How Competitive Gaming Is Becoming Part of School Sports Culture

A lot of us enjoy the best sports games just for the fun and friendly competition. Others take it a bit more seriously. The rise of Esports and streamers plays directly into the success of sports games. Esports in particular involve key skills such as teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking. Of course, these are values that schools want to instill in their students, which is why competitive gaming, including sports games, is getting more recognition. 

As CBS News recently reported, students from HARTs High School in New York City recently won multiple statewide and nationwide Esports league competitions. Interestingly enough, the school has its own Esports programs with dedicated labs (with high refresh rate monitors), coaches, and training schedules. 

Esports Certainly Isn’t Niche Anymore

Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, competitive gaming consisted of local arcade competitions and LAN parties. Games like DOOM and Quake fostered “hardcore” communities, and gamers were, quite frankly, clowned on. This all started to change with games like Counter-Strike 1.6, the early Call of Duty Modern Warfare series, and even FIFA 2005. In 2004, we saw the first official large-scale FIFA esports tournament, and the scene has evolved heavily since. There was more excitement, real stakes, and the beginning of mainstream attention. 

In modern times, organizations like the High School Esports League (HSEL) and PlayVS partner with state athletic associations for structured seasons. These seasons consist of scholarship pipelines, diverse participation, and professional infrastructure. Some teachers and faculty from HARTs High School advocate for Esports as a path to involvement in coding, game design, and data analytics. 

Schools are also finding that students who won’t otherwise join a traditional sports team are more than willing to sign up for Esports programs. Not really a surprise, because what teenager isn’t at least a little bit interested in games? It’s also changing how schools think about their computer labs. The PCs needed for games like Marvel Rivals or Valorant are the same machines needed for high-level video editing and 3D modeling.

Of course, there are also clear financial incentives here. Like football or basketball, tere a massive college recruitment scene for gamers. Hundreds of universities offer millions of dollars in scholarships to top players. These colleges aren’t just looking for high scores either; they want top performers who can work well under pressure.