How to watch a flag football game live online

Updated October 3, 2026 · ~4 min read · Written by Jeddore McDonald, founder of ReadyRef

Step 1: Get the watch code

When a referee starts a game in ReadyRef, it's assigned a unique 6-character code (for example, AXSCVP) and a matching link. The ref or your league usually shares it in a team group chat, an email, or a text. That short code is all you need.

Step 2: Open the live scoreboard

There are two ways in:

• Tap the link, or type readyref.app/game/ followed by the code (e.g. readyref.app/game/AXSCVP) into any browser.
• Or go to the ReadyRef homepage, enter the code in the "Watch a game" box, and tap Watch now.

The live scoreboard opens immediately. There's nothing to download and no account required — it works on iPhone, Android, tablets, laptops, and smart-TV browsers alike.

Step 3: Follow the game in real time

Once you're in, the board mirrors what the referee is doing on the field:

• Score and game clock tick in real time.
• Current period and down show where the game stands.
• Play-by-play log lists touchdowns, conversions, turnovers, and timeouts as they happen.
• Timeouts remaining appear for each team.

On a phone, hold it upright for the scoreboard plus the play log, or rotate to landscape for a clean, full-screen, TV-style board — ideal for casting to a bigger screen at a watch party.

Try it now with the live demo

Want to see it before a real game? Open the ReadyRef live demo — it's a looping simulated game that shows the scoreboard, clock, and play-by-play exactly as a real broadcast looks.

Troubleshooting

"Waiting for the game to start"

The code is valid but the referee hasn't kicked off yet. Leave the page open — it will update automatically the moment the game begins.

The code isn't found

Double-check the six characters (codes are not case-sensitive). If it still doesn't load, ask the ref to re-share the link — a new game gets a new code.

Do I need to pay or sign in to watch?

No. Watching a game in your browser is free and requires no account. (Paid ReadyRef tiers are for referees and league organizers running games, not for spectators.)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an app or account to watch a flag football game?

No. Open readyref.app/game/ followed by the 6-character code in any browser — there's nothing to install and no sign-up to watch.

Is watching a live game free?

Yes. Watching is completely free; ReadyRef's paid tiers are for referees and league organizers running games, not for spectators.

Can I watch on a TV?

Yes. Open the watch link in a smart-TV browser or cast it from your phone, then rotate to landscape for a clean, full-screen scoreboard.