WHAT IS ESPORTS?
Esports officially stands for electronic sports, not to be confused with video games. Esports takes video gaming to another level with organized competitive gameplay between two teams, governed by its own strict set of rules and guidelines. The difference is comparable to a pick-up basketball game at a park versus a varsity high school basketball game. Esports requires teamwork, communication, critical and strategic thinking, creativity, sportsmanship, and leadership — much like traditional sports.
WHAT DOES THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE LOOK LIKE?
Like any other high school sport or extracurricular activity, your student will attend team meetings, practices, and official matches. However, since esports is played online, there is no travel required throughout the regular season. Players compete from Mrs. Harmon’s Classroom at Morrison High School, supervised by a coach. The coaches are Mrs. Harmon and Mr. Partin. Mr. Kana is also overseeing the program. Currently through PlayVS, students can compete in teams of three for Rocket League and teams of three for Switch Bros. Each school year is divided into two regular seasons, Fall and Spring, each with their own playoff season.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DOES MY STUDENT NEED TO PARTICIPATE?
We will use the computer lab at Morrison for practice, scrimmages, and competitions. We also have two Nintendo Switches. If your students has a headset with a mic, a wired game controller, a Nintendo Switch, or a PlayStation 4 and you don’t mind them bringing it, they are welcome to bring them. The school is purchasing team jerseys for them to wear! With their PlayVS season pass, students will receive in-game perks and free copies of games for an even playing field.
ESPORTS BENEFITS
Esports requires a tremendous amount of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity from players to achieve and sustain success. It reaches beyond traditional sports to create
an all-inclusive environment that breaks barriers.
Sense of Community
A Pew Research Report states that video games play a vital role in teen friendships. The inclusiveness and accessibility of esports allow students to come together over a common passion
while providing access to a positive adult mentor in their lives. 84% of Season Zero players reported they finally found a community they could connect with.
Character Development
There will inevitably be challenges and early failures, but players who demonstrate grit and adapt/learn will typically succeed in esports. Fortunately, these attributes are exactly what employers and colleges are telling high schools they are looking for in recent graduates.
Increase Participation
There is a strong correlation between student engagement and student achievement. NCES reported that students who participated in extracurricular activities perform higher on math and
reading assessments.
STEM ENGAGEMENT
The amount of technology involved with esports enables students to practice and develop STEM skills. Students spend hours analyzing data, game statistics, and strategies, which provide
real-world experience and application.
We firmly believe esports has a place in education. It provides many opportunities for growth and learning, such as the creation and practice of “soft skills,” including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Many of the same skills that employers are looking for in recent
graduates.
Scholarship Opportunities
Esports can provide a gateway to colleges and universities. 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. More than 200 colleges and universities offer nearly 15 million dollars in scholarships.
Esports majors and careers are becoming increasingly more accessible. There are growing opportunities to find employment in esports-related careers. These opportunities include broadcasting, marketing, graphic design, multimedia production, hospitality, coaching, and management.
What are these games rated?
All games offered to high school students for competition purposes are either rated "T for Teen" – games that are appropriate for students 13 years or older -- or "E for Everyone" -- games for all
ages. Players must be 13 years or older to participate in the PlayVS high school leagues.
Should I be worried that my student is playing too much?
The amount of screen time should always be discussed and monitored. Just as in traditional sports, student-athletes must find a balance between practice, games, school work, rest, proper nutrition, social time, and, of course, sleep. One of the benefits of joining a formal esports team is that rules and practice schedules can be set and monitored regarding how much students can play during the week and on weekends. Setting clear guidelines for device and computer-free times and zones in your home will help your student find a proper balance between all of their interests. Additionally, with an esports coach, parents are able to discuss concerns and develop plans with them to help students stay on top of academics and extracurricular activities.
About PlayVS
PlayVS is building the infrastructure and platform for amateur esports, starting with high schools. We work directly with game publishers and states to build and operate sanctioned leagues across the country. Through the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), PlayVS is empowering students to compete in esports on behalf of their high school, with the opportunity to win a championship, just like any other youth sport.
SPRING 2023 SCHEDULE
● Regular Season: Weeks of 2/13/23 - 4/3/23 **We will not compete over Spring Break
● Playoffs: Weeks of 4/10/23 - 4/19/23
● Spring Championships: Week of 4/24/23
Week 1: 2/13/23
Week 2: 2/20/23
Week 3: 2/27/23
Week 4: 3/6/23
Week 5: 3/13/23
Week 6: 3/20/23
Week 7: 3/27/23
Week 8: 4/3/23
PRACTICES
We will most likely need to practice on Mondays. We are still determining the best time to do this in order to be able to scrimmage other teams. We will also practice during lunch at school. In addition, we may need to practice after school on Tuesdays. We are new to this…so we are still figuring it out. Please be patient as we work the details out!
COMPETITIONS
Wednesdays: Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate after school 4:00-5:30
Thursdays: Rocket League after school 4:00-5:30
Important: Any team that forfeits more than 2 regular season matches will not be eligible for playoffs.
OPPURTUNITIES FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT
● Stream matches for live remote viewing
● Fundraising support
● Provide match-day snacks
● Analyze pro games with their player
● Monitor chats or social media
● Discuss learnings from each match including the social-emotional impact of working in a team to achieve success.