The Newspaper of Record since 1878

Esports program creates opportunities for non-athletes

Posted

“Remember map awareness and good communication skills are key,” said Coach Max Madewell as he addressed the GHS Esports team before an online match on Feb. 25.

Madewell, who normally teaches World History, was excited and optimistic about the new program. “Esports is unlike traditional sports,” said Madewell. “Anyone with skill and the desire to improve can join a team.” Members include both boys and girls along with students of any grade level. “All we ask is that they commit to the team, attend practices and tournaments,” said Madewell.

Team members use both desktop computers and X-Box game consoles to participate in online tournaments against other schools and to play against each other. On Thursday, five members of the team played SMITE, an online multiplayer game where students have to work together to destroy an enemy base. “SMITE focuses on communication and cooperation skills,” said Madewell. “It’s a great game for us to practice with.”

Globe’s esports team works on the PlayVS High School platform. PlayVS operates state leagues in partnership with 23 state associations and regional leagues nationwide. The group allows players to compete for prizes and merchandise. They plan to give away $900,000 in scholarships to students looking for a future in gaming and STEM based careers.

According to Thom Fain from PlayVS, many schools are quickly finding out esports is a non-contact sport that doubles an opportunity to generate pathways to modern careers. Many of these future jobs are centered around the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). So what kind of careers is esports promoting for future GHS graduates? STEM based careers in coding, data analytics, statistics and math could mark a bright future for these esports gamers.

Freshman gamer Jacob Kittrell said, “It’s fun! It can provide a lot of scholarship opportunities related to esports and also STEM. Your PlayVS account gets looked at by colleges and it shows that you’re a good team player or that you communicate well.”

Globe’s esports team is getting ready to play against other schools this spring. Their regular season kicks off on March 1 and goes until April 22. On April 26 teams will compete in a playoff situation, with championships finalized on May 8.

For more information on the esports program contact coaches Max Madewell and Sean McDonald at Globe Schools. The program is still growing and coaches hope that community members will take notice and possibly donate to a future expansion.