How Schools and Colleges Can Build a Robust Esports Program

Video gaming has a reputation as being an activity for couch potatoes, but many K-12 schools and higher education institutions are finding that esports deliver a number of benefits to participants. 

Numerous studies show that the benefits of gaming include improved spatial attention, enhanced problem solving and increased physical activity (really!), among others. 

But creating a successful esports program isn’t merely a matter of buying the right games, computers and other equipment. Schools need to recruit players, build a team culture, get buy-in from athletics officials and other staffers, hire coaches, organize competitions and take care of all of the other tasks that are associated with the implementation of any new sport on campus.

Organizing K-12 Esports

One of the most critical steps at the K-12 level is to find at least one staff member who is enthusiastic about leading an esports program. While many high-school teams receive remote coaching through esports leagues or associations, an onsite staffer is still needed to lead meetings and practices, establish and enforce norms and rules, and help turn a collection of individual players into a cohesive team. It’s likely that a number of faculty members are already avid gamers, and schools can often find an interested staffer simply by asking around. The High School Esports League recommends asking technology teachers first, and then branching out from there. 

Some larger school districts form their own esports leagues. Fresno Unified School District in California, for example, created a league for the district’s 12 high schools to compete in the game Rocket League. This gave the district more control and standardization, allowing officials to provide the necessary infrastructure and support to each school’s esports program. However, many districts have only one or two high schools, making such an arrangement impractical. In these cases, esports program leaders will want to connect with existing statewide or national leagues to explore possibilities. This can happen before or after officials decide which esports students will play – another important decision point. If a vocal contingent of students is clamoring to create a team in a specific esports game such as League of Legends or Overwatch, that might influence a school’s choice. Or, schools may simply compete in the esports offered by the league they join. 

During this period, or shortly afterward, esports program leaders should recruit interested students, and also establish meeting times and practice schedules. (Unlike most traditional sports, esports teams don’t always meet daily.)

Along with purchasing and deploying gaming equipment, schools should spend time early on defining expectations for players and ensuring that esports will help them develop the collaboration and communication skills that, ideally, come with being part of a team. Some schools and leagues require players to maintain minimum grade-point averages, and program coaches and leaders often emphasize the importance of sleep and proper nutrition. 

Team sponsors can build enthusiasm and support by participating in their schools’ club “rush weeks” and sharing competition results in schoolwide morning announcements or monthly newsletters.