In the simplest terms, esports is competitive video gaming. Students from our program compete in selected video games against students from other schools who are playing those same games. However, esports is not as simple as just playing games.
Esports is a highly competitive and collaborative effort. Students need to plan strategies, analyze their own strengths and weaknesses, