FLINT, Mich. — Electronic sports, also known as Esports, has seen large growth in recent years.
What started as a way for enthusiasts to make money and pursue careers in video gaming is now making its way into classroom at the high school and college level.
“It’s a career down the road for some of these kids,” said Linden High School Esports Coach, Sherri St. Clair. “And then for the other ones it’s a way to meet people.”
According to the Pew Research Center 85% of U.S. teens say that they play video games and 41% say they play at least once a day.
“It’s a way to learn more about themselves, their communication skills, how they can work together with other people just at teamwork,” said St. Clair.
With the growing number of gamers, many schools have added Esports programs as another way for students to be involved in after school programs and activities.
“For students that want to find a connection in their school and maybe aren’t athletes, this is a great way for those students to get involved and to find their spot to find their people, their community,” said St. Clair.
While some have disagreed with the idea of gaming making it way into schools, St. Clair. says that gaming and Esports are different.
“So getting into Esports is different than just gaming. Getting into Esports means you’re working with a team and you’re communicating, you’re on a schedule, you’re learning how to further your skill other than just playing for fun,” said St. Clair.
A major difference between gaming and Esports is that the latter only involves, online, multiplayer games where participants compete against each other individually or as a team. similar to student athletics, team members have their own space at school to practice, work on team chemistry, and compete.
You’re in a space next to your teammate, you’re able to have that like personal one-on-one connection of comfort rather than just like trying to like have that connection online where it’s not face to face, and it’s kind of harder to feel,” said University of Michigan, Flint, Esports program manager Luke Rimarcik.
Those who take part in Esports also say that it provides various benefits and valuable skills including social skills, leadership and more.
Corbin Nauenburg and Matthew Nelsey are both on the Esports team at Linden High School and they mention various benefits that they have seen since being on the Esports team.
“A lot of teamwork, because a lot of the games you have to strategize with other people and come up with a okay, and you get better at logistics,” said Nauenburg. “I picked up very good hand-eye coordination, also communication, that’s a really big one I have been able to communicate and talk more,” said Nelsey.
Esports are also giving high school students a chance to further their education.
“I’ve had colleges reach out to me and contact me and talk to me about ‘Hey, I want you on my team, we’re going to give you a scholarship for playing for us, and that’s not even just for me gaming that is setting me up for a career for the rest of my life,” said Nelsey.
The benefits of being on an Esports team don’t stop at the collegiate level either, Rimarcik says that there are more jobs that be accessed through Esports than people may think.
“Students are learning not only great skills within casting, production, technical equipment, but like there are so many opportunities to like learn and grow within an Esports program, so just because it’s gaming doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from it,” said Rimarcik.
This year in Michigan alone will have more than 200 schools and 3,700 students that will compete at the high school level. Rimarcik says that at the college level his program is growing by about 20 students a year.
If you would like to learn more about how Esports are guiding students, click this link to head straight to the Michigan High School Esports League website.