What Are Esports In Schools?

A comprehensive guide to what esports in schools are, the benefits they offer students, and how to get started with esports programs.

What are Esports?

Esports are a form of competition using video games. They can be played in tournaments or leagues, and often have professional players who compete for large prizes. Some popular games for esports are Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Defining Esports

Esports are organized, competitive video gaming events, usually played between professional players. esports often take the form of organized, multi-player video game competitions, particularly between professional gamers. tournaments are typically sponsored by technology companies or organizations that produce video games. The term “esports” is derived from the word “electronic sports”.

The most common video games in esports are multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games, first-person shooter (FPS) games, and real-time strategy (RTS) games. Common examples of popular MOBA games include Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2), League of Legends, and Heroes of the Storm. Common examples of popular FPS games include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Halo 5: Guardians, and Overwatch. Common examples of popular RTS games include StarCraft II and Warcraft III.

While professional gamers have been around since the early days of arcade gaming in the 1970s, esports as they are known today did not begin to take shape until the late 1990s with the advent of broadband internet connections and powerful home computers. The first Esports tournaments took place in the early 2000s, with prize pools typically ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Today, prize pools for some of the largest tournaments can exceed $20 million dollars.

The global Esports market was valued at over $695 million dollars in 2018 and is projected to grow to nearly $1.5 billion dollars by 2022. The growth of Esports is being driven by a number of factors including an increase in online streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming; the entry of traditional sports organizations into the space; and investment from venture capitalists and media conglomerates

The History of Esports

Esports (also known as electronic sports, e-sports, or competitive/professional video gaming) is a form of sport competition using video games. Esports often take the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players (“pros”), individually or as teams. Although organized online and offline competitions have long been a part of video game culture, these were largely between amateurs until the late 2000s when participation by professional gamers and spectatorship in these events saw a large surge in popularity. By the 2010s, esports was a significant factor in the video game industry, with many game developers actively designing and providing funding for tournaments and other events.

The most common video game genres associated with esports are real-time strategy (RTS), first-person shooter (FPS), fighting, and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). Tournaments such as The International, League of Legends World Championship, Capcom Cup (Street Fighter), and Dota 2 Asia Championship attract millions of dollars in prize money from both corporate sponsors and from gamer-supported crowdfunding sites such as Patreon and Twitch.tv subscriptions. Some games are designed specifically for esports competition, while others are simply well-suited for it due to their ability to be played at a high competitive level by professionals as well as amateurs. In addition to official esports competitions organized by video game publishers and third-party gaming organizations, many publishers provide support for grassroots organizer initiatives through toolsets that allow tournament organizers to automate tournament operation over the internet. Furthermore, some games offer dedicated observer modes that allow spectators to watch matches in progress while others have developed specialized streaming services such as TwitchTV that offer live streams of competitive gameplay with commentary provided by professional commentators.

Why are Esports in Schools?

Esports in schools are a relatively new concept, but one that is gaining in popularity. There are a number of reasons why esports are becoming more popular in schools. One reason is that they provide a way for students to compete in a team environment.

The Benefits of Esports in Schools

There are many benefits of esports in schools. Esports can help students develop teamwork and social skills, while also providing them with an outlet for competition. In addition, esports can help students improve their academic performance and self-esteem.

Here are some of the specific benefits of esports in schools:

1. Develops teamwork skills: In order to be successful in esports, students must learn to work together as a team. This involves learning how to communicate effectively, strategize collaboratively, and support one another. These are all important skills that can be transferable to other areas of life.

2. Builds social skills: Esports can help students build social skills by providing them with an opportunity to interact with others who share similar interests. Through esports, students can learn how to communicate and cooperate with others, which are essential life skills.

3.Promotes academic performance: Studies have shown that students who participate in esports tend to have higher GPAs than those who do not participate in esports. This is likely due to the fact that esports require strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, which can transfer to success in the classroom.

4. Boosts self-esteem: Esports can help boost students’ self-esteem by providing them with a sense of accomplishment and belonging. When students feel good about themselves, they are more likely to take pride in their schoolwork and perform better academically.

The Drawbacks of Esports in Schools

While there are many benefits to incorporating esports into school curriculums, there are also some potential drawbacks that should be considered.

-Time Commitment: Esports can be very time consuming, both in terms of practice and actual competitions. This can be a difficult commitment for students who are already balancing schoolwork and other extracurricular activities.

