> ## 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.

# How to create and post your first game as a host

> A complete walkthrough of every field in the Witt & Play game creation form, from title and location to privacy, recurrence, and reimbursements.

Hosting a game on Witt & Play starts at `/host`. The form walks you through every detail players need to decide whether to join — and a few settings that protect your privacy and keep the platform community-safe. Before you can post, your account must pass all five verification steps and must not be age-restricted (members must be 18 or older).

<Warning>
  You must complete **all 5 verification steps** before you can submit a game. If your account is restricted — for example because your date of birth indicates you are under 18 — the form will not let you post. Update your date of birth in your profile if it is incorrect.
</Warning>

## Before you start

Make sure you have:

* Completed every step in your [verification checklist](/getting-started/verification)
* A location saved, or the address details ready to create one inline
* A rough idea of the date, time, sport, and player count

***

## Fields reference

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Game title">
    A short, descriptive name for your game. Required, 2–100 characters. Players see the title everywhere — in the feed, on the game detail page, and in notifications.

    **Example:** "Saturday morning hoops"

    <Note>
      The form monitors your title for language that could indicate gambling or cash prizes, which is against the platform rules. A warning appears inline if any flagged terms are detected.
    </Note>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Description (optional)">
    Up to 500 characters of free-text context for players — game format, vibe, what to bring, any special notes. The character counter is shown below the field.

    If you need a starting point, click **Write with AI**. The AI uses your title, sport, skill level, player count, cost, notes, and location to draft a description you can edit before posting.

    <Tip>
      Fill in your title and pick a sport before clicking **Write with AI** — the more context you provide, the better the draft.
    </Tip>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Location">
    Choose from your saved locations or create a new one inline. The location picker lists your private and public saved locations alphabetically (public locations appear first).

    Select **Create a new location** from the dropdown to open the inline location form without leaving the page. See [Saved locations](/hosting/locations) for full details on creating and managing locations.

    Once you pick a location, a preview card shows the venue name, address, supported sports, and the **Hide address until approved** toggle. Enabling that toggle means only you and approved players can see the street address — everyone else sees only the city and state.

    <Note>
      When you select a home address location, **Hide address until approved** is turned on automatically.
    </Note>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Category and game">
    Witt & Play groups games into four categories:

    | Category         | Games                                                                                                                                               |
    | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | Racquet & paddle | Badminton, Padel, Pickleball, Racquetball, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis                                                                             |
    | Team sports      | Basketball, Flag Football, Kickball, Soccer, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball                                                                 |
    | Lawn & outdoor   | Bocce, Cornhole, Croquet, Disc Golf, Horseshoes, Spikeball                                                                                          |
    | Cards & tabletop | Backgammon, Bridge, Bunko, Canasta, Catan, Chess, Cribbage, D\&D, Dominos, Euchre, Hearts, Mahjong, Monopoly, Rummy, Scrabble, Spades, Trivia Night |

    Both dropdowns are **filtered to games your chosen location supports**, so you must pick a location first. If the location you chose does not support your previously selected sport, the sport field clears and you must re-select.

    If your game is not in any category, choose **Other** as the category and type the game name directly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Skill level">
    Set the expected skill level so players can self-select appropriately. Four options are available:

    * **Casual** — relaxed, no experience required
    * **Intermediate** — some experience helpful
    * **Competitive** — players are expected to know the game well
    * **All Levels Welcome** — open to everyone regardless of experience

    Be accurate — players decide whether to request based on this label.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Accessibility and beginner-friendly tags">
    Tag your game to help the right players find it. Tags appear on the game detail page and are available as browse filters. You can apply any combination:

    * ♿ **Wheelchair accessible** — the venue is physically accessible
    * 🤝 **Adaptive & sensory friendly** — accommodates adaptive or sensory needs
    * 🌱 **Beginner welcoming / coaching** — newer players are encouraged; coaching may be available
    * 👨‍👩‍👧 **Family-friendly** — appropriate for families with children

    Enabling the **Beginner welcoming** tag also sets the `beginner_friendly` flag on the game record, which surfaces the game in beginner-focused filters.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Private game toggle">
    When you turn on **Make this a private game**, the listing is hidden from Browse and the map. The platform generates:

