What is PunchMonkey?

PunchMonkey is a checkpoint-based event platform. A team progresses through a course by tapping NFC tags placed at checkpoints. Each tap is recorded by the participant's phone and reported to the server in real time, so race directors and spectators can watch progress as it happens.

How it works

Racers go from checkpoint to checkpoint claiming them with their phone using the Web App or the Android App (iPhone app coming soon). Checkpoints can be claimed using NFC, QR codes, or GPS coordinates — whichever the race director set up at each point.

You can easily set up a course (become a race director) or just go out and find races and have fun. Races can have lots of tricks: Mystery checkpoints with locked clues, Bearing checkpoints that give compass-and-distance hints, Hidden checkpoints that only appear after a Trigger checkpoint is claimed, and more.

Roles

• Racers — use the PunchMonkey app (or the web app for NFC-free phones). Optional sign-in via Google or Facebook saves your race history.
• Race Directors — sign up from the home page (no approval step) and set up events, races, legs, checkpoints, and teams.
• Public viewers — watch races as they happen. No login required.
• Administrators — full access to every event; manage race directors and approve data-deletion requests.

Setting up a course? The Race Director dashboard walks you through it and links to the technical details (NFC tag basics, the event/race/leg hierarchy, checkpoint types).

Using PunchMonkey

Step-by-step guides for race directors and administrators.

• Organizing Events, Races, Legs & Checkpoints
• Setting up NFC Devices
• Creating an Event (Races, Legs)
• About Checkpoints
• Setting up Teams in a Race
• Viewing the Race
• Results Screens