6 Steps to Start a Successful Esports Program in K-12

In recent years, the world of competitive gaming, known as esports, has skyrocketed in popularity, captivating millions of players and spectators worldwide. With its rapid growth, many educational institutions are recognizing the value of integrating esports into their curriculum, providing students with unique opportunities for skill development, teamwork, and even scholarships. If you're considering starting an esports program in your middle or high school, here's a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process effectively.

1. Define Your Vision for the Program

Every successful endeavor begins with a clear vision. Before diving into the logistics, take the time to define the purpose and goals of your esports program. Consider questions like:

Questions to consider:

• What do we hope to achieve through this program?
• How will esports contribute to the overall educational experience of our students?
• What values and skills do we want to instill in participants?
• How will the program align with the school's mission and values?

Having a well-defined vision will guide your decisions throughout the planning and implementation stages, ensuring that your program remains focused and impactful.

2. Conduct a Needs Assessment

Once you have a vision in place, assess the resources and infrastructure necessary to bring your vision to life. This includes:

1. Equipment: Determine what gaming hardware and software you'll need, such as gaming PCs, consoles, monitors, jerseys, and peripherals. While many districts might face some sticker shock when investigating equipment costs, keep in mind that in comparison to other sports equipment costs, esports tends to fall on the lower end of the spectrum and can be customized to fit your needs/budget
2. Facilities: Identify a suitable space for practices, competitions, and meetings. Consider factors like internet connectivity, seating arrangements, and ventilation. While it may be ideal to have a dedicated esports lab, not every school has the space/budget to build such a facility. Gaming laptops are a great fit for some, as they offer flexibility/mobility for esports programs that can be hosted in different locations.
3. Staffing: Decide who will oversee the program, including coaches, advisors, and technical support personnel. Oftentimes, esports is considered a part of an athletics organization, especially when competing with other schools in your region.?
4. Student Interest: Gauge student interest through surveys or informal discussions to determine potential participation levels.
5. Age-Appropriate Games: ?Students play a wide variety of video games in their free time, some of which might not be suitable for school. First-person shooter games (FPS) might not be the best fit for younger students or districts where stakeholders might push back on violence. It is best to check out the ESRB Ratings Guide for video games when determining what games you would like to include in your esports program. For younger students, games like Rocket League, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, FIFA, Madden, and NBA 2K are a great fit as they are rated E or E10+. For older students, games like Valorant, Overwatch 2, League of Legends, and Apex Legends may be added as their ESRB rating of T (Teen 13+) means while they may contain some blood and violence, they are not unsuitable for school.?

By understanding your specific needs, you can create a realistic plan for acquiring resources and garnering support from stakeholders.?

Below is a list of companies that are experts in the K-12 technology space that offer consulting as you put together a needs assessment and begin examining your esports options:

1. PowerUpEDU
2. STEMfinity
3. Southern Educational Systems
4. STS EDUCATION
5. VEDX Solutions Inc
6. PCS Edventures
7. Educational Technology Consultants, Inc.

3. ExamineYour School Budget

Esports programs require financial investment, but they can also yield significant returns in terms of student engagement and skill development. Work closely with school administrators to evaluate the budgetary implications of starting an esports program.?

Consider factors such as:

• Equipment costs: Calculate the expenses associated with purchasing gaming hardware, software licenses, and peripherals.
• Facility expenses: Estimate the costs of setting up and maintaining a dedicated esports space, including utilities and furnishings.
• Personnel expenses: Determine the compensation for coaches, advisors, and support staff, if applicable.
• Funding sources: Explore potential sources of funding, such as grants, sponsorships, and partnerships with local businesses or gaming organizations.

By conducting a thorough budget analysis, you can develop a financial plan that aligns with your program's goals and objectives. Remember, you do not NEED to have a large budget to start an esports program, you can always start small with a few pieces of equipment, have students bring in the necessary equipment, or even run the program using a remote coaching model that has students practicing/competing from home using personal devices.

Below are different types of funding and grants I have seen schools utilize to start esports programs:

Federal Funding

• American Rescue Plan & ESSER Funding?
• Title I?
• Title IV
• Title V
• Title VII
• Perkins V
• California Prop 28, ELO-P
• Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC)

Grants

• Video Games and Esports Foundation (VEF)
• Great Public Schools (GPS) Fund
• National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE)
• Afterschool Alliance
• ByteSpeed
• STEM Grants
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Extron: Education Technology Grant Program

4. Find Effective Curriculum and Coaching

Esports isn't just about playing games—it's also about developing valuable skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.?

Design a curriculum that integrates these skills into the gaming experience, offering students a well-rounded educational opportunity. Additionally, recruit knowledgeable and experienced coaches who can provide guidance, mentorship, and support to student-athletes both in and out of the game.

I often compare esports to track and field when looking into a coaching structure. Similar to how track and field have several different events that require different skills (running, jumping, throwing, etc..), esports also has several games students are competing in which require vastly different skill sets. It may be beneficial to have multiple coaches or assistant coaches who specialize in one game, depending on the size of your program.

Because esports is relatively new in comparison to existing sports programs, coaching and curriculum can be difficult for schools to locate. STEM Forged , an educational technology company that has been around for several years, might be a great fit as they support educators in providing turn-key solutions for esports curriculum and coaching. With high-quality and standards-aligned curriculum, professional development for teachers, analytics hubs for tracking student progress, and fully remote coaches, they can support you in any stage of your esports journey.

Something schools may want to offer to elevate the educational experience of students, are courses that explore career pathways in the gaming industry including:

• Video Game Design
• Animation
• 3D Modeling
• VR/AR Development
• Shoutcasting/Esports Journalism
• Streaming
• Coding

5. Join an Esports League

Participating in organized leagues and tournaments can enhance the competitive experience for your students and provide opportunities for networking and skill development. Research different esports leagues and organizations that cater to middle and high school students. Joining a league can also help your program gain recognition and legitimacy within the esports community. Leagues range in size, games students compete in, and many offer in-person playoff opportunities for teams to compete and connect with others in the gaming community.

For newer programs, it may be beneficial to spend a semester or year in the “club” phase with your team before joining a league. This will allow you to build interest in the program, begin forming groups of students for different esports teams, and give students ample time to work on their skills before jumping into a competitive league.?

Located below is a list of different companies that organize leagues in the United States and the different games they offer:

1. PlayVS -Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, League of Legends, Rocket League, NBA2K, Madden, Hearthstone, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon, Chess, Valorant
2. Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations - Rocket League, Overwatch, Chess, Minecraft, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, DOTA 2, Tekken 7, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Fortnite, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Hearthstone
3. United States Academic Esports League United States Academic Esports League (USAEL) - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, League of Legends, Rocket League, Fortnite, Overwatch, FIFA, Madden, Valorant
4. High School Esports LeagueHigh School Esports League (HSEL) & Middle School Esports League (MSEL) - Rocket League, Valorant, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Brawhalla, Splatoon, Mario Kart, Apex Legends, Minecraft, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Halo Infinite, Rainbow Six Seige
5. *State Specific Esports Leagues

It is best to spend time researching the different leagues in your state, many of which partner with the companies listed above.?

6. Defining Success and Growth for the Program

Success in esports can be measured in various ways, from winning championships to fostering personal growth and skill development. Define what success looks like for your program and establish benchmarks for progress.

Additionally, prioritize continuous improvement and adaptability, seeking feedback from students, coaches, and other stakeholders to refine your approach over time. Embrace opportunities for growth, whether it's expanding the program to include new games or recruiting a more diverse group of participants.

Starting an esports program in middle or high school requires careful planning, resource allocation, and commitment, but the benefits for students can be profound. By following these six steps and staying true to your vision, you can create a successful and sustainable esports program that enriches the educational experience of your students for years to come.