Finding an available game in Assignr doesn’t necessarily mean you can immediately add it to your schedule.
Some organizations allow officials to request open assignments. Others enable self-assignment, which lets eligible referees and umpires claim games without waiting for an assignor’s decision.
The confusing part is that both features use nearly the same interface.
Clicking Request It can either submit a request for consideration or assign you directly to the game.
The difference depends on how your organization has configured Assignr.
Where to Find Open Games
Assignr provides a dedicated section for games with unfilled officiating positions.
To find them, open Games → All Unassigned Games.
This page displays available assignments that your organization permits you to see.
Find the game and position you’re interested in, then look for the Request It button.
What happens next depends on whether the organization uses Game Requests or Self-Assign.
Option 1: Requesting a Game
When Game Requests is enabled, selecting Request It sends a request to the assignor.
It doesn’t immediately place you on the officiating crew.
The assignor receives information about your request and can consider it when making assignments.
Multiple officials may request the same position.
The assignor ultimately decides who receives the game.
Until that decision is made, your request shouldn’t be treated as a confirmed assignment.
What Happens After Your Request?
If the assignor grants your request, Assignr sends a game notification.
You’ll then need to accept or decline the assignment.
If another official receives the position instead, Assignr sends a notification indicating that your request wasn’t granted.
This is an important distinction.
Requesting a game expresses interest, but it doesn’t reserve the position.
Can You Withdraw a Request?
Yes.
If you change your mind before the assignment is granted, Assignr provides a Withdraw Request option.
This removes your pending request.
It’s useful when your availability changes or you decide not to pursue the assignment.
Withdrawing a request is different from declining a game that has already been assigned to you.
Once you’re officially assigned, the normal assignment-management rules apply.
Option 2: Self-Assigning to a Game
Some organizations allow officials to claim open games directly.
With Self-Assign enabled, selecting Request It immediately places you into the available position, provided you meet the organization’s eligibility requirements.
You receive confirmation that you’ve been assigned.
The assignor is also notified.
Unlike a regular game request, self-assignment doesn’t require a separate acceptance afterward.
Assignr treats the self-assignment action as your acceptance.
Why Self-Assign May Be Unavailable
Self-Assign is optional and disabled by default.
The assignor must enable it for the organization.
Even when enabled, officials cannot necessarily claim every open position.
Assignr checks restrictions such as overlapping assignments, qualifications, team conflicts, league restrictions, and venue conflicts.
An official who isn’t qualified for a particular position may not see the option to claim it.
The absence of a Request It button doesn’t automatically indicate a technical problem.
An Important Availability Detail
Assignr’s self-assignment documentation specifies that the official’s availability calendar is ignored when checking Game Requests and Self-Assign eligibility.
Other conflict rules still apply.
This means you shouldn’t rely on your calendar’s unavailable status to prevent you from claiming an unsuitable game.
Before using Self-Assign, check your personal schedule and the game’s actual details.
What If You Self-Assign by Mistake?
Assignr allows officials to decline certain assignments through Games → My Games.
However, this option may not always be available.
If you cannot decline the assignment through the interface, contact your assignor and ask to be removed.
Don’t assume that withdrawing a game request and canceling a confirmed self-assignment are the same operation.
Some Organizations Use Manual Assignments Only
Not every Assignr organization enables Game Requests or Self-Assign.
An assignor may prefer to handle all appointments manually.
In that situation, officials won’t necessarily have a way to request open games through the portal.
Your availability calendar remains useful because it helps the assignor understand when you’re willing to officiate.
If you’re unsure whether your organization supports game requests, ask your assignor.
What About Linked Games?
Assignr also supports Linked Games, a feature that organizations can enable.
It allows several games on the same date to be treated as a connected assignment block.
When requesting or self-assigning to an open block, an eligible official must select a position in each remaining game.
The request is handled as a complete block rather than an arbitrary selection of individual games.
Whether that block requires assignor approval or results in immediate assignment still depends on the organization’s settings.
Check the Result Before Making Plans
After selecting Request It, pay attention to the confirmation displayed by Assignr.
If the system indicates that your request was submitted, wait for the assignor’s decision.
If it confirms that you’ve been assigned, the game is now part of your schedule.
These outcomes require different follow-up actions.
A pending request shouldn’t be treated as a confirmed commitment, and a self-assigned game shouldn’t be treated as merely an expression of interest.
Know Which Assignment Method Your Organization Uses
Assignr gives organizations flexibility in how they fill open officiating positions.
Game Requests allows assignors to review interested officials before making a decision.
Self-Assign allows eligible officials to claim positions immediately.
Manual assigning leaves the decision entirely with the assignor.
Before requesting an open game in Assignr, understand which method your organization uses. The same Request It button can mean you’re asking to be considered—or that you’ve just accepted a confirmed assignment.