Esports

Esports programs teach and reinforce skills such as teamwork, sportsmanship, strategizing, critical thinking, communication, and digital citizenship. They provide a path for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and can be a vital component of schools’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Colorado High School Activities Association

The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) added Esports as an officially sanctioned activity in 2022 after a probationary, three-year pilot period involving over 100 Colorado high school teams.

CHSAA’s Assistant Commissioner Rashaan Davis, says that Esports provide school communities with “another layer of belonging.” CHSAA Ex-Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green agrees, noting that Esports helps schools with “reaching out to a subset of kids that don’t want to play football, don’t want to play basketball, maybe don’t want to be in music and that’s really, truly, what CHSAA is.”

Many colleges and universities also offer Esports scholarships and degree programs.

Creating a Team

Creating and maintaining an Esports program is the responsibility of each school site. Considerations for team coordination should include:

Recruiting players and creating a process for team selection
Determining games
Creating, and enforcing rules/expectations/code of conduct
Communicating with players’ parents and the greater school community
A dedicated space for practice and virtual competition.
Recognizing successful players, promoting the team, etc.

Responsibilities

Students: Participate actively on the team; follow established rules/guidelines; maintain CHSAA eligibility; assist in selecting games, recruiting members, and promoting the team and its successes.
Coach: Designate space and time for Esports, establish and enforce rules/guidelines, recruit members, ensure player eligibility, communicate regularly with parents, administrators, and the school community, and promote the team.
Principal: Support the coach and team with coordination and consult with District staff as needed; determine eligibility expectations.
District: Support Esports program coordination as needed.