    * A **6-digit join code** players can enter on the Browse page to find the game
    * An **invite link** (at `/invite/{token}`) you can share directly

    Only people with the code or link can discover and request to join the game. You can copy both from the game detail page after it is created.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Start date and time">
    Required. Use the date-time picker to set when the game begins. The time you pick is used as the base for all recurring sessions if you enable recurrence.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Duration">
    Required. Choose from 30 minutes up to 6 hours in 30-minute increments. The end time is calculated automatically from the start time and duration. Available options: 30 min, 1 hr, 1 hr 30 min, 2 hrs, 2 hrs 30 min, 3 hrs, 3 hrs 30 min, 4 hrs, 4 hrs 30 min, 5 hrs, 5 hrs 30 min, 6 hrs.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Recurring game settings">
    You can create a series of sessions that repeat on the same day and time. Choose a repeat interval:

    * **One-time only** (default)
    * **Weekly**
    * **Every 2 weeks**
    * **Monthly** (shifts by 30 days per session)

    When any repeat option other than one-time is selected, a **Number of sessions** field appears. The minimum is 2 and the maximum is 12. Each session is created as an independent game record with its own game ID, player roster, and chat. See [Recurring games](/hosting/recurring-games) for more details.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Max players">
    The maximum number of approved players (not counting you if you toggle off **I'm playing too**). The cap depends on the sport:

    * **Team sports** (Basketball, Flag Football, Kickball, Soccer, Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball): up to **25 players**
    * **All other games**: up to **16 players**

    The field enforces the cap automatically — you cannot type a number higher than the limit for your chosen sport.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Reimbursement per player ($)">
    An optional dollar amount you can ask each approved player to reimburse toward communal costs like court rental fees, equipment, or space rental. Leave it at 0 if the game is free to join.

    You must check the **social gathering certification** when any cost is set. See [Reimbursements](/hosting/reimbursements) for how players pay and how you track it.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Social gathering certification (required)">
    A required checkbox that certifies: *"I certify this is a social gathering. Fees are for reimbursement of communal costs and not for cash prizes."*

    You cannot submit the form without checking this box. It keeps the platform out of pay-to-play and prize-pool territory. Any language suggesting gambling or cash prizes in your title, description, or notes will trigger an inline warning.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Host equipment acknowledgment (optional)">
    An optional checkbox that signals you will bring the basic equipment for your sport. When your sport has known equipment requirements, the form shows a reminder — for example, for Soccer: *ball, goals or cones*.

    Checking this box is voluntary but helps set expectations for players.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I'm playing too toggle">
    When turned on (the default), you are automatically added to the approved player list and your spot counts toward the max. Turn it off if you are organizing the game but not playing — your slot will not count toward the total, giving more room to players.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Notes / rules (optional)">
    A free-text field (up to 1,000 characters) for anything else players should know: parking instructions, dress code, items to bring, house rules, or anything that does not fit in the description. This section appears as its own card on the game detail page.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Creating a game step by step

<Steps>
  <Step title="Complete verification">
    All 5 verification steps must be finished before you can post. Go to your profile if you still have outstanding steps.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the title and description">
    Enter a clear title (up to 100 characters). Optionally write or generate a description up to 500 characters.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose or create a location">
    Pick a saved location from the dropdown, or select **Create a new location** to add one inline. Once selected, decide whether to hide the street address until a player is approved.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick the category and game">
    Select the category first, then choose the specific sport or game. Both pickers are filtered to what your location supports.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set skill level and tags">
    Choose a skill level that accurately reflects your game. Add any accessibility or beginner-friendly tags that apply.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure privacy, timing, and player limits">
    Toggle private mode if needed. Set the start date and time, duration, and maximum number of players.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set up recurrence (optional)">
    If you want a series of sessions, choose a repeat interval and the number of sessions (2–12).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a reimbursement amount (optional)">
    Enter a dollar amount per player if you need to cover communal costs. Leave at 0 for a free game.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Certify and submit">
    Check the **social gathering certification** checkbox, optionally check the equipment acknowledgment, confirm the **I'm playing too** setting, add any notes, and click **Post the game**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

After submission you are redirected to the new game's detail page. If you created a recurring series, you land on the first session. You can use the **Edit** button on any session to adjust details, or delete a session to cancel it.