Bringing Gamification, Creativity & Real-Time Control to Any Sport
Sports Madness (initially Hockey Madness) is a modular game format that adds chaos, creativity and strategic fun to traditional sports.
Instead of rewriting the sport itself, Sports Madness introduces short-lived game modifiers — “boosters” and “maddies” — that temporarily change the rules and transform matches into energetic, unpredictable experiences.
Originally designed for indoor field hockey, the concept has proven flexible enough to adapt to:
- football/futsal
- korfball
- handball
- basketball
- volleyball
- racket sports
- and youth training formats
This page explains the general concept and how the SportsMadness App brings the game mode to life.
What is Sports Madness?
Sports Madness is built around one core idea:
A traditional match stays fully recognizable… until a short-lived modifier is triggered.
These modifiers come in two categories:
Maddies
Game-wide rule changes imposed for a short period — usually 30 to 120 seconds.
Examples across different sports:
- Double Trouble – two balls in play
- Power Play – 1 opposing player must leave the field
- Golden Time – all goals/points count double
- Supersize / Minisize – larger or smaller goals, nets or zones
- Trick Mode – players must perform the action (pass/shot/dribble) using a predefined variation
- Specialist Duel – 1v1 showdown between selected players
- Chaos Mode – rotating rule changes every 10 seconds
Maddies shift the rhythm of the game and create strategic decision moments.
Boosters
Team-specific advantages, triggered at key tactical moments.
Examples:
- Lucky Shot – next goal/point counts extra
- Wingman – an extra player joins
- Silent Mode – opponent may not communicate
- Precision Play – bonus points for hitting a small target
- Timeout Override – immediate team timeout
Boosters give coaches agency and timing-based strategy.
Activation Flow
Every modifier (maddie or booster) follows a clear flow:
- 10/15s countdown
- Audio + visual cues
- Start signal
- Effect duration
- End signal
- Automatic cleanup
This keeps players, coaches and referees aligned at all times and ensures the match remains safe and structured.
The SportsMadness App
A real-time web application built to control the full game experience.
Live App: https://janvanwassenhove.github.io/sportsmadness
Source Code: https://github.com/janvanwassenhove/sportsmadness
The SportsMadness app provides:
Match Control Dashboard
Used by organizers/referees to:
- add goals/points
- track penalties or fouls
- trigger maddies
- track booster activation
- show all countdowns
- control game time
- manage on-court events
Everything updates in real time to every connected screen.
Professional-Looking Scoreboard
Ideal for:
- projectors
- TV screens
- LED walls
Shows:
- score
- timers
- active effects
- icons
- warnings
- booster/maddie countdowns
Designed for fast readability from a distance.
Coach Mobile Booster Control
Coaches get a mobile interface that lets them:
- activate boosters at strategic moments
- see cooldowns
- monitor game state
- avoid conflicts with active maddies
The app prevents “illegal” activations and ensures safe timing.
Tournament Builder & Scheduling
The platform includes:
- team creation
- player lists
- match schedules
- automated results
- multicourt support
Everything runs browser-only — no installation, no servers.
Technical Overview (General)
- Frontend: Vue 3
- Backend: Supabase (authentication + realtime channels)
- Architecture: event-driven game engine
- Data flow: reactive UI + real-time sync for all clients
- Mobile controls: optimized for touch
- Deployment: GitHub Pages + Supabase
Flexible enough to support multiple sports, different rule packs, and custom game modes.
Why Sports Madness?
Because adding gamified moments doesn’t replace the sport —
it amplifies it.
Sports Madness lets organizers:
- boost player engagement
- add humor and unpredictability
- create memorable moments
- make youth tournaments more fun
- create festival-style “show matches”
- test new formats safely
And for developers or architects, it’s a showcase of how sport + real-time tech + gamification can come together in one seamless experience.
App https://janvanwassenhove.github.io/sportsmadness
Github Source Code https://github.com/janvanwassenhove/sportsmadness