• It is FREE to download for iOS and Android
• Your phone number is NOT SEEN in this app
• This app acts like a text messaging system without using text messaging rates.
• Once you download it, post on our facebook group or text Susan 608-738-8405 so you can be added to/invited to our Sparta Group.
• Additional instructions are sent to you via email that may be helpful in using the app because we want you to be successful in using the app! (Those instructions are included below.)
• Don't have a smartphone? You can download this on your computer and use it: https://app.groupme.com

So Step 1) download the app from link or QR code 2) Contact Susan Olive 608-738-8405 or post on our Sparta Area Pickleball Association page to get invited to our groups. 3) Follow the link sent in a text back to you and you're all set! Easy!

Instructions

The app is intuitive, but these things may help if you are not "techie" oriented.

For direct help, you can go to their support page: https://help.groupme.com/hc/en-us

1. Watch video 1 to know the sign up process (example is for another group, but ours is “Sparta Area Pickleball Association”.)

Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5yN9IeNr_M

Go to app via the “App Store” on iPhone or android “Play” and search for and download “GroupMe’ -- or click on the text link that was sent to you.

• Follow the instructions you learned from video 1 to set up your account.
• You have already been added to the “Sparta Area Pickleball Association” group. You should see that group. If not, close the app and open it again.

2. Next, watch this video for additional information on how this app works.

Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2BLxFZoR8Y&t=3s

3. Choose your settings! Next, in the app, click on the 3 horizontal lines on top left of screen and then click on settings at bottom of list.

In settings you can see that you can

• pause notifications
• mute notifications (this mute setting is found under the logo icon)
• and choose a sound that alerts you when a message comes in.

Choose “notifications”. If you do NOT want a sound to alert you of notifications, turn OFF “sounds”.

You can control other ways of notifications and how you see them, but be sure to “allow notifications” or you won’t be notified on conversations in the app.

How to get back to the chat list? Click on the top left 3 horizontal lines and then click on “chats”. You should then see the La Crosse Pickleball group and other groups you are in or direct messages that have been sent to you.

Touch the group or person to see the most recent chat messages from that group or person.

4. Video 3 goes a little more in depth to help you set up your own groups. If you have a group of players you like to play with, you can message this group. No one else will see this group except for the members that are a part of it.

Video 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ9YSf5Qd0Y