Getting Your Team Up to Speed
Each role in SecondCall has its own access code and dashboard. The sections below cover what to communicate to each group and how to get them their access.
App Users and Attendees
Let attendees know your meet is using SecondCall wherever you normally share meet information: emails to coaches, your Athletic.net meet page, flyers, MileSplit, or any other channel you use.
The message can be brief. Something like:
Event calls will be made over the PA system and through the SecondCall app. Download the free app at secondcall.app before the meet. No account required. On meet day, open the app, tap the meet, and select the events you want to receive notifications for.
Attendees find your meet by opening the app and looking for it in the meet list. No special link or code is needed.
Consider asking the announcer to mention SecondCall during their opening PA remarks so attendees who are already at the venue know to have the app ready.
Sharing Access Codes and Links
Every access code can be distributed from the Access Codes section on the meet detail page, or from the Operations meet day screen.
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Copy Code | Copies the access code itself. Paste it anywhere. |
| Copy Link | Copies a direct link with the code pre-filled. Staff just tap the link and land directly in their dashboard. |
| Share | Opens your device's share sheet. The link includes the code embedded, so staff tap it and land directly in their dashboard. Use this to text links to volunteers quickly on meet day. |
| QR Code | Displays a QR code with the code embedded. Staff scan it with their phone camera. |
Important: Access codes provide direct access to your meet's operations. Share each code only with the specific person or people who need it. If a code is distributed too broadly or gets into the wrong hands, revoke it immediately from the Access Codes section. A new code will be generated instantly, and the old one will stop working.
Announcers
Share the Announcer access code and link with your PA announcer before meet day. Let them know:
- Their primary tool is the announcer dashboard, which works in any browser on a laptop, tablet, or phone
- They will see a queue of all events with call and announcement buttons, and a separate queue for incoming requests from officials. Tabs are also available for sending global announcements and reviewing announcement history.
- One tap sends the notification after they make the call over the PA
- If they tap the Connect to App button on their dashboard, it will guide them through installing the SecondCall app and connecting their code. Once connected, they will receive push notifications on their phone whenever a new request comes in. This is optional but encouraged.
SecondCall reduces radio chatter significantly. Officials send requests directly through the system and can see when the call has been made, so there is no need for back-and-forth confirmation.
When you publish your meet to Preview, SecondCall will send you a Pre-Meet Staff Preparation Kit email that includes a forwardable block for your announcer with setup instructions and a direct dashboard link. You can also text the access code and link directly from the Access Codes section as a backup or supplement.
Officials and Staging Staff
Share the Official access code and link with your field event officials and staging staff. Let them know:
- No app download is required. Everything runs in a browser on their phone
- They use the provided link and access code, set their station location, and select the events they are responsible for
- When they need a call made, they tap a button and the request goes directly to the announcer's queue. They can also request general announcements from the same screen.
- They can see when the announcer has made the call and sent the notification, right on their screen
When you publish your meet to Preview, SecondCall will send you a Pre-Meet Staff Preparation Kit email that includes a forwardable block for your officials with setup instructions and a direct dashboard link. You can also share their code and link directly from the Access Codes section or the Operations meet day screen.
Operations Team
The Operations role is the meet director's primary role on meet day. It can also be shared with a co-director, head official, or trusted volunteer who needs meet-wide visibility. Operations users can:
- View incoming announcement requests and help process them if the announcer is occupied
- Sub in to the announcer or official role directly from their dashboard
- See real-time stats including subscriber counts and notifications sent
- See which officials are currently logged in and their station locations
If operations staff tap the Connect to App button on their dashboard, it will guide them through installing the SecondCall app and connecting their code. Once connected, they will receive push notifications if an event request passes the escalation threshold, so they can help track down the announcer or process the request themselves.
When you publish your meet to Preview, SecondCall will send you a Pre-Meet Staff Preparation Kit email that includes a forwardable block for your operations team with setup instructions and a direct dashboard link. You can also share their code and link directly from the Access Codes section or the Operations meet day screen.