How do I set up auto-block rules?

An auto-block rule keeps an official from working one school too often. You build the rule once, and Skybox checks it every time you open a game to assign. For example: 3 games with one school in 10 days blocks that official from that school's games for the next 14 days.

1. Open the Settings tab and find Auto-block rules.
2. Fill in the sentence: Block or Flag an official after [number] games with one school (any team) or one team within [number] days, for [number] days after the last one.
3. Optional: type a Name, such as "Three in ten." It shows in the officials list next to anyone the rule catches.
4. Click Add rule.

Skybox says "Saved. The picker uses it the next time a game opens." The rule joins your list with a red BLOCK or amber FLAG tag.

Block or Flag

• Block: the official shows in red as BLOCKED for that school's games, with the date the block ends. You can still assign them after you confirm, and the override is noted on the assignment.
• Flag: the official shows in amber as FLAGGED. It is a heads-up only. You confirm to assign them, and that is noted too.

One school or one team

• One school (any team) counts every game the official had with that school, home or away, any sport or level.
• One team counts only games with that school's same team, for example Pine-Richland Girls Varsity Field Hockey. A JV game is a different team. Team rules count Skybox games only.

What counts

• Games the official has worked, and games they are already assigned to, on your board or any other assignor's board on Skybox.
• Last season's WPIAL games from the league import (school rules only).
• Not counted: cancelled or postponed games, Plan Mode drafts, and the game you are assigning.

When a block starts and ends

The block runs from the first of the counted games until the number of days you set after the last one. Then it ends on its own. Nothing is written to the official's record, and there is nothing to clear.

For example, with "Block an official for 14 days after 3 games with one school (any team) within 10 days": an official works Pine-Richland on Oct 8, Oct 10 and Oct 12. That is 3 games in 10 days, so Pine-Richland games through Oct 26 show them as "BLOCKED: 3 Pine-Richland games in 10 days (until Oct 26)." From Oct 27 they are clear. Games that do not involve Pine-Richland are not affected.

Your list of rules

• You can keep up to 10 rules. Skybox will not save the same rule twice.
• Turn off pauses a rule and keeps it in your list. Turn on brings it back.
• Remove deletes it. Anyone it blocked or flagged is clear again.
• The numbers can be 1 to 20 games, a window of 1 to 60 days, and 1 to 90 days after the last game.
• If two rules catch the same official, a block wins over a flag.
• A change shows the next time you open a game.

Who sees your rules

Your rules are yours alone. Officials never see them, never see BLOCKED or FLAGGED, and are not told when you override. Another assignor who uses the same official sets their own rules. If you assign on another assignor's board, that board's rules apply there, not yours.

For a conflict that does not go away (where an official lives, teaches or coaches), use a restriction on the official's card instead. See "How do I keep an official away from a school or a game?"

To assign someone a rule caught, see "My auto-block rule blocked an official. Can I still assign them?"