What is esports?
Esports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. Esports differs from regular video gaming in that it is competitive (human-vs-human) and, like traditional sports, usually has an interesting spectator element

Why esports in schools?
Video games are a passion for millions of students around the world. Engaging with their passion through esports is a fantastic way to reach students in a space they want to be, while rewarding positive behaviors and skill development. It encourages them to form social bonds and find community while pursuing something they care about.

Esports are co-ed, inclusive to anyone who can use a computer or console and engage students who might not otherwise participate in extracurricular activities.

Esports benefits

• Teamwork centric

• Foster collaboration

• Builds community

• Brings together diverse communities

• Co-ed

• Requires problem solving, strategic planning and group preparation

• Enhances critical thinking

• Removes physical limitations

• Opens education and career development opportunities

• Inclusionary foundation that removes barriers

• Engaging extracurricular activity

• Cultivates friendships

• Develops sportsmanship

• STEAM/Technology skill building

Esports statistics

• Over 13,000 schools have esports teams

• More than 270 colleges offer esports scholarships

• 18,000+ students competed in NACE Starleague (college league) last year

• Universities such as New Haven University and Quinnipiac University offer Bachelor of Science in Esports and Gaming degrees, Esports Management degrees and more

Structure

• Esports team members compete after school in the building with the esports coach present against other schools' teams online throughout Connecticut and the east coast

• Each game has a match day once a week after school

• Team practices take place at least once a week after school

Championship

• State semi finals and finals for CIAC games take place at Quinnipiac University's state-of-the-art esports lab

• 1st and 2nd place teams receive awards