SportSongs Support & User Guide
Everything users need to get started with SportSongs, set up music providers, manage tiles and rosters, troubleshoot issues, and reach Rocky River Software for help.
Quick links
Getting started
Install the app, choose a sport, and connect Apple Music or Spotify.
Assign songs to tiles
Use Apple Music browsing or paste Spotify track links.
SportSongs Pro
Free use, upgrade pricing, premium features, and ElevenLabs limits.
Setups & sharing
Save setups, import files, and export .sportsongs packs.
Announcer voices
Use system voices, ElevenLabs, rosters, and announcement timing.
Troubleshooting
Fix playback issues, slowdowns, and tile problems quickly.
Contact information
Email: [email protected]
Company: Rocky River Software, LLC
When you email support, include your device model, iOS version, music provider, and a short description of the issue.
Overview
SportSongs is a music clip controller designed for youth sports game operations. It lets coaches, parents, and game-day volunteers instantly trigger pre-selected song clips for hype moments, goals, warmups, walk-ups, and between-play entertainment, using either Apple Music or Spotify as your music provider. SportSongs also includes optional Pro announcer tools for spoken goal calls, penalties, player introductions, batting orders, and walk-up announcements.
- Free to download and use with limited features, with optional upgrades available in the app.
- Tap tiles to instantly play high-energy clips for goals, intros, warmups, and walk-ups.
- Customize tile names for your sport, such as Goal, Intro, Warm Up, Walk-Up, and Breaks.
- Use Apple Music or Spotify songs you already know and love.
Music Providers & Requirements
Apple Music
SportSongs uses Apple Music and MediaPlayer features on your device. You can use songs you own and have downloaded locally. An active Apple Music subscription is recommended for featured playlists, catalog tracks, and the smoothest streaming experience.
Spotify
SportSongs integrates with Spotify using Spotify’s Web API and Spotify app playback. Spotify playback through SportSongs requires the Spotify app installed, an active Spotify Premium subscription, and authorization through the Spotify login screen.
Each provider keeps its own tile layout and saved setups, so you can maintain separate boards for Apple Music and Spotify without overwriting your work.
Getting Started
Step 1 - Install and Open SportSongs
- Download and install SportSongs from the App Store on your iPhone.
- Open the app and follow the prompts. If asked, allow access to media and music.
Step 2 - Choose Your Sport
- SportSongs loads with a default layout on first launch.
- You can switch between hockey, baseball, and softball anytime from the Options menu.
- Each sport provides its own optimized tile labels and layout, such as dedicated Goal and Penalty tiles for hockey.
Step 3 - Select Your Music Provider
- Go to Options > Music Provider.
- Choose either Apple Music or Spotify.
- When switching providers, SportSongs may prompt you to save your current layout so you do not lose your work.
Step 4 - Confirm Provider Permissions
- Apple Music: Make sure you are signed into Apple Music on your iPhone, and that SportSongs has permission under Settings > Privacy & Security > Media & Apple Music.
- Spotify: Make sure the Spotify app is installed and you are logged into a Spotify Premium account. When you first select Spotify as a provider, you will be prompted to authorize SportSongs to connect to Spotify.
Step 5 - Add Music to Your Tiles
You can assign songs to tiles individually, or use Fast Add to quickly fill a layout from a playlist.
Assigning Songs to Tiles
Apple Music Tiles
- Tap the tile’s edit button to open the editor.
- Search or browse your Apple Music library or the Apple Music catalog if subscribed.
- Select a song to assign it to the tile.
- Optionally, set a custom start time to jump to the best part of the track.
- Tap Save so the tile remembers your selection and start time.
Spotify Tiles
- Tap the tile’s edit button to open the Spotify assignment screen.
- In the Spotify app, copy a track link with Share > Copy Link and paste it into SportSongs.
- SportSongs will automatically resolve the track, store its Spotify URI, and fetch album artwork.
- Spotify playback requires Spotify Premium and the Spotify app installed on the device.
