> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.witt-play.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Complete the five-step identity verification checklist
> Complete five identity verification steps to unlock joining and hosting games on Witt & Play. Learn what each step unlocks and how to fix GPS failures.
Witt & Play is a community of real, local people playing together in person. Verification exists to protect every member: you know the people showing up to your game are who they say they are, and hosts know their players are accountable real-world neighbors. Every member completes the same five-step checklist — no exceptions.
## Why verification matters
When you meet someone for a pickup game in a park, you're trusting that they're a real person, an adult, and someone your community has already vouched for. The verification checklist is how Witt & Play establishes that trust at scale. Each step locks in a different layer of accountability:
* **Legal name and date of birth** confirm you are a real, identifiable adult.
* **Phone verification** ties your account to a device you physically control.
* **GPS verification** confirms you actually live in the neighborhood you claim — not just that you typed in an address.
* **Display name** gives you a public identity that other members can find, recognize, and rate.
## The checklist
The five steps are tracked in your profile and evaluated every time you attempt to join or host a game.
Add your full legal name to your profile. This is stored privately and is not shown to other players — it exists solely to verify your real-world identity.
**Where to set it:** Your **Profile** page.
**What it unlocks:** Required as part of the full five-step set to host a game.
Enter your date of birth using the date picker on your **Profile** page. Witt & Play accepts dates from 1920 through the current year.
Members under 18 are restricted from joining or hosting games. If your date of birth confirms you're under 18, your account is marked restricted and you lose access to game actions until the restriction is lifted. Your date of birth is **locked** once verified — contact support if you need to correct it.
**What it unlocks:** Required as part of the full five-step set to host a game. Also removes the age-restriction flag from your account.
Add and verify your mobile phone number. Witt & Play sends a 6-digit one-time passcode (OTP) to the number you enter and asks you to confirm it.
**Where to set it:** **Settings** → **Identity & Communication** → **Phone number**.
**How it works:**
1. Enter your number in international format (e.g. `+15551234567`). 10-digit US numbers are normalized to `+1` automatically.
2. Click **Send code**. You'll receive an SMS within seconds.
3. Enter the 6-digit code and click **Verify**.
Each phone number can only be associated with one Witt & Play account. If you enter a number already in use by another member, you'll see an error and need to use a different number.
**What it unlocks:** Phone verification is the **minimum requirement to join a game**. Until this step is complete, you can browse but not request a spot.
You can also opt in to SMS notifications (game invites, reminders, and surveys) from the same settings section. Message and data rates may apply; reply STOP to opt out at any time.
Confirm that you actually live at the home address you've saved on your profile. Witt & Play geocodes your street address to precise coordinates, then compares those to your device's current GPS location. You must be within **1 mile** of your home address to pass.
**Where to set it:** **Settings** → **Identity & Communication** → **Home address**, then click **Verify with GPS**.
**Requirements before you can verify:**
* Your full street address, city, and state must be saved on your profile.
* You must be physically at or near your home when you tap **Verify with GPS**.
* You must allow location access in your browser or device.
**What it unlocks:** GPS verification — combined with the other four steps — is required to host a game. Note: if another Witt & Play member lives at the same address and has not yet approved your housemate request, your address is not considered verified even after GPS passes.
**Address lock:** Once your address is GPS-verified, it is locked for a period of time. You cannot edit your home address during the lock window. After the lock expires, you can click **Unverify to edit** to reset and re-verify with a new address.
Verify from your phone rather than a desktop or laptop. Mobile GPS is far more accurate and is much less likely to fail or place you at an incorrect location.
Set a display name — the public identity other players see in the game feed, chat, and ratings. Display names must be unique across all members.
**Where to set it:** Your **Profile** page.
**Rules:**
* 2–40 characters
* Letters, numbers, `.`, `_`, and `-` only
* Must be unique (checked in real time as you type; suggestions offered if your chosen name is taken)
**What it unlocks:** Required as part of the full five-step set to host a game. Also the name shown on your public profile and game listings.
## What each step unlocks
| Step | Minimum to join a game | Required to host a game |
| ----------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------- |
| 1. Legal name | — | Yes |
| 2. Date of birth | — | Yes |
| 3. Phone verified | **Yes** | Yes |
| 4. GPS address verified | — | Yes |
| 5. Display name | — | Yes |
The platform checks verification status in real time whenever you attempt to join or host. If a step is missing, a verification gate dialog opens automatically and walks you through completing what's needed.
## Troubleshooting GPS verification
GPS verification fails more often than the other steps because it depends on your device's location hardware and your physical proximity to the geocoded address. Here's what to check for each error:
You haven't saved a home address yet, or one of the required fields (street address, city, or state) is blank. Go to **Settings** → **Home address**, fill in all three fields, save your settings, and try again.
The geocoder couldn't match your street address to a precise location. Double-check that the street number, street name, city, and state are all correct and spelled exactly as they appear on a map. Abbreviations and informal neighborhood names can cause this failure. Use the autocomplete field in **Settings** to pick a verified address from Google Maps.
Your browser or device denied location access, or location services are turned off. Steps to fix:
1. On mobile: go to your device's **Settings** → **Privacy** → **Location Services** and ensure your browser is set to **While Using** or **Always**.
2. In your browser: look for the location icon in the address bar and set it to **Allow** for Witt & Play.
3. Try again — Witt & Play re-requests your location each time you tap **Verify with GPS**.
Your current GPS position is more than 1 mile from the geocoded coordinates of your home address. This means either:
* You're not at home. Move to your home and try again.
* Your street address has a geocoding error (e.g. the address resolves to the wrong side of town). Correct the address in **Settings** and re-verify.
* GPS drift. In dense urban areas or inside buildings, GPS can be off by several hundred meters. Try verifying near a window or step outside briefly.
The error message shows your approximate distance from the address so you can judge whether it's a position error or a data error.
The GPS check passed but the save to your profile failed — this is a temporary server error. Wait a moment and try tapping **Verify with GPS** again. If it continues to fail, contact support.
## Next steps
Fine-tune your sport interests, location, and profile visibility.
Once phone-verified, start browsing games near you.