Apple Watch
Pitch Signal on Apple Watch
Pitch Signal supports Apple Watch directly. Coaches, assistants and players can get each game signal on their wrist from the coach's device or from a Pitch Signal Base. The coach's device can be an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or Android tablet running the Pitch Signal app.
Joining a session
The watch lists the session with the same join code the coach sees. Connected directly, a coach's device supports up to 5 Apple Watches, but we recommend 2 or fewer. Each extra watch drains the device's battery significantly and adds work for the app. For more watches, use a Pitch Signal Base.
Your teams, on the watch
Every team you can access downloads to the watch automatically. Teams shows how many are on the watch. Tap Join Session to begin.
Look for sessions
The watch searches for active sessions from your teams nearby.
Find your session
Active sessions are listed by join code and team name, with the signal strength beside each one. Tap a session to join.
Get every signal
Each game signal appears on the watch with its location on the grid, and the watch taps your wrist so you know to look.
Pairing your team
Install Pitch Signal on your iPhone
The Pitch Signal app for Apple Watch is typically installed on your watch automatically.
Sign in
Every team you have access to downloads to your Apple Watch automatically. There is nothing to set up on the watch.
Join your team's sessions
Once your teams are on the watch, it can join their sessions, whether the coach runs the session from an iPhone, iPad, Android phone or Android tablet, or through a Pitch Signal Base. Players and assistant coaches who sign in get their teams the same way.
Secure by design: your teams give the watch its security credentials. Game signals are encrypted, so the watch connects only to the teams and sessions you are permitted to join. Other teams' watches cannot join or read your session, even when they are within range.
A standalone Apple Watch works slightly differently. See Apple Watch without an iPhone below.
Using a Pitch Signal Base
A Pitch Signal Base improves the Apple Watch connection, which makes it a great fit for assistant coaches taking part in the session.
Better range
The Base has a stronger Bluetooth range than the coach's device.
A fixed location
The Base usually stays in one place. The coach's device may be put in a pocket or set aside, or the Pitch Signal app may go into the background.
Room for more watches
A coach's device can connect directly to up to 5 Apple Watches, but we recommend 2 or fewer to protect its battery life and keep the app responsive. A Pitch Signal Base supports up to 6 Apple Watches connected directly to it.
How the watch connects to a Base
Base already in the session
The session appears on the watch with a green PSB badge and the same join code the coach sees. Tap it and the watch connects to the Base.
Base joins after the watch
If the watch is already connected to the coach's device, it moves to the Base automatically. The watch shows Reconnecting for a few seconds, then carries on receiving game signals through the Base.
Check the Base
The Base's display shows the session's join code and how many watches are connected to it. The Watches count includes Apple Watches only. A Base supports up to 6 Apple Watches at once.
Please note: an Apple Watch connection is not as reliable as the Pitch Signal Base with Pitch Signal Watches. An Apple Watch is also capable of two-way communication, which may not be allowed for player use on the field. Check your league's rules before players wear one.
Apple Watch without an iPhone?
5 steps to pair a standalone Apple Watch
An Apple Watch that isn't paired to an iPhone with Pitch Signal can't receive teams by signing in. Instead, a coach pairs it in person:
- On the Apple Watch, open the App Store, search for Pitch Signal and install it. View Pitch Signal on the App Store.
- In the Pitch Signal app, the coach opens Team Info → Apple Watches → + Pair.
- On the watch, open Pitch Signal and tap Teams → Pair with Coach.
- When the watch finds the team, tap Join Team.
- The coach taps Accept on their device. The watch shows Paired!
Each pairing adds one team. To add another, tap Pair New Team on the watch's Teams screen. Coaches can rename or remove paired watches from the same Apple Watches list.
Check your setup
Apple Watch Series 5 or newer, running watchOS 9 or later. See everything that works with Pitch Signal.