MHSEL Horizontal Logo Fall 2022

MHSEL is hosted by Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) and the Michigan Association of Student Councils & Honors Societies (MASC/MAHS) in partnership with PlayVS. Our mission is to provide safe, competitive, and curricular environments that allow student athletes the opportunity to build critical skill sets, explore vast career paths, and contribute to their school culture within varsity esports. Our vision is to be Michigan's elite high school esports league. 

You can establish an esports program in your school with little to no experience while fitting any budget. All you need is computers/consoles, players and a coach, we provide everything else your esports program needs. Please refer to the information below to learn about esports and how to get started at your school.

Welcome to MHSEL

We provide a robust online platform that enables schools to easily build and manage teams, check schedules, and track stats, all with real-time support.

Our platform partner, PlayVS, is where varsity esports happens. As a varsity athlete, the level of competition never stops improving and that makes your potential championship that much more impressive. Students have the opportunity to compete in 11 of the most popular game titles for FREE (as of 11/14/23). Student athletes can join a team and represent their school in competitions across the state in an unrivaled esports experience!

  • Chess (PC/Mac/Tablet/Mobile, 3 players)
    • Middle School
    • High School – Regional League
  • Fortnite (Cross-Platform, 2 players per team)
    • High School Only – Regional League
  • Hearthstone (PC/Console, 3 players)
    • High School Only – Regional League
  • League of Legends (PC & Mac,  5 players)
    • High School Only – JV & Varsity State Leagues
  • Madden NFL (PS5, Xbox Series X/S & PC, Solo player) 
    • Middle School 
    • High School – State League
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch, 4 players)
    • Middle School
    • High School – JV & Varsity State Leagues
  • NBA 2K25 (PS5 & Xbox Series X/S, Solo player)
    • Middle School 
    • High School – State League
  • Overwatch2 (PC/Console, 5 players)
    • High School Only – JV & Varsity State Leagues
  • Rocket League (PC/Console, 3 players)
    • Middle School (13+)
    • High School – JV & Varsity State Leagues
  • Splatoon 3 (Nintendo Switch, 4 players)
    • Middle School
    • High School – JV & Varsity State Leagues
  • Street Fighter 6 (Cross-Platform, 3 Players)
    • High School Only – Regional
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo Switch, 3 players) 
    • Middle School
    • High School – JV & Varsity State Leagues
  • Valorant (PC, 5 players)
    • High School Only – JV & Varsity State Leagues

*Schools may only enter one team in each Varsity Division per game title. Multiple teams may be entered in the JV Division. Click here to read the full JV and Varsity Division Policy. 

The official home of Michigan high school esports page contains registration information, season info, titles, league standings, statistics, and past champions; schedule a consultation or sign up to get started. Visit the PlayVS Michigan Page

View MHSEL Fact Sheet updated August 2024

View MHSEL Infographic updated February 2024

Why MHSEL? updated August 2024

State League Game Title Policy updated June 2023

Past Michigan State Champions

  • 2020-21 School Year 
    • League of Legends Fall 2020: East Kentwood High School
    • Rocket League Fall 2020: Dakota High School
    • League of Legends Spring 2021: Troy High School
    • Rocket League Spring 2021: Dakota High School
  • 2021-22 School Year
    • League of Legends Fall 2021: East Kentwood High School
    • Rocket League Fall 2021: Dakota High School
    • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fall 2021: Novi High School
    • League of Legends Spring 2022: Bloomfield Hills High School
    • Rocket League Spring 2022: Byron Center High School
    • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Spring 2022: Bloomfield Hills High School
  • 2022-23 School Year
    • League of Legends Fall 2022: Novi High School
    • Rocket League Fall 2022: Divine Child High School
    • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fall 2022: Bloomfield Hills High School
    • League of Legends Spring 2023: Novi High School
    • Rocket League Spring 2023: Linden High School
    • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Spring 2023: Rochester Adams High School
  • 2023-24 School Year
    • Madden NFL24 Fall 2023: East Kentwood High School
    • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Fall 2023: Richmond High School
    • Overwatch 2 Fall 2023: Rockford High School
    • Rocket League Fall 2023: Linden High School
    • Splatoon 3 Fall 2023: West Bloomfield High School
    • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fall 2023: Detroit Catholic Central High School
    • League of Legends Spring 2024: East Kentwood High School
    • Madden NFL24 Spring 2024: Taylor High School
    • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Spring 2024: Richmond High School
    • NBA 2K Spring 2024: Belleville High School
    • Overwatch 2 Spring 2024: Rockford High School
    • Rocket League Spring 2024: Detroit Catholic Central High School
    • Splatoon 3 Spring 2024: Bloomfield Hills High School
    • Super Smash Bros Ultimate (Main) Spring 2024: Detroit Catholic Central High School
    • Super Smash Bros Ultimate (Silver) Spring 2024: Northville High School
    • Valorant Spring 2024: Novi High School

Who's Playing?

