Esports

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Why it works

Scholastic esports (organized competitive gaming) has grown rapidly, and well-designed programs are about much more than playing: they build teamwork and communication, strategic thinking and analysis, leadership, and digital and technical skills, and they connect to a large, growing industry with diverse careers (not just professional play, but game design, broadcasting, event management, marketing, coaching, and technology). Importantly, esports often engages and provides belonging for students who are not drawn to traditional sports or activities. Strong programs are intentional about the learning and skill-building, the career connections (including STEM and media pathways), healthy habits, and inclusive, positive team culture, treating esports as a vehicle for genuine development, not just recreation.

The research: Scholastic esports and CTE research.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

The core activity: make esports a vehicle for development

Teachers leave with an intentional, development-focused esports plan.

Build teamwork, strategy, communication, and leadership through the program.
Connect to the industry and careers (design, broadcasting, events, coaching, tech, STEM).
Foster healthy habits and an inclusive, positive team culture.
Use esports to engage and give belonging to students who need it.

More than playing gamesThe best esports programs build teamwork, strategy, and digital-career connections, and give belonging to students who need it. Be intentional about development, not just recreation.

Facilitator notes

Build teamwork, strategy, communication, and leadership.
Connect to industry and careers.
Foster healthy habits and inclusive culture; use it for belonging.

Unstructured gaming is not an esports programJust letting students play builds little. Be intentional about teamwork, strategy, careers, healthy habits, and inclusive culture, so esports becomes real development.

Adapt it

Middle school: teamwork, strategy, healthy habits, belonging.
High school: teamwork, strategy, careers, leadership.
All settings: intentional development, careers, inclusive culture.

Participant handout

One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

K12 Academics · Professional Learning

Esports: a vehicle for development

More than playing: teamwork, strategy, digital careers, healthy habits, inclusive culture, and belonging.

How I build teamwork, strategy, communication, and leadership:
The industry and careers I connect to:
The healthy habits and inclusive culture I foster:
How esports gives belonging to students who need it:
A way to make the program more intentional:

Make it stick

A vehicle for development:

Make esports a vehicle for development.
Connect to careers.
Bring an esports-program idea to the next PLC.

Common questions

Isn't esports just kids playing video games?

Well-designed programs build teamwork, strategy, communication, leadership, and digital skills, and connect to a large industry (design, broadcasting, events, coaching, tech). And they engage students who might not otherwise belong.

What's the educational value?

Teamwork, strategic thinking, communication, leadership, digital and technical skills, career connections (STEM and media), and belonging for students who are not drawn to traditional activities.

What makes a strong program?

Intentionality about learning and skill-building, career connections, healthy habits, and an inclusive, positive team culture, treating esports as development, not just recreation.