5 Tips for Building an Esports Program in Your District

A unique opportunity to capitalize on after-school activities and get students involved with extracurricular activities, esports’ competitive, organized video gaming has been gaining in popularity in the K-12 sector.

Not only is an esports program a great way to engage students through an activity they already love, but it also can tie in with students’ learning and prepare them for college and careers. This is why it’s important for districts to create their esports programs with several factors in mind to ensure students receive an enriching and valuable experience.

Here are five tips for establishing a successful esports program:

Tie esports to other subject areas

Esports is more than just an extracurricular and can be used to engage students in a variety of other subjects. Gaming and esports can branch out into other industries, such as business, video game design, programming, marketing, advertising, and graphic design. North America Scholastics Esports Federation (NASEF) has created a comprehensive design map to show some of the ways an esports program can tie in with other subject areas.

Connect esports to college opportunities

Esports offers many opportunities to receive college scholarships, which can be particularly beneficial for students who need financial support to attend college. There are also growing opportunities for continuing esports in college. By considering the elements of a college esports program, you can build an esports program in your district that will be an asset in students’ college applications.

Go beyond gaming

An esports program can prepare students to explore other subjects and opportunities in college. Their interests in esports can apply to a variety of different industries outside of gaming, including marketing, business, and design. Asking students about their interests can help to get them thinking beyond gaming and consider how they can parlay their esports knowledge into a viable career.

Emphasize teamwork and collaboration

Although students game independently, esports is a great team sport. Students cheer each other on and provide one another with helpful strategies and feedback on gameplay. By creating an environment that feels like a true sports arena, students can be spectators to peers’ gaming, supporting each other and helping students feel more connected as a team.

Design spaces conducive to an Esports program

Esports spaces are an important part of students’ experience, and these spaces can really elevate students’ perception of what they’re doing. With MiEN Company, your school can create a team atmosphere that’s conducive to learning and instruction. In a space that cultivates collaboration and highlights student successes, students are more likely to feel confident in their skills and satisfied with their accomplishments.

With these tips, you can establish a successful esports program in your school or district. Esports offers many benefits to students and can be a really fun way for students to extend their learning outside of the traditional classroom. By building an esports program, you’re creating opportunities for your students to sharpen their collaboration skills, explore a wide range of subjects, and consider unique college majors and careers.