MHSEL Current Season Heat Map
(click on map to enlarge)

MHSEL Spring2024 Heat Map

Click to View list of Schools Enrolled

Google Map of Schools for the 2024 Spring Season

List of Schools that have Participated in MHSEL (coming soon)

MHSEL Community E-Newsletter | Game On

The goal of this publication is to provide educators with important announcements, information and insight on all things esports and its connection to students and education. Featuring a mix of media, Game On has content that has been curated and created by students, coaches, administrators, college and professional gamers, and industry professionals. The esports movement is continuing to grow and MHSEL wants to help schools harness the power of competitive gaming to support student opportunities and inclusivity.

Fall 2024 Season Info: Join for FREE!

Join MHSEL this Fall - Complete the Interest Survey Below

Fall '24 Interest Survey

Season Info for BOTH Middle & High School 

  • New Coaches Webinar | September 9 at 3 PM 
  • Fall Coach's Meeting | Required for High School & Optional for Middle School
    • Option 1 | September 16 at 3 PM
    • Option 2 | September 18 at 7 PM 

Fall 2024 Season Details 

High School Schedule

Important Season Dates

  • Enrollment open: NOW
  • Preseason Starts: 9/9
  • Preseason Ends: 9/20
  • Enrollment Deadline: 9/20
  • Regular Season Starts: 9/23
  • Shoutcaster Showdown (high school students)
    • Virtual Round 1 Entires Due: 10/18 @ 5 PM
    • Finals Competition in Person: 11/9 @ Ferris State University
  • Regular Season Ends: 11/15
  • Thanksgiving Break: 11/20-11/24
  • Playoffs: 11/18** - 12/7
  • In-Person Concluding Event: 12/7 at Michigan State University

Weekly Schedule (Games will be played at 4pm EST)

  • Mondays: Practice Day!
    • The Global Practice Day Scrimmage Queue is open for all titles on Mondays from 12-7 PM PST.
    • Coaches and players will receive in-app notifications. Coaches will be able to join the practice queue.
  • Tuesdays: League of Legends, Splatoon™ 3, Chess, VALORANT*, Street Fighter 6
  • Wednesdays: Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate, NBA 2K25, Overwatch 2*
  • Thursdays: Rocket League, Madden NFL 25, Mario Kart™ 8 Deluxe, Hearthstone, Fortnight: Zone Wars*

Additional Important Details for High School

  • Any team that forfeits three (3) or more regular season matches will not be eligible for Playoffs or Championships.
  • Playoff Start dates & times may vary per league based on factors like bracket size, state league accommodations, broadcast accommodations, or game launch accommodations.
  • More specific playoff information will be found in PlayVS on your schedule page midway through the Regular Season.
  • Due to the length of period for playoffs to take place before finals, Playoff matches will occur on different days of the week than the regular season.
  • Winning teams may also be required to play multiple times in a week as they progress through the Playoffs.

Middle School Schedule

Important Season Dates

  • Enrollment open: NOW
  • Preseason Starts: 9/9
  • Preseason Ends: 9/20
  • Enrollment Deadline: 9/20
  • Regular Season Starts: 9/23
  • Regular Season Ends: 12/13

Weekly Schedule (Games will be played at 4pm EST)

  • Mondays: Practice Day!
    • The Global Practice Day Scrimmage Queue is open for all titles on Mondays from 12-7 PM PST.
    • Coaches and players will receive in-app notifications. Coaches will be able to join the practice queue.
  • Tuesdays: NBA 2K25, Chess(Kids), Splatoon 3
  • Wednesdays: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Madden NFL 25
  • Thursdays: Rocket League (13+), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Start Your Team Today

All esports teams are coach-led to provide a similar structure to any traditional high school sport. PlayVS helps support both coaches and schools by providing resources, training materials, webinars, workshops and a thriving coach community to take the guesswork out of starting and running a program. And the PlayVS platform makes match day a breeze with seamless publisher integrations, scheduling, robust statistics and live support.

