The match is on.
Stay in control.

1. Prepare the match

Use the iPad in landscape. Tap Match settings to set the team names, number of periods and period duration. Choose Set clock to full period duration if you also want to adjust the current clock.

Under Sport, switch between Indoor hockey and Futsal. Indoor hockey fills in 4 × 10 minutes and 1–3–1 minute breaks; you can also choose 4 × 15 minutes. Futsal fills in 2 × 20 minutes and a 5-minute break as a starting point. Use Custom duration for other playing times and follow your competition rules. Choosing a sport or format resets the match clock to the full duration.

Under Automatic break timers, set the Short break and Half-time break separately, from 0:00 to 99:59, to the second. Only relevant breaks appear. At 0:00 that break is skipped. The schedule below shows each break for review. Tap Save to apply or Cancel to keep the previous settings. Changing the format of a match already in progress requires confirmation. Team names and scores stay; the current period is reduced to the new period count if needed. New match returns to 0–0 in period 1, keeping your sport and durations.

You can also choose New match at the bottom of the iPhone remote. Pause the clock first, then confirm. Team names and match settings are kept.

2. Check the sound

Use the iPad speaker or pair a speaker in Settings → Bluetooth on the iPad. Check the audio output and volume, then test the Horn in the sports hall, including after a period of silence.

For a starting signal too, turn on Match settings → Horn → Horn at period start on the iPad and tap Save. It is off by default. The horn sounds at the first start of each period, including a start from an iPhone or Apple Watch, but not when resuming after a pause. Your choice is kept for the next match. The end-of-period horn always stays on.

3. Start the match

Tap Start period, change scores with + and −, and pause for interruptions. After the horn, the configured break starts automatically. Indoor hockey defaults to 1–3–1 minute breaks; futsal starts with 5 minutes between its two periods. After the break — or immediately for a 0:00 break — the next period is ready. Tap Start period to begin; playing time never starts automatically.

For four-period indoor hockey, the iPad shows BREAK AFTER PERIOD 1/3 for the short breaks and HALF-TIME · BREAK AFTER PERIOD 2 for the middle break. A paused break is clearly marked.

Need to move to the next quarter early? Pause the clock, choose Next period on the iPad or Next on the iPhone, then confirm. The next quarter is ready and waits for Start period.

You can pause a break or finish it early with End break. There is no break timer after the final period.

4. Pair your iPhone, if you want

1. Install the same app on the iPad and iPhone. Each device chooses its role automatically.
2. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices and allow Local Network access.
3. On the iPad, tap Connect remote → iPhone. The iPad is visible for two minutes under a short, unique name.
4. On the iPhone, tap Find my iPad, select that name, compare the six-digit codes on both screens and confirm on the iPad with Connect only if they match.

After pairing succeeds, the connection window on the iPad closes automatically. If there is a problem, the message stays visible.

Keep the iPad app open. Use the iPhone app for controls, or glance at its Live Activity while it is locked or another app is open. One remote can control the match at a time. Sound comes from the iPad or its connected speaker.

5. Follow the match on your iPhone Lock Screen

After pairing, a Live Activity appears automatically if Live Activities are allowed in Settings → Apps → Indoor Matchclock. It shows time, scores and the period on the Lock Screen and in Dynamic Island on supported iPhones. Tap it to open the remote; use the app to send commands.

The iPad remains the match clock and must stay open. iOS may suspend the iPhone app in the background. If updates stop, the displayed countdown stops within 12 seconds, or sooner at the end of the phase. The activity can then show Last iPad time · tap to reconnect. Open the remote to refresh the match. It never starts a break or the next period by itself.

Which settings should I use for futsal?

On the iPad, choose Match settings → Sport → Futsal for 2 × 20 minutes. The break initially lasts 5 minutes; adjust Half-time break to your competition rules, then tap Save. Sport and scheduled durations can only change with the playing clock stopped, outside a break. During a paused break you can still correct its remaining time. The iPhone and Watch follow the confirmed iPad time and phase. Start and pause the clock yourself for stoppages. The app does not count team fouls or provide separate penalty or time-out clocks.

Good to know.

Do I need internet or Wi-Fi in the sports hall?

The match does not need an internet connection. The devices can pair directly without a router. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be switched on. Test the range with your own devices and setup before the match.

What happens if the iPhone loses its connection?

The iPad clock keeps running. The iPhone disables its controls when it stops receiving recent updates. Continue using the iPad. When you return to the iPhone app, it tries to reconnect to the approved iPad for the current match. Restarting an app, explicitly disconnecting or starting a new match requires pairing again. If an action could not be confirmed, check the iPad before resuming control. Old commands are not sent again.

Does the final horn work in the background?

No. Keep the iPad app in the foreground. Both screens stay awake while the app is active, including during a pause or without a connection. The iPad uses maximum brightness.

How do I change the language or appearance?

The app follows your preferred system languages: Dutch, French, English or German, with English as the fallback. To choose a language for the app, open Settings → Apps → Indoor Matchclock → Language on your iPhone or iPad. On older iOS versions, Indoor Matchclock is directly under Settings. The Apple Watch follows the app language synced by Apple. Changing language restarts the app; a saved match reopens paused.

The iPad uses a black scoreboard. Use the theme icon on the iPhone for a light, dark or automatic appearance.

Can I track penalties or time-outs?

This version has no separate penalty or time-out clocks. It also does not include a second public display or control of an existing physical scoreboard.

Does this replace the sports hall scoreboard?

The app is a tool for the match desk. Check which equipment your competition requires. Test audibility, Bluetooth delay and the speaker connection in advance; an iPad has different visibility from a large public scoreboard.

Need help?

For questions about Indoor Matchclock or help with a problem, email [email protected]. Include your device, iOS or iPadOS version and what happens. The guide above covers the match clock, pairing and sound.