Fast Add Playlists
Fast Add lets you quickly fill tiles from premade or custom playlists instead of assigning each song one by one.
Apple Music Fast Add
- Available when Apple Music is the selected provider.
- Open Options > Fast Add Playlist.
- Choose from SportSongs featured playlists, Recently Added, Most Played, or your own Apple Music playlists.
- SportSongs auto-fills tiles in a sensible order, with key game-moment tiles first.
- For the best results, we recommend an active Apple Music subscription so featured playlists and catalog tracks are available.
Spotify Fast Add
- Available when Spotify is the selected provider.
- Open Options > Fast Add Playlist.
- Tap Use SportSongs Playlist to auto-fill tiles from the official SportSongs Spotify playlist.
- Or paste any Spotify playlist link to fill tiles from your own team or personal playlist.
- SportSongs will pull track names, URIs, and album artwork for use in the tile grid.
Using SportSongs on Game Day
- Tap a tile once to start its clip. Playback should begin instantly.
- Tap the same tile again to stop playback immediately.
- Tiles can visually indicate they have been played, helping you avoid repeating the same goal song too often.
- Use your iPhone volume controls and any connected speakers, whether Bluetooth, AUX, or PA system, to control loudness.
- For best reliability, keep your iPhone near your sound system and avoid unnecessary multitasking during games.
Saving & Switching Layouts
- Open Options > Setups & Sharing to save the current board with a custom name.
- Saved setups include tile names, song assignments, clip start times, roster assignments, batting order details, and announcer timing.
- Each music provider maintains its own layouts, so your Apple Music and Spotify setups stay separate.
- When switching providers, SportSongs will prompt you to save your current layout and restore the last-used layout for the new provider.
- You can import a .sportsongs file from Files, Messages, Mail, or AirDrop. Importing shared setups is free.
- SportSongs Pro subscribers can export the current setup as a .sportsongs file for another coach, parent, or device.
- Imported setups may still require access to the same Apple Music or Spotify tracks used by the person who created the file.
Roster Management
SportSongs lets you create and manage player rosters for use with the announcer. Rosters give the announcer real player names and jersey numbers for goals, assists, penalties, and at-bat announcements.
- Open Options > Roster to create a new roster or edit an existing one.
- Add players with their jersey number and name.
- Create multiple rosters, for example one per team or sport.
- Rename or delete rosters at any time using swipe actions or the edit controls.
- The selected roster is used by the announcer when generating goal, assist, penalty, and at-bat announcements.
Rosters are entirely optional, but adding a roster makes announcements feel more personal and game-ready.
Batting Order & Walk-Up Songs
For baseball and softball, SportSongs can organize player tiles around a batting order so each batter’s walk-up music is ready when they come to the plate.
- Use the batting order tools to add players, reorder the lineup, and keep gameplay music separate from player tiles.
- Assign walk-up songs from Apple Music or Spotify, including clip start times.
- Pro users can enable auto-announce timing so SportSongs can speak a player introduction before the walk-up clip starts.
- At the end of the lineup, SportSongs can help cycle back to the top for the next inning.
SportSongs Pro
SportSongs is free to download and use with limited features. SportSongs Pro is available as either a $2.99 monthly subscription or a $24.99 annual subscription through Apple's auto-renewable subscription system in the United States. Pricing may vary by region.
- Remove all ads for a clean, distraction-free experience.
- Faster, smoother overall performance.
- Unlock higher tile limits, up to 200 tiles per board.
- Unlimited saved setups and playlists.
- Fast Add from your own Apple Music playlists and Spotify playlist tools.
- Export .sportsongs setup files for sharing with other users.
- Save multiple game-day setups for different teams, sports, or venues.
- Unlock the AI announcer feature, including rosters, goal calls, penalty calls, batting order introductions, and walk-up announcements.
Subscription pricing and terms are shown on the App Store listing and within the app’s subscription screen. You can cancel at any time through your Apple ID settings.