Spring 2024 Esports 101 Webinar 

View Slide Deck

Spring 2024 Esports New Coaches Webinar

View Slide Deck

PlayVS Resources

 

ROADMAP: Ensure your esports program is prepared for success and download the Esports Roadmap. The PlayVS Esports Roadmap is an interactive, comprehensive, start-to-finish guide for all coaches to utilize throughout the school year. Download the guide for resources on how to create a coach account, prepare for upcoming matches and what to do post-season. Don't forget to check out the helpful resource links within the PDF!

How To Video Series

Coach Resource Center: Includes items such as: coach handbook, coach checklist, how-tos, building your program, tryouts-practice-match guides, scrimmaging and more! (Current Coach Handbook w/ downloadable/printable version)

Ready to take the next step?

Registration is the first step to prepare your school’s team for competitive play. The PlayVS coach dashboard allows for easy management of your school's esports program. You'll be automatically notified when the season starts and if you have outstanding management obligations. Creating an account and building a school profile usually takes less than 30 minutes.

  1. Recruit Interested Students: Use this quick, readymade, Student Interest Survey to gain a better understanding for the level of interest in your building and which competitive games your students want to compete in. Schools can have multiple teams playing multiple game titles. 
  2. Schedule a Consultation Call with a PlayVS expert to walk you through any assistance you may need — technical, organizational, anything; email michigan@playvs.com
  3. Get your Administration's Approval
  4. Sign up at PlayVS.com then have your students do the same. Quick and easy!
  5. Connect with your IT Department
  6. Determine your Program's Capacity
  7. Build Your Program
  8. Get Ready to Compete! Verify students at your school, assign them to an esports team and activate your teams (see How to Start Guide and High School Enrollment Steps for additional details).
  9. Match time! Now, you’re ready to compete. Practice up and get ready for your first match! 
Get Your Gear Customized!

Get Your Esports Gear Customized! 

We are excited to announce that ESPORTSGEAR will become the official apparel partner for the Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL) for the 2023-24 school year!  EsportsGear is a leader in the esports apparel industry and works with many high school, collegiate, amateur and professional organizations all across the country.  Many of our very own Michigan colleges utilize EsportsGear including Alma, Concordia, Oakland University and Western Michigan University to name just a few.  

By creating a league-wide partnership with EsportsGear, high school programs will be able to:

  1. Access a large variety of apparel items including jerseys, hats, hoodies, mousepads, flags, and more!
  2. Work with an artist to design one-of-a-kind apparel showcasing your school logo and colors
  3. Create a virtual school esports store to sell merchandise to peers and family members and generate revenue to your school through the sales of apparel

MHSEL has already create our own store which will allow you to see the design quality and ease of browsing and ordering gear. Click here to check it out!

Esports Gear Store Screenshot

If you are ready to take the next step with your school’s esports apparel, please refer to the resources below to get started:

We will be providing additional resources to help walk schools who are interested in setting up a store.  

*Please note that schools are not required to use EsportsGear and are welcome to pursue other vendors; however, revenue kickbacks to schools are higher with the more programs we have involved.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ryan Cayce, Director of Esports, at ryan@mhsel.org. 

High School Awards & Honors

MHSEL is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the incredible achievements of our players and coaches. These awards honor individuals who exemplify the league's mission and vision through their dedication, exceptional performance, sportsmanship and positive contributions to the MHSEL community.

Award Categories:

  • All-League (Each Season): Awarded to one player per team (coach discretion), recognized by a customizable digital certificate
  • All-State (Each Season): Awarded to top players in each game title, recognized by a certificate and a *potential*  invitation to participate in an All-State Exhibition Match
  • Player of the Year: Awarded to one outstanding player in each MHSEL game title, receiving a commemorative plaque
  • Coach of the Year: Recognizing an exceptional coach (or director), receiving a commemorative plaque

Nomination Criteria and Deadlines:

Coming Soon for Fall All-State

Judging Process:

Nominations will be evaluated by a committee consisting of MHSEL staff, Advisory Board members, and college/pro partners, ensuring a fair and comprehensive selection process.

Award Ceremony:

The MHSEL Fall In-Person Championships will serve as the platform to present these prestigious awards to our deserving winners; December 7 at Michigan State University.

