waitlist
• Notifications: how do you know if a waitlist spot opened?

Part 4: All other waitlist info/FAQ

• How much time you have to claim a spot
• What happens you miss your spot (don’t claim it on time)?
• What if you’re asleep: The Waitlist Blackout Period
• When your payment will be processed
• Can you waitlist two spots together (i.e., you and a guest)?
• Can the organizer bump you up on the waitlist or rearrange the order of players on the waitlist?
• When does the Waitlist close/stop working?

Part 1: Waitlist Overview

When an event is filled, you will see a “Join Waitlist” button, and can click on that and immediately view your position on the waitlist.

When another player cancels or new spots open up, players who have joined the waitlist will receive a push notification and email notifying them of the spot, in sequential order.

The waitlist works if you have the OpenSports app, and if you just have a web account. Either way you will receive an email notification if a spot opens for you. However, you only have a certain amount of time (from 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on how close the game is) to claim the spot, so if you have the app you will receive a push notification and your chances of claiming the spot on time are much higher!

Part 2: How to use the waitlist: App

• If an event is full, you will see the Join Waitlist button
• When you join the waitlist, you do not have to pay. You will receive confirmation that you are on the waitlist, and you can see what spot you are on the waitlist, since it is an ordered waitlist.

How to track your position on the waitlist

When you join the waitlist, OpenSports tells you if you are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc., on the waitlist.

• Go to the My Events Tab (via the calendar icon on the lower navigation bar)
• Go to the Upcoming tab and you’ll see if you’re on the waitlist under “Requested”

Notifications: how do you know if a waitlist spot opened?

We know you really don’t want to miss out on your spot! Instant notifications through the app and email will ensure that you get notified if a spot has opened for you. If you don’t want to worry about checking email regularly, then we highly recommend you download the app and you have push notifications enabled for OpenSports.

NOTE: You will NOT be automatically enrolled into the game when you are offered a spot. You must still click Join.

Here’s what happens when a spot on the waitlist becomes available to you:

• You receive a push notification (and email)
• You launch the app or click join through the email, and can view how much time you have to claim the spot
• You click Join and can pay through the registration flow to pay and complete your registration

Part 2: How to use the waitlist: Web

• If an event is full, you will see the Join Waitlist button
• When you join the waitlist, you do not have to pay. You will receive confirmation that you are on the waitlist, and you can see what spot you are on the waitlist, since it is an ordered waitlist.

How to track your position on the waitlist

When you join the waitlist, OpenSports tells you if you are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc., on the waitlist. To view your position on the waitlist:

• Go to My Events by clicking on your profile photo (or initials) in the top right corner of the screen
• Click on the Requested tab
• Click on the event and you will see where you are on the waitlist from the event info page

Notifications: how do you know if a waitlist spot opened?

We know you really don’t want to miss out on your spot! Instant notifications through the app and email will ensure that you get notified if a spot has opened for you. If you don’t want to worry about checking email regularly, then we highly recommend you download the app and you have push notifications enabled for OpenSports.

NOTE: You will NOT be automatically enrolled into the game when you are offered a spot. You must still click Join.

Here’s what happens when a spot on the waitlist becomes available to you:

• You receive a push notification and email
• You launch the app or click join through the email, and can view how much time you have to claim the spot
• You click Join and can pay through the registration flow

Part 4: All other waitlist info/FAQ

Waitlist hold times (aka how much time you have to claim a spot)

When you are offered a spot on the waitlist, you have anywhere from 2 hours to 10 minutes to click join, depending on how soon the event is. This varies because as the event gets close, the waitlist cycles through players faster, in order to fill the available spot(s) quicker.

• If the event is more than sixteen hours in the future; you have two hours to click join;
• If the event is 16 hours to 1 hour away, there is a 30 minute hold (you have 30 minutes to click join);
• If the event is less than one hour away, there is a 10 minute hold time (you have 10 minutes to click join).
• The system will actually tell you how much more time you have to grab your spot (see in the screenshot where it says “You have a spot reserved until date & time”).

What happens if I miss my spot?

If you missed your spot, OpenSports will notify the next person on the waitlist, and you will no longer be able to click join (unless nobody on the waitlist joins, at which point the waitlist then offers the spot to everybody on the waitlist on a first-come-first-served basis).

What if I’m asleep: The Waitlist Blackout Period

The waitlist “blackout period” is from 10pm to 9am as long as the game starts in more than 5 hours*. This means that if a spot opens for you at 10:00 pm, you will have until 9 am to respond. If you do not respond by 9 am, the waitlist carries on as normal (the next person on the waitlist will be notified).

*Note: The waitlist blackout period functionality does not work 5 hours before the event. If, for example, you are offered a spot in the middle of the night for a game that starts within 5 hours, the waitlist will not hold the spot for you.

When your payment will be processed

You do not have to pay until a waitlist spot opens for you and you actually claim the spot and join the event.

Can I waitlist two spots together (i.e., myself and a guest)?

You can’t specify in advance on the waitlist how many spots you want. If two people drop out of the game, and there happen to be two spots open, you will be able to take both spots when you join the event.

Can the organizer bump me up on the waitlist or rearrange the order of players on the waitlist?

No. The first person on the waitlist gets priority when a spot opens (unless the admin “cancels” the waitlist and makes it first come first served). Group admins are not able to override the order of the waitlist.

When does the Waitlist close/stop working?

The waitlist stops running when the game starts. This means that, if 10 minutes into a game, a player drops out, other players on the waitlist will not be notified.