Esports as a serious program

[Anonymous]

Hello! I want to know if anyone knows of any private high schools that have a dedicated Esports Program? Our twins are both strong students, but have really taken to Esports and while I don't really understand it, they seem to love it and I want to encourage their interests. I've done some research and found that many schools have Esports as an extracurricular, but none that I've found have an actual dedicated program. This doesn't have to be area specific, as we'd be willing to send them anywhere in North America (US and Canada) should there be a private boarding school with a program that they could join.

Thank you in advance for all of your answers and help; I'm clearly out of my depth on this one.

[Anonymous]

This is not a "private school" answer for you but Connecticut has a High School Esports competitive league. We have friends whose children participated from their public HS.

https://www.playvs.com/connecticut

[Anonymous]

Archbishop Carroll HS in DC, its near Catholic University.

https://www.archbishopcarroll.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=350094&type=d&pREC_ID=2120981

[Anonymous]

What is Esports? Wait...what I found is video game sports, is that it?

[Anonymous]

Gamers.

[Anonymous]

This site shows many schools with programs. Not all are private.

https://www.highschoolesportsleague.com/high-school-partnership/#our-schools

[Anonymous]

I'm going to guess that this won't be adopted quickly. My sense is private school parents don't want their kids doing esports seriously. I have a DS who would LOVE this and there's no way I'd let him get involved if it was offered at his school. So if you're wondering why it's not advertised or easy to find, that might be it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for sharing. "Scholastic esports" who knew?

[Anonymous]

My suspicion is this is a troll post, but if it isn't:
Why not have them join a team not at the high school?
It doesn't even have to be a dedicated esports league.
Loudoun Soccer has some e-sports teams.
There is a esports store at Dulles Town Center near the Lenscrafters that could probably give you a better answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My suspicion is this is a troll post, but if it isn't:
Why not have them join a team not at the high school?
It doesn't even have to be a dedicated esports league.
Loudoun Soccer has some e-sports teams.
There is a esports store at Dulles Town Center near the Lenscrafters that could probably give you a better answer.

It certainly is not a troll post. I don't think you understand what trolling is, haha.

I am referring to an Esports Program that is more than just 'gaming'. Something that has set practices, league games, strategy practices and game match breakdown, etc. A school that treats it as a sport, and doesn't just let kids game at all times. Set times, with physical workouts attached with the team. I'm not sure if any of you are aware, but that are millions of dollars of scholarship money available for student-e-athletes looking to go post-secondary in Esports (and often are going in to Engineering or some sort of Science/Computer program). A few years ago the school that won the national title gave all 16 of their kids full scholarships after winning.

In short, don't knock it because you don't understand it.

[Anonymous]

Esports is a varsity sport at St John's College High School in DC. They have a dedicated room, a lot of equipment, practices, and league play.

That said, it's a beginning program, so on the one hand easy to get in on the ground floor. On the other hand, maybe not as developed/competitive as you might like.

My kid started playing on the team this year and played Mario Cart, and really had a fun time. We're just starting touring colleges, several SLAC mentioned esports lounges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing. "Scholastic esports" who knew?

This isn't new. There have been college scholarships for eSports for quite a while now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gamers.

Yep. Trying to turn an addiction into a school PE requirement, nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Esports is a varsity sport at St John's College High School in DC. They have a dedicated room, a lot of equipment, practices, and league play.

That said, it's a beginning program, so on the one hand easy to get in on the ground floor. On the other hand, maybe not as developed/competitive as you might like.

My kid started playing on the team this year and played Mario Cart, and really had a fun time. We're just starting touring colleges, several SLAC mentioned esports lounges.

Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gamers.

Yep. Trying to turn an addiction into a school PE requirement, nice!

Can we just stop with the addiction thing? Not everything someone enjoys is an "addiction" just because you don't like it. People who have real addictions can become addicted to anything: gambling, shopping, drugs, alcohol, sex, cigarettes, sugar, porn, smartphones, snapchat, TikTok, food, exercise, hair pulling, eating dirt, shoplifting. Is everyone who gambles, shops, smokes pot, has a glass of wine, has a smart phone, exercises regularly, or has sex, etc. etc. etc. an addict? No. Same with gaming. It can be harmless, social, a hobby or a job.