Submit a Nomination:

Coming Soon for Fall All-State

NOTE: Player and Coach of the Year Nominations do not open until the Spring Season

Click to View 2023-24 Award Winners

Middle School Esports

Start a Middle School Scholastic Esports Program Today!

Support student engagement and provide an extracurricular opportunity for middle school students at your school through the popular and exciting world of esports! 

Registration is Open!

MHSEL Middle School Program is now FREE to play with PlayVS. Our middle school program is centered around team play with the ultimate goal focused on student growth and fun! MHSEL Prep is Recreational, meaning there will not be a Playoffs or Finals phase for the Fall 2024 season.

Game Titles:

  • Chess 
  • Madden NFL 25
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
  • NBA 2K 25
  • Rocket League
  • Splatoon 3
  • Super Smash. Bros Ultimate

Enrollment Steps: How to create a team, enroll your team, verify & add players

Middle School Competition Rulebook

Learn More & Sign Up

FAQ for Middle School Leagues

What ages/grade levels can compete?
Students in grades 6-8 can participate. Any student under age 13 will need parent/adult permission. 

Important Dates

  • Fall ‘24 Enrollment Opens: 3/27/2024
  • Enrollment Closes: 9/20/24 at 11:59 PM local league time
  • Preseason: Weeks of 9/9/24 & 9/16/24
  • Regular Season: Weeks of 9/23/24 - 12/9/2024

Schedule

  • All matches start at 4:00 PM EST
  • Mondays: Practice Day!
    • The Global Practice Day Scrimmage Queue is open for all titles on Mondays from 12-7 PM PST.
    • Coaches and players will receive in-app notifications. Coaches will be able to join the practice queue.
  • Tuesdays: NBA 2K25, ChessKid, Splatoon 3
  • Wednesdays: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Madden NFL 25
  • Thursdays: Rocket League (13+), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
FAQ & Resources

What is Esports?

Esports, short for electronic sports, involves video games that are played in a competitive, typically team-based, environment which requires a great deal of strategy and communication. Similar to traditional sports, esports athletes practice and train to improve performance, scout teams and game plan for upcoming matches, make in-game adjustments, and more. Coaches oversee the overall development of players, manage the team rosters, make starting/bench/alternate decisions, monitor behavior and ensure sportsmanship is being followed. Games are traditionally played virtually and spectators can view matches on popular online streaming sites such as Twitch or YouTube.

Fundraising & Budget Resources

Sample Fundraising Letter for Schools

Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District Three Year Implementation Plan for Esports

Does MHSEL/PlayVS have a Special Olympics Unified League?

Yes, we do! Check out this link to learn more: Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools

What hardware is needed to play?

Are there any resources and trainings for Coaches specifically?

Is additional software needed for certain leagues?

  • Some console-based games require an online gaming subscription to play (i.e. PS Plus, Xbox Live, etc.).
  • Note: you will need to download or own the games - just depends on the game title. Rocket League and League of Legend are free to download. Madden, NBA and Nintendo games have a cost. 

Not receiving emails?

  • Unblock PlayVS emails
  • MHSEL sends emails from the domain @massp.com and @mhsel.org. Please make sure to have your district add these domains to your schools accessibility lists so you don't miss any information! 

What do Michigan Schools Say About Esports?

When are the Esports Seasons? 

  • Fall Season: September - December
  • Spring Season: February - May 

What Titles and Platforms are Available?

Are players able to compete remotely?

  • We fully support remote play, especially after experiencing COVID-19 pandemic. We don't want any students putting themselves or others at risk to come into school to play esports, if that school is operating on a hybrid or remote learning model.

Should Esports be a Varsity Sport?

Esports is a Varsity Sport 

The MASSP and MASC/MAHS has partnered with PlayVS to bring esports to high schools throughout Michigan. Esports, or competitive gaming, is the fastest-growing high school sport in the country and, much like traditional sports, requires teamwork, critical thinking and communication to achieve success. However, esports goes ever further to create a barrier-breaking, all-inclusive environment with a strong sense of community. All games are selected based on their competitiveness and strategy, and are rated E for Everyone.

MHSEL is not offering varsity letters or asking schools to change policies. MHSEL is offering a state sanctioned league in which schools can participate. This state sanctioned league offers a pathway to decide if they want to offer their students the opportunity to earn varsity letters via esports, as ultimately, schools determine the ability of which sports are letter sports. The National Federation of State High School Associations Network (NFHSA) has partnered with PlayVS to offer this letter opportunity to the schools that participate in state sanctioned leagues, but it is a local decision. 

