What is esports?
Esports, short for electronic sports, is multiplayer, usually team-based competitive video gaming.

Professional players and teams face each other in competitions and tournament series for prize money.

The esports industry includes multiple sources of revenue including sponsorships, advertising, content creation/streaming, coaching, media rights, merchandising, and special events.

The esports industry has created many new careers, beyond that of the actual players.

Spectators pack esports arenas, as well as tune in to livestreams.

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, open to anyone who can use a computer or console and engage students who might not otherwise participate in extracurricular activities.

Esports opens opportunities to scholarships, degrees and careers.

Esports Benefits
Teamwork-centric

Fosters collaboration

Builds community

Co-ed

Requires problem solving, strategic planning, and group preparation

Enhances critical thinking

Removes physical limitations

Opens education and career development opportunities

Engaging extracurricular activity

Cultivates friendships

Develops sportsmanship

STEAM/Technology skill building

Esports Degrees
Some of the largest colleges and universities, including some in Connecticut, offer Esports/Video Game Design degrees.

These degrees include:

Esports Communications and Management B.S.

Esports and Gaming B.S.

Esports Management B.B.A.

Game Business & Esports B.S.

Games + Simulation B.S.

Esport Business B.S./B.A.

Game Design B.S./M.F.A.

Esports Scholarships
More than 200 colleges and universities offer over $16 million in Esports scholarships, a figure that has doubled over the last four years.

The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), the main governing body for varsity collegiate Esports, has awarded millions of dollars in Esports scholarships and aid over the last five years.

General Esports Growth Statistics
The global Esports market was valued at $1.7 Billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to over $9 Billion by 2032.

Esports competitions have prize pools ranging from thousands to millions of dollars.

The International Olympic committee (IOC) has created the Olympic Esports Games which will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, with the road to the Games starting this year.

Esports viewership rivals that of traditional sports, especially amongst younger viewers.

Over 500 million viewers consumed content from the Esports World Cup last year. This tournament series also had a prize pool of over $60 million.

Esports Careers
Esports cover a wide range of careers across different fields including:

Esports Coaches and Analysts

Content Creators and Streamers

Event Organizers and Managers

Marketing, Sponsorships, and Business

Production Roles

Lawyers and Legal Professionals

Accountants and Financial Professionals

Coding and Software Engineers

Graphic Designers and Visual Artists

IT Support

Cybersecurity Engineers

Esports in Schools
Esports are an official CIAC-sanctioned high school sport in Connecticut.

In 2025, around 40 high schools in Connecticut have at least one team.

High school Esports is growing across the U.S. with over 8,600 high schools starting Esports teams since 2018.

Esports Collegiate Competitions
18,000+ students competed in NACE Starleague (college league) last year.

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.

Curriculum
2025-26 School Year Concurrent Enrollment Course
Introduction to Esports
This introductory course explores the management principles related to the business of Esports. The purpose of this course is to provide a historical background on esports from its inception in the early 1980s to its current state as a multi-billion dollar industry. It includes personnel programs, marketing, media, financial management, organizational structures and an overview of career possibilities in this growing field. Students will develop a media release/player profile, create and reflect on streaming content through Twitch and simulate activities associated with being an esports manager.

More Than Games...
Students participate in calls with professional and collegiate
esports players and those working in esports related careers to
hear their stories and ask questions.

Future...
Career Pathways
Expansion of computer science pathways to include digital design and cybersecurity.

Potential courses could include:

Introduction to Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Video Game Design
Cybersecurity