diff --git a/api/handler/handler.go b/api/handler/handler.go
index 6615f86..b7382a1 100644
--- a/api/handler/handler.go
+++ b/api/handler/handler.go
@@ -1,24 +1,26 @@
 package handler
 
 import (
-	"log"
 	"mchess_server/api"
 	"mchess_server/chess"
-	lobbies "mchess_server/lobby_registry"
-	"mchess_server/usher"
+	"mchess_server/lobbies"
 	"mchess_server/utils"
 	"net/http"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"go.uber.org/ratelimit"
 )
 
 var mut sync.Mutex
+var limiter = ratelimit.New(10)
+
+func HostGameHandler(c *gin.Context) {
+	limiter.Take()
 
-func HostPrivateGameHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	player := chess.NewPlayer(uuid.New())
-	u := usher.GetUsher()
+	u := lobbies.GetUsher()
 
 	mut.Lock()
 	defer mut.Unlock()
@@ -36,6 +38,8 @@ func HostPrivateGameHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 }
 
 func GetLobbyForPassphraseHandler(c *gin.Context) {
+	limiter.Take()
+
 	reqPassphrase := c.Param("phrase")
 	if reqPassphrase == "" {
 		c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, reqPassphrase)
@@ -57,34 +61,17 @@ func GetLobbyForPassphraseHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusOK, lobbyInfo)
 }
 
-func RegisterForRandomGame(c *gin.Context) {
-	player := chess.NewPlayer(uuid.New())
-	usher := usher.GetUsher()
-
-	mut.Lock()
-	defer mut.Unlock()
-	lobby := usher.WelcomeNewPlayer(player)
-	usher.AddPlayerToLobbyAndStartGameIfFull(player, lobby)
-
-	info := api.PlayerInfo{
-		PlayerID: &player.Uuid,
-		LobbyID:  &lobby.Uuid,
-	}
-	log.Println("responding with info ", info)
-
-	c.Header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", "*")
-	c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusOK, info)
-}
-
+// TODO: this will be replaced by the JoinGameHandler()
 func JoinPrivateGame(c *gin.Context) {
+	limiter.Take()
+
 	req := api.PlayerInfo{}
-	log.Println(c.Request.Body)
 	err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req)
 	if err != nil || req.Passphrase == nil || *req.Passphrase == "" {
 		c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusNotFound, req)
 	}
 
-	u := usher.GetUsher()
+	u := lobbies.GetUsher()
 
 	if req.Passphrase != nil &&
 		*req.Passphrase != "" &&
@@ -126,3 +113,30 @@ func JoinPrivateGame(c *gin.Context) {
 	c.Header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", "*")
 	c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusOK, info)
 }
+
+func JoinGameHandler(c *gin.Context) {
+	limiter.Take()
+
+	id := c.Param("id")
+	idAsUUID, err := uuid.Parse(id)
+	if err != nil {
+		c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusBadRequest, nil)
+		return
+	}
+
+	passphrase := api.Passphrase{}
+	c.ShouldBindJSON(&passphrase)
+
+	u := lobbies.GetUsher()
+	lobby := u.GetLobbyByID(idAsUUID)
+	if lobby == nil {
+		c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusNotFound, nil)
+		return
+	}
+
+	lobbyInfo := api.LobbyInfo{
+		ID: &lobby.Uuid,
+	}
+
+	c.IndentedJSON(http.StatusOK, lobbyInfo)
+}
diff --git a/api/handler/handler_test.go b/api/handler/handler_test.go
index 8e69445..ff5fead 100644
--- a/api/handler/handler_test.go
+++ b/api/handler/handler_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func Test_GetLobbyFromPassphraseHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("host a lobby", func(t *testing.T) {
 		r1 := httptest.NewRecorder()
 		ctx1, e1 := gin.CreateTestContext(r1)
-		e1.GET("/api/hostPrivate", HostPrivateGameHandler)
+		e1.GET("/api/hostPrivate", HostGameHandler)
 		hostGameRequest, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "/api/hostPrivate", nil)
 		ctx1.Request = hostGameRequest
 
diff --git a/api/websocket/connection.go b/api/handler/websocket.go
similarity index 92%
rename from api/websocket/connection.go
rename to api/handler/websocket.go
index be29d8c..5ca8d46 100644
--- a/api/websocket/connection.go
+++ b/api/handler/websocket.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package websocket
+package handler
 
 import (
 	"context"
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"mchess_server/api"
 	"net/http"
 
-	lobbies "mchess_server/lobby_registry"
+	"mchess_server/lobbies"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	gorillaws "github.com/gorilla/websocket"
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ var upgrader = gorillaws.Upgrader{
 }
 
 func RegisterWebSocketConnection(c *gin.Context) {
+	limiter.Take()
+
 	log.Println(c.Request)
 	conn, err := upgrader.Upgrade(c.Writer, c.Request, nil)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -31,6 +33,8 @@ func RegisterWebSocketConnection(c *gin.Context) {
 }
 
 func waitForAndHandlePlayerID(ctx context.Context, conn *gorillaws.Conn) {
+	limiter.Take()
+
 	msgType, msg, err := conn.ReadMessage()
 	if err != nil {
 		errorMessage := fmt.Sprintf("Reading from websocket connection did not work: %s", err)
@@ -70,3 +74,8 @@ func waitForAndHandlePlayerID(ctx context.Context, conn *gorillaws.Conn) {
 	lobby.Game.SetWebsocketConnectionFor(ctx, player, conn)
 	log.Println("player after setting connection: ", player)
 }
+
+func ConnectWsForGame(c *gin.Context) {
+	limiter.Take()
+
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 38fda34..3f129d6 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ require (
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.9.0
 )
 
+require github.com/benbjohnson/clock v1.3.0 // indirect
+
 require (
 	github.com/bytedance/sonic v1.11.6 // indirect
 	github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader v0.1.1 // indirect
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/twitchyliquid64/golang-asm v0.15.1 // indirect
 	github.com/ugorji/go/codec v1.2.12 // indirect
+	go.uber.org/ratelimit v0.3.1
 	golang.org/x/arch v0.8.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.23.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/exp v0.0.0-20240506185415-9bf2ced13842 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 51dc3b8..d95f318 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+github.com/benbjohnson/clock v1.3.0 h1:ip6w0uFQkncKQ979AypyG0ER7mqUSBdKLOgAle/AT8A=
+github.com/benbjohnson/clock v1.3.0/go.mod h1:J11/hYXuz8f4ySSvYwY0FKfm+ezbsZBKZxNJlLklBHA=
 github.com/bytedance/sonic v1.11.6 h1:oUp34TzMlL+OY1OUWxHqsdkgC/Zfc85zGqw9siXjrc0=
 github.com/bytedance/sonic v1.11.6/go.mod h1:LysEHSvpvDySVdC2f87zGWf6CIKJcAvqab1ZaiQtds4=
 github.com/bytedance/sonic/loader v0.1.1 h1:c+e5Pt1k/cy5wMveRDyk2X4B9hF4g7an8N3zCYjJFNM=
@@ -69,6 +71,8 @@ github.com/twitchyliquid64/golang-asm v0.15.1 h1:SU5vSMR7hnwNxj24w34ZyCi/FmDZTkS
 github.com/twitchyliquid64/golang-asm v0.15.1/go.mod h1:a1lVb/DtPvCB8fslRZhAngC2+aY1QWCk3Cedj/Gdt08=
 github.com/ugorji/go/codec v1.2.12 h1:9LC83zGrHhuUA9l16C9AHXAqEV/2wBQ4nkvumAE65EE=
 github.com/ugorji/go/codec v1.2.12/go.mod h1:UNopzCgEMSXjBc6AOMqYvWC1ktqTAfzJZUZgYf6w6lg=
+go.uber.org/ratelimit v0.3.1 h1:K4qVE+byfv/B3tC+4nYWP7v/6SimcO7HzHekoMNBma0=
+go.uber.org/ratelimit v0.3.1/go.mod h1:6euWsTB6U/Nb3X++xEUXA8ciPJvr19Q/0h1+oDcJhRk=
 golang.org/x/arch v0.0.0-20210923205945-b76863e36670/go.mod h1:5om86z9Hs0C8fWVUuoMHwpExlXzs5Tkyp9hOrfG7pp8=
 golang.org/x/arch v0.8.0 h1:3wRIsP3pM4yUptoR96otTUOXI367OS0+c9eeRi9doIc=
 golang.org/x/arch v0.8.0/go.mod h1:FEVrYAQjsQXMVJ1nsMoVVXPZg6p2JE2mx8psSWTDQys=
diff --git a/lobby_registry/lobby.go b/lobbies/lobby.go
similarity index 97%
rename from lobby_registry/lobby.go
rename to lobbies/lobby.go
index d900002..d10285c 100644
--- a/lobby_registry/lobby.go
+++ b/lobbies/lobby.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package lobby_registry
+package lobbies
 
 import (
 	"mchess_server/chess"
diff --git a/lobby_registry/registry.go b/lobbies/registry.go
similarity index 97%
rename from lobby_registry/registry.go
rename to lobbies/registry.go
index 1412462..56d11dc 100644
--- a/lobby_registry/registry.go
+++ b/lobbies/registry.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package lobby_registry
+package lobbies
 
 import (
 	"mchess_server/utils"
diff --git a/lobbies/usher.go b/lobbies/usher.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38a0574
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lobbies/usher.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package lobbies
+
+import (
+	"mchess_server/chess"
+	"mchess_server/utils"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+)
+
+type Usher struct {
+}
+
+var usherInstance *Usher
+
+func newUsher() *Usher {
+	return &Usher{}
+}
+
+func GetUsher() *Usher {
+	if usherInstance == nil {
+		usherInstance = newUsher()
+	}
+	return usherInstance
+}
+
+func (u *Usher) WelcomeNewPlayer(player *chess.Player) *Lobby {
+	lobby := GetLobbyRegistry().GetLobbyForPlayer()
+	return lobby
+}
+
+func (u *Usher) CreateNewPrivateLobby(player *chess.Player) *Lobby {
+	lobby := GetLobbyRegistry().CreateNewPrivateLobby()
+	return lobby
+}
+
+func (u *Usher) FindExistingPrivateLobby(p utils.Passphrase) *Lobby {
+	lobby := GetLobbyRegistry().GetLobbyByPassphrase(p)
+	if lobby == nil || lobby.IsFull() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return lobby
+}
+
+func (*Usher) GetLobbyByID(id uuid.UUID) *Lobby {
+	return GetLobbyRegistry().GetLobbyByUUID(id)
+}
+
+func (u *Usher) AddPlayerToLobbyAndStartGameIfFull(player *chess.Player, lobby *Lobby) {
+	lobby.AddPlayerAndStartGameIfFull(player)
+}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 9cee4de..87ebd93 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"log"
 	"mchess_server/api/handler"
-	"mchess_server/api/websocket"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 )
@@ -24,11 +23,13 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	router := gin.Default()
-	router.GET("/api/random", handler.RegisterForRandomGame)
-	router.GET("/api/hostPrivate", handler.HostPrivateGameHandler)
+	router.GET("/api/hostPrivate", handler.HostGameHandler)
 	router.POST("/api/joinPrivate", handler.JoinPrivateGame)
-	router.GET("/api/ws", websocket.RegisterWebSocketConnection)
+	router.GET("/api/ws", handler.RegisterWebSocketConnection)
+
 	router.GET("/api/getLobbyForPassphrase/:phrase", handler.GetLobbyForPassphraseHandler)
+	router.GET("/api/registerWsForGame/:id", handler.ConnectWsForGame)
+	router.POST("/api/joinGame/:id", handler.JoinGameHandler)
 
 	if debugMode {
 		log.Println("Starting service WITHOUT TLS")
diff --git a/usher/usher.go b/usher/usher.go
deleted file mode 100644
index cfbbd51..0000000
--- a/usher/usher.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-package usher
-
-import (
-	"mchess_server/chess"
-	lobbies "mchess_server/lobby_registry"
-	"mchess_server/utils"
-)
-
-type Usher struct {
-}
-
-var instance *Usher
-
-func newUsher() *Usher {
-	return &Usher{}
-}
-
-func GetUsher() *Usher {
-	if instance == nil {
-		instance = newUsher()
-	}
-	return instance
-}
-
-func (u *Usher) WelcomeNewPlayer(player *chess.Player) *lobbies.Lobby {
-	lobby := lobbies.GetLobbyRegistry().GetLobbyForPlayer()
-	return lobby
-}
-
-func (u *Usher) CreateNewPrivateLobby(player *chess.Player) *lobbies.Lobby {
-	lobby := lobbies.GetLobbyRegistry().CreateNewPrivateLobby()
-	return lobby
-}
-
-func (u *Usher) FindExistingPrivateLobby(p utils.Passphrase) *lobbies.Lobby {
-	lobby := lobbies.GetLobbyRegistry().GetLobbyByPassphrase(p)
-	if lobby == nil || lobby.IsFull() {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return lobby
-}
-
-func (u *Usher) AddPlayerToLobbyAndStartGameIfFull(player *chess.Player, lobby *lobbies.Lobby) {
-	lobby.AddPlayerAndStartGameIfFull(player)
-}