A ghost game is a term used to describe a game that a scheduler has published in the HorizonWebRef.com system, but it remains invisible to officials and other users. This typically happens when a scheduler tries to publicize a game for viewing by incorrectly using the "Publish" option.
Understanding the "Publish" Option
The "Publish" option in HorizonWebRef.com is used to release assignments to assigned officials. This allows those officials to see the game details and accept or decline their assignments. However, if a game is published without any assignments, it remains unseen by anyone—hence the term "ghost game."
Key Points
Publish Does Not Equal Public Viewing: The "Publish" option is not meant to make a game publicly available for viewing. It is specifically for notifying assigned officials of their game assignments.
Zero Assignments Issue: If a game is published with zero assignments, nothing happens. The game essentially becomes a ghost game because it is published to no one.
How to Properly Make a Game Publicly Viewable
If you need to make a game publicly available for viewing, do not use the "Publish" option. Instead, utilize one of the following methods:
Public Game Schedule:
This feature can be enabled via Feature #21 in the System Settings by an officiating organization administrator.
It allows officials, or other desired users, to view the public game schedule, including games to which they are not assigned.
This feature ensures that all desired games are visible to the intended audience.
TBA System:
This feature can be enabled via Feature #51 in the System Settings by an officiating organization administrator.
The TBA System works like a "help wanted" section, where schedulers can solicit responses from officials willing to work the game.
Officials can view available games and indicate their interest in specific assignments, making the games visible to a broader group of officials.
Conclusion
Ghost games occur when schedulers attempt to make games viewable by publishing them without assignments. To avoid this, use the Public Game Schedule or the TBA System to ensure that your games are properly visible to the desired audience. By understanding and utilizing these features correctly, you can effectively manage and publicize your game schedules.