eSports
A Community within a Community: How and why schools should start eSports programs
By Aaron Addison, LG Business Solutions USA
While most teachers and educators are aware of the eSports phenomenon and its ever expanding popularity, many remain unfamiliar with all the benefits an eSports program can offer to both students and schools themselves. Moreover, some educators looking to introduce eSports programs feel overwhelmed and in the dark about how to get started.
In the modern era, schools are expected to not only offer their students new ways to connect and learn, but also to future-proof their curriculums with the most up-to-date programs. eSports is a great way to tackle both.
eSports programs help students grow academically and socially
Gaming and eSports present students with many positive influences and opportunities. Through eSports, kids as young as middle school age can learn how to collaborate and expand their network of friends. Sometimes students who struggle to make friends through traditional sports join an eSports team, and suddenly they have their own group. Also, eSports can help students acquire new skill sets, including a better understanding of analytics and how to win and lose gracefully. The hope is students will take these essential skills with them through the rest of their academic careers and into their adult lives.
Additionally, eSports is a genuinely inclusive experience where gender, age, race, intellect level and background donât matter. Pretty much anyone interested can join an eSports team and participate in competitions. The focus of eSports is really on having fun, and if students enjoy what theyâre doing, theyâre more likely to learn and want to continue coming back.
Once students graduate from high school and move on to college, they can choose to take advantage of the many scholarship opportunities available to eSports players. The National Association of Collegiate Esports estimates that more than 170 U.S. colleges have eSports programs offering around $16 million per year in scholarships. If students open the door to eSports and work on developing the skills they need to be good players, they will ultimately be exposed to more opportunities down the line.
New curriculums and offerings allow schools to stand out
Similarly, schools that dedicate the right technology and direction to developing eSports programs will see exciting returns. While some parents and educators still tend to think that video games are a negative distraction, thatâs simply not the truth. eSports and online gaming have exploded from a cottage industry to a legitimate and exciting way school educators, superintendents, and university presidents can put their institutions ahead of the curve. Furthermore, since 2018, more than 8,600 high schools have started video-gaming teams.[1]
A great way to get started with an eSports program is to dedicate space and have an environment where the students feel like itâs theirs. Just like the football field or soccer stadium, this is their space where the team practices and gets better at what they do. Without a designated space, eSports players can lose the communication, collaboration and leadership opportunities that make gaming such a positive activity. In terms of technology, donât be afraid to start small. Many eSports programs donât require a considerable investment and consist of just a few monitors to begin with. At the other end of the spectrum, some of the larger eSports programs feature giant screens and sophisticated digital signage in arenas.
Along with the appropriate technology and environment, the most successful eSports programs are led by a passionate and engaged coach. Similar to traditional sports, students will perform best with a fun and energetic teacher guiding them. Weâve seen cases where schools have cutting-edge eSports technology and eager students, but without a strong leader, the eSports programs unfortunately struggle to be successful.
Itâs essential that industry leaders and educators capture the mindset of children today to educate them properly. eSports is here, and itâs the future, so we need to embrace it with open arms and recognize its potential.
Aaron Addison is the in-house gaming expert for LG Business Solutions USA, a leading provider of advanced display technologies to the eSports industry.
[1] Flannery, Mary Ellen. âEsports See Explosive Growth in U.S. High Schools.â NEA, 16 Sept. 2021, https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/esports-see-explosive-growth-us-high-schools.
Zenni Optical, the worldâs leading online eyewear retailer, announced a partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company. Designed to integrate eye health education with innovative eyewear solutions for the esports community, the partnership will officially launch at DreamHack festival in Dallas, taking place from May 31 to June 2.
This collaboration will showcase a co-branded collection of lifestyle and competitive eyewear and accessories, highlighting Zenni Opticalâs commitment to promoting overall eye health, particularly in addressing issues like eye fatigue and strain. Additionally, the initiative will incorporate essential eye health education across various DreamHack Festivals, in alignment with EFGâs broader mission to foster inclusive gaming worlds and engaged, supported communities.
âDreamHack and ESL represent some of the most community-centric and prestigious competitive events in the world. In their own unique ways, they embody esports for everyone. By partnering with these incredible brands across the gaming and esports spaces, we aim to create engaging experiences that combine eye-health education with innovative eyewear solutions for players and fans at all levels,â said Robb Chiarini, Head of Gaming, Sports, & Events at Zenni Optical.
âWe are thrilled to partner with Zenni Optical as the Official Eyewear Partner of DreamHack and ESL. The genuine passion that Zenni has for the esports industry is a refreshing sight to see, and a major driving factor for the decision behind our partnership. Zenniâs ongoing commitment to provide eyewear for everyone mirrors our own drive to create worlds beyond gameplay for gamers everywhere,â Craig Levine, Co-CEO at EFG, said.
Bucks Gamingâs Cream City Convergence Esports Tournament has been selected as a Capcom Pro Tour event, becoming one of just three tournaments in North America chosen to be a qualifier for the prestigious Capcom Cup.
The Capcom Cup is an annual Street Fighter 6 competition, hosted by video game developer and esports organizer Capcom, with a $1 million first place prize. Each year, Capcom selects a small number of tournaments worldwide to serve as Capcom Pro Tour events, with the winning players from each event qualifying for the Capcom Cup. As one of the tournaments selected by Capcom for the honor this year, Cream City Convergence will become the first esports event run by an NBA team to work with a major esports organizer.
Top-ranked Street Fighter 6 players will compete at Cream City Convergence when it returns for its second year on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Baird Center. In addition to Street Fighter 6, this yearâs tournament will also have brackets for Tekken 8; Super Smash Bros Ultimate; Super Smash Bros Melee; and Guilty Gear: Strive.
Global esports organization Gen.G announced their acquisition of YOUR.GG, a data analysis and networking platform for League of Legends players. This partnership comes as a new method for Gen.G to enhance the Gen.G Global Academy experience for students in the program. Gen.G is the first global esports academy equipped with such advanced analytical tools to help expand their offering to players looking to improve their game to a professional level.
âOver the last few years, weâve been hard at work pioneering what is now the worldâs largest esports academy. With over 10,000 students having gone through our curriculum, we see the clear need to develop better tools that gamers, coaches, and parents need to create the best gamers possible. YOUR.GGâs best-in-class data, technology and analytics combined with millions of hours of our professional and academy student coaching will be able to unlock the next generations of esports tools that can help realize the true potential of every student and pro in our program,â Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G, said.
This acquisition underscores the importance of data and analytics in developing and refining esports talent, a core principle at Gen.G. YOUR.GG will power both its pro team players and its academy students with data-driven tools and reports to foster growth and provide better insight into scouting for new talent.
âWe plan to pioneer a shift in how talent is developed and measured in esports. By developing a tool that will bring a level of analysis and precision to esports that mirrors the most sophisticated training environments in traditional sports. We want to take a holistic approach to measure not just the data within the game, but how a student responds to coaching and feedback,â Min Chang Cha, Founder of YOUR.GG and current VP of Technology at Gen.G, said.
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