Learn more about varsity leagues 

Are there benefits to esports? 

45% of students involved in esports haven’t participated in any other school sport or activity. Thousands of high schools across the country are reaching a new student population by offering esports and unlocking many benefits along the way.

From March 2022 Survey ... Improvements seen:

  • 91% in socializing
  • 83% in communication
  • 78% in leadership skills
  • 73% in mental health
  • 72% in sportsmanship
  • “I feel that I've become a bit more dedicated and lively to something, which helps me get a routine and participate in something besides school.”
  • “One student that I can point out has felt much more welcome in school. His parents reached out to us because they noticed a change in their sons attitude towards school.”

Why Esports Now

Benefits of Esports

Facts

  • $500-$3K annual operating budget; esports costs a fraction of other sports and offers similar benefits.
  • More than 200 colleges are offering +$20 million in esports scholarships!

Esports In Education

  • Student Achievement
  • Scholarships
  • Careers
  • Leadership/Teamwork
  • Digital Citizenship

Life Skills

  • Teamwork
  • Conceptual Thinking
  • Resiliency
  • Sportsmanship

Career Exploration

  • Art
  • Audio
  • Engineering
  • Data
  • Esports
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Facilities
  • IT
  • Game Design
  • Legal
  • Writing
  • Publishing
  • Quality Assurance
  • Professional Gamer

Additional Resources:

Meet the MHSEL Crew

MHSEL Advisory Board

Current AB-MHSEL 7.22.24

  • Region 1: Becky LaBrecque, Marquette (2025)
  • Region 2: Ashlie O’Connor, AMAESD (2026)
  • Region 3: Dave Droski, Mona Shores (2027)
  • Region 4: TBD (2025)
  • Region 5: Ginger Herzog, Bay City Central (2026)
  • Region 6: Sherri St. Clair, Linden (2027)
  • Region 7: Eric Heinz, Divine Child (2025)
  • At Large: Brady VanMalsen, Hudsonville (2026)
  • At Large: Chris White, Novi (2027)
  • At Large: Matt Money, Detroit Catholic Central (2025)
  • MS Rep: TBD(2026)
  • MS Rep: TBD (2027)
  • College Rep: Carl Leone, Oakland University (2025)

Region Map

MHSEL Partners

MHSEL works with partners to provide Michigan schools and students the best esports experience possible. A big shout out and thank you to our current partners!

Esports Partners as of July 2024

If you are interested in being a partner for the Michigan High School Esports League, hosted by MASSP and MASC/MAHS, please contact us at 517-327-5315.

MHSEL Staff

MHSEL Director

Ryan Headshot - HexagonRyan Cayce, ryan@massp.com

Ryan Cayce joined the MASSP team in September 2017. He started his career at Croswell-Lexington High School as a Business & Technology teacher where he taught and coached basketball for six years. Ryan moved into administration at Cros-Lex High School as the Assistant Principal and then Principal. He also served as Principal of Ubly Jr/Sr High School. Ryan holds a Bachelor's in Business Education from Western Michigan University and a Master's in Public Administration from U of M-Flint.

Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife, Amanda, and four children. As a family, they spend most of their time on the sports fields/courts, swimming, boating and watching the Detroit Lions. In his free time, Ryan also enjoys playing guitar and running.


MHSEL Assistant Director

Maggie Headshot - HexagonMaggie Helmer, maggie@massp.com

Maggie joined MASSP in June 2020. Maggie began her career in education at the Ionia County Intermediate School District in 2010 and prior to coming to MASSP worked at the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators for 4 years as their Executive Assistant. Maggie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in Community Leadership from Aquinas College and is a certified Mediator. 

Maggie grew up in Ionia and served on two nonprofit boards for a cumulative of 6 years. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, playing cards, working out, a good book, watching sports (Go Blue!), movie marathons, time with family/friends (especially at the lake or pool), and pushing herself outside her comfort zone (no matter how scary it may be).

Check Us Out (news & photos)

Spring 2024 Season

Fall 2023 Season, Explore Esports & Championship Event

2x Champion & Not Slowing Down

View Article on East Kentwood High School Student, Kymen Cartwright

2023 Spring Season & Championships at Western Michigan University

2022 Explore Esports Conference, Fall Season & Championships (Semi's & Finals)

2022 Spring Championships

2021 Fall Championships

2020 Fall League Creation 

Press Release of League Starting