Troubleshooting
Songs start from the beginning instead of the selected time
Double-check the clip start time in the tile editor and confirm that you tapped Save after making changes. For Apple Music, confirm the track is still available in your library or the catalog.
No sound
Confirm your volume, silent switch, and any Bluetooth or AUX connections. Make sure you can play songs normally from the Apple Music or Spotify app directly.
Songs will not play at all
For Apple Music, make sure SportSongs has permission under Settings > Privacy & Security > Media & Apple Music and that your Apple Music subscription is active if you use streaming. For Spotify, confirm you are logged into a Spotify Premium account and that the Spotify app is installed on this device. If playback fails after the device has been idle, reopen Spotify, then return to SportSongs and try again.
App feels stuck or slow
Force-quit SportSongs and reopen it. If needed, restart your iPhone.
Tiles moved or out of order
If tiles have been rearranged unintentionally, use the Reset option in the Options menu to restore the default layout, or load one of your saved playlists.
A shared setup imported, but songs are missing
Shared .sportsongs files include song identifiers and setup details, not the actual music files. Make sure you are using the same music provider and have access to the songs through your Apple Music or Spotify account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Apple Music subscription?
No. You can use songs you have purchased and downloaded to your device without a subscription. However, an Apple Music subscription is recommended if you want to use SportSongs featured playlists and streaming-only tracks.
Do I need Spotify Premium?
Yes. Spotify’s SDK requires a Spotify Premium subscription for playback control through third-party apps like SportSongs, and the Spotify app must be installed on your device.
Can I use both Apple Music and Spotify?
Yes. You can switch providers at any time from the Options menu. Each provider maintains its own saved layouts and playlists.
Can multiple people use the same playlist?
Yes. You can share Apple Music or Spotify playlist links, or SportSongs Pro users can export a .sportsongs setup file. Each person still needs their own Apple Music or Spotify account and subscription if required to play the music.
What can I do for free?
The free version includes core playback, provider switching, importing shared setup files, and limited saved setups and tile counts. SportSongs Pro removes ads and unlocks higher limits, exporting, unlimited saved setups, and AI announcer features.
Announcer Voices
The announcer feature is part of SportSongs Pro. Once unlocked, SportSongs can speak goal calls, assist announcements, penalty calls, player introductions, and at-bat introductions using system voices, the built-in voice service, or your own ElevenLabs configuration.
System Voices
- Built into your device and available after SportSongs Pro unlocks the announcer.
- Open Announcer Settings > Announcer Voice to browse and select a voice.
- Filter voices by language or preview a sample before selecting one.
- Enable Hype Mode for a more energetic tone.
- For the most natural sound, download Enhanced voices via iOS Accessibility settings.
ElevenLabs AI Voices
- You can use the built-in voice service or connect your own ElevenLabs account and API key.
- Your API key is stored securely on your device using Apple’s Keychain.
- SportSongs never transmits your API key to Rocky River Software servers.
- Repeated phrases may be cached locally on your device for faster playback.
- With your own API key, SportSongs sends requests directly from your device to ElevenLabs. With the built-in service, announcer text is routed through Rocky River Software’s text-to-speech proxy.
How to set up ElevenLabs
- Visit elevenlabs.io and create a free account.
- Go to Profile and then API Keys.
- Copy your API key.
- In SportSongs, go to Announcer Settings and then ElevenLabs Configuration and paste your key.
- The key is stored securely in your device’s Keychain.
Privacy
- Your ElevenLabs API key is stored on your device using iOS Keychain and may sync through iCloud Keychain if enabled.
- SportSongs does not send your personal ElevenLabs API key to Rocky River Software servers.
- If you use your own API key, announcer scripts are sent directly from your device to ElevenLabs for text-to-speech conversion.
- If you use the built-in voice service, announcer text is sent through Rocky River Software’s text-to-speech proxy before audio is returned to your device.
Need more help?
If you are still having issues or have ideas for new features, we would love to hear from you.
Email: [email protected]
Company: Rocky River Software, LLC