Esports: The New Sports Trend in Education
Last May, I attended the Sports Video Group College Summit in Atlanta. This event brings colleges from all over the county to talk about their sports coverage efforts. Literally hundreds of colleges are represented. Wednesday night is an opening reception. Thursday is a day of presentations and meetings with vendors. Friday’s schedule originally had me scratching my head. Friday was to be all about esports.
I almost didn’t go. I thought, “Why waste my time? I need to focus on the real sports. It’s only half a day. Why drive 3 hours round trip to get 4 hours of information about something I’ll never do?”
Fast forward to December. I’m talking with the school’s athletic director saying, “Yeah, let’s give it a try.” We were going to start an esports team at the school to begin in January and see what happens.
We weren’t just going rogue and starting the team. We were actually going to create a GHSA sanctioned team. Our esports team is under the same governors as the football and basketball teams… actually all of the traditional sports teams, drama, and literary competitions in Georgia.
So why? Why would I - in a world where I already have hundreds of live broadcasts planned, a CTSO that needs to be managed, and a wife and two kids at home - take on leading a new venture like this? Because I believe that in 5 years, esports is going to eclipse several of the traditional sports in terms of number of players and the amount of support from the student body.
In Paul Richards’ new book, Esports in Education, you will see, just like I did, that Esports is taking over in what has been a rumbling subculture for years. The book takes a look at the history of video games, shows the details of how the culture has grown both in society and in education. This book is a one stop shop for everything you need to get up to speed on the world of esports and how to get started in your school.
Esports in Education gives you a glimpse at the timeline for the birth of the esports culture in great detail. While I am one who doesn’t think history is too important for things like this, Richards puts the info in a way that helps me understand the relevance. The birth of esports in the 1970s through the current state of sold out arenas and billion dollar annual sales is clearly detailed not only in terms of chronology but with the reasoning for the growth.
In reading the book, I realized that I am not truly the digital native that I thought I was and am certainly not on top of the esports world. I am much closer to it at this point, and, if you feel like you are on the outside looking in, you have to pick up this book. Terms like PVP and MOBA are such a part of the vernacular that it can be overwhelming. Esports in Education details not only the full name of these acronyms but also gives you examples so you can go further your research.
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome in the growth of esports is communication with those “on the outside.” Those who aren’t aware of the sold out arenas or don’t care about the “fad.” Richards covers not only some of the college programs who have great programs but also the potential careers in gaming. These details go far as you may have to sell the idea of an esports team to an administrator or parent or even to your students.
Finally, Richards - who I believe, will one day realize that his calling is actually in education - gives you what it takes to get a team started, how you can produce a stream of your games, and how to integrate the needs of the student into your pitch to your admin or other support teams.
I don’t make a lot of guarantees, but I can make one about esports. They aren’t going away. They aren’t going to fade. They are going to grow and now is the time to jump on board. If you are a video production instructor, this plays right into your wheelhouse. You most likely have computers in your control. You most likely have the best computers in the building. You have the ability to connect those computers to the internet and you have the kids who are already playing most of the games. Take a week, read about an hour or so a day, and get up to speed on what’s happening in the world of esports. I am kicking myself that I waited this long to get ours started.
My students are loud and they are literally buzzing with excitement, and that isn’t usually what fills my heart but in this case, I honestly can’t get enough. Go check out Esports in Education right now and see if you can find another way to fill your heart and change some kids’ lives.
Meet the Author, Tom White
Tom White is the digital media instructor at Morgan County High School in Madison, GA. Currently teaching TV production and animation pathways, Tom's programs have received state and national honors including the 2016 NFHS Network School Broadcast Program Of The Year.
Prior to teaching, Tom was a marketing, promotions, and online content director for a major radio corporation in Atlanta. Tom studied exercise science at High Point University prior to his radio career. Despite his winding career path, his mother still thinks he is special.
