MASSP recently announced a new opportunity for students to get involved with Esports. When I say “new opportunity” I mean from the perspective of a statewide league with a playoff and championship structure- the concept of Esports is certainly not new for our students. I can say with almost 100% certainty if you sent a communication to your student body and asked how many students play SMITE, Rocket League and/or League of Legends you will get many “yups” in response. These games will be the options for those who choose to compete in the newly formed Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL).
You might be wondering, why do we want to promote Esports? Shouldn’t we look for ways to get kids off their devices rather than on them? You may be surprised to learn that Esports has really taken off and has a strong presence at the collegiate level in Michigan (UM, MSU, EMU, WMU just to name a few) and nationally. The games on the MHSEL platform are “strategy games”. They promote critical and conceptual thinking, teamwork, resiliency and sportsmanship. The students currently playing these games independently can now be engaged as Varsity athletes with the same type of structure provided by the MHSAA inclusive of coaches training, eligibility and rules. Esports are co-ed and are an excellent way to engage girls in a STEM related activity.
Last year my school, Bay City Central HS, had students participate in Esports. Many participants experienced what it felt like to be part of a team. Esports provides an opportunity for students to develop their skills in ways like leadership, responsibility, and perseverance. Sending a team to a Championship Tournament opened their eyes to opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to experience. Our Region has participated and promoted Esports so we look forward to seeing schools statewide begin to participate through the expanded network of the Michigan High School Esports League that MASSP will be running.
As Assistant Principals we are in contact with students on a daily basis. Many of us already know who the “gamers” are in our buildings and we also know of a teacher who may be willing to step up to coach this new team. With all the negatives staff and students have been encountering since the onset of the pandemic wouldn’t it be fun to roll out something new and fun? Much of the extra-curricular focus has been on bringing back sports but as we know not all of our students are athletes in the traditional sense. Esports expands the concept of athletics and creates access and inclusivity for more kids.
I hope I’ve piqued your interest in Esports with this article. If you are interested and want more information, MASSP held an informational Esports 101 webinar on Oct.1 that provided all the details needed to get a program up and running. Grab a potential coach and view the recording now to learn more about how the league will work and what it will take to get your students involved. Don’t wait, registration closes on October 16 and Fall 2020 Season begins on October 19!
Written by Andy Kowalczyk, Bay City Central Assistant Principal, MASSP 2020-21 Board President