For eight years I have had the fascinating job of managing esports for a large school district. We started very small, under 100 students in a handful of high schools, and have grown sustainably to include students at every level and with more than 1,500 participants.
Lessons learned along the way are many, but the most important element of our success is the power of esports as an inclusive activity and pathway to opportunity.
I was never a serious gamer but played with my two sons—mostly Call of Duty, and mostly just to hang out with them. Here, when they are having fun, is when you can talk, listen, and connect, and boy, do I miss those times.
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When my boss asked me to help him bring esports to our district in 2018, I jumped at the chance, remembering how gaming brought joy and fun to my kids and their friends. Today, players and viewers are in the millions and kids who played in their teens are still using gaming as a recreational hobby in their 20s, 30s and beyond.
Esports and the elephant in the room
So, what has esports brought to our district and the people involved? Let’s break it down into sections: student engagement/belonging, achievement/education and future skills/opportunities.
But first, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Not everyone believes that esports deserves a place in schools, education, sports or activities. Usually, dislike stems from lack of information, fear or misunderstanding.
Many sports enthusiasts balk at calling esports a sport but the similarities of each activity show more in common than not. Both require training, teamwork, communication, skill development and practice.
The value of each is substantial in terms of commitment, growth and crossover potential as players morph to viewers but the biggest difference is in the numbers as viewership and money-making potential tell the story. Esports revenue and viewership are showing remarkable growth and are predicted to surpass sports platforms on a global basis in the near future, especially with younger demographics.
But, why isn’t there room for both? Esports participants crossover in viewership and play, while sports aficionados often hold a hard line, but that is changing—esports will soon be an Olympic competition.
Let’s start by taking a look at our students. Many were not involved in sports or traditional activities before esports was brought to our district—more than 60% reported not feeling connected to their school before joining esports.
After joining esports, more than 90% reported feeling connected with a sense of pride in their school. That is huge and has made a real difference in their attendance, grades and more. These were students often on the sidelines, possibly neuro-divergent and definitely in the need of some type of participation experience at school.
Esports involvement brought student engagement and a sense of belonging to students who were lacking this important element of education. More than 70% of our esports students said that it helped them make and keep friends.
“Esports inspired me to make friends and come out of my shell a lot. I feel super confident and like I can achieve my dreams in the future,” said one student. Another noted, “I have found the community that I was always wanting through esports and I have the motivation to do well in academics and in esports.”
A definite game-changer
What about education and achievement? Several years ago, through our affiliation with the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations, also known as NASEF, we formed an affiliate group that worked with esports leaders and educators from around the state to get an esports curriculum approved for high school and middle school students.
Since classes started, students discovered the potential that esports offers for college and career pathways and success. The NASEF model educates and encourages students to discover their potential and interests by using the four domains theory and several online tests, which lead them to a plethora of opportunities that extend beyond the realm of gaming.
Using NASEF’s free curriculum, our teachers and coaches guide students to discover their potential through writing, business development, managing or organizing, analyzing information, web design and more. Our graduates are studying graphic design, computer science, marketing and business administration, but most importantly, they have found these pathways through their involvement in esports.
When asked, “Where do you envision yourself after high school?” our students answered, “At state university, playing for their esports team and learning coding to get into their cybersecurity department,” and, “At college, hopefully majoring in digital film production.”
Esports has shown to be a definite game-changer for our students, allowing them to find their place in the school community and ecosystem. It has shown them they can succeed in a club setting, in life and in school. It has allowed them to make and keep friends and directed them to potential college and career pathways.