-Cost: Esports can also be expensive, both in terms of equipment and tournament fees. This may limit participation to only those students who come from families with the financial means to support their child’s participation.

-Physical Activity: Some students may view esports as a way to avoid traditional sports and physical activity altogether. This could lead to problems with obesity and other health issues down the road.

-Inclusivity: With most esports games being geared towards male players, there is a risk that girls and other underrepresented groups will feel excluded from the activity. Schools will need to make a concerted effort to ensure that all students have an opportunity to participate in order to avoid any feelings of marginalization.

How to Implement Esports in Schools

As esports continue to grow in popularity, more and more schools are looking into implementing esports programs. Esports can provide many benefits to students, such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. However, there are a few things to consider before implementing an esports program in schools. This article will go over how to implement esports in schools.

Creating an Esports Program

Esports in schools is a rapidly growing phenomenon with the potential to positively impact student engagement, social interaction, and even academic performance. But starting an esports program can feel daunting, especially if you’re not a gamer yourself.

Here are a few things to consider as you get started:

1. Define your goals for starting an esports program. What do you hope to achieve? Do you want to increase student engagement? Boost school spirit? Help students develop teamwork and collaboration skills? All of the above? Having a clear idea of your goals will help you make decisions about everything from which games to include to how to structure competitions.

2. Do your research. Talk to other schools that have started esports programs, read articles and blog posts from experts in the field, and check out resources like the National Association of Collegiate Esports website. The more you know about the landscape of esports, the better equipped you’ll be to make choices that are right for your school.

3.form a committee or task force. If you’re starting an esports program from scratch, you’ll need help! Assemble a group of administrators, teachers, parents, students, and community members who can assist with everything from choosing games to setting up competitions. (If your school already has a gaming club or team, they may be able to help out as well.)

4. Choose your games. There are dozens of games commonly played in esports competitions, so it’s important to choose ones that will best fit your goals and interests as a school community. Some factors to consider include age appropriateness, gameplay mechanics, and level of competition. Visit websites like Twitch and YouTube Gaming for inspiration, or consult with experts on which games are popular among high school students.

5. Set up tournaments and leagues. Once you’ve chosen your games, it’s time to start organizing competitions! You can host single-elimination tournaments open to all players or create leagues in which teams compete against each other over the course of several weeks or even months

Finding Funding for an Esports Program

An important factor to consider when starting an esports program is funding. Esports can be expensive, and schools will need to find ways to cover the costs of equipment, software, tournament fees, and more.

One way to raise funds is through donations and sponsorships. Many companies that produce gaming equipment or software are happy to donate to schools that are starting esports programs. Schools can also reach out to local businesses for sponsorship. In return for financial support, businesses can get their name and logo on team uniforms or equipment, or have their company banner displayed at events.

Another way to fund an esports program is through student fees. Student gamers can pay a small fee each semester to help cover the costs of the program. This option may not be feasible for all schools, but it is worth considering.

Lastly, schools can apply for grants to help fund their esports program. There are a number of foundations and organizations that offer grants specifically for esports programs in schools. Doing some research and writing a strong grant application could be a great way to get the financial support you need to get your esports program off the ground.

Hiring an Esports Coach

It’s important to understand that not every school will have the same needs when it comes to their esports program. Some schools might have large budgets and be able to hire full-time staff, while others might have to be more creative with their staffing.

One option for schools is to hire an esports coach. This is someone who will be responsible for leading and managing the esports team. They will need to be familiar with the game or games that the team will be playing, as well as have experience in coaching and managing players.

Another option for schools is to use student volunteers or part-time staff to help run the esports program. This can be a great way to get started with esports, but it’s important to make sure that there is someone who is responsible for overseeing the program and ensuring that it runs smoothly.

Conclusion

As more schools add esports programs, it’s important to understand what they are and how they work. Esports are organized, competitive video gaming events. Schools that offer esports programs typically have a team of students who play against other school teams. Some schools also offer scholarships to students who participate in esports.

Esports programs can offer students a number of benefits. They can help improve teamwork and communication skills, and can foster a sense of community among gamers. Esports can also provide an opportunity for students to learn about business and marketing, as well as computer science and engineering.

While there are some benefits to esports programs in schools, there are also some potential risks. These programs can be expensive to start and maintain, and there is always the potential for cheating or other unethical behavior. However, with proper oversight and management, these risks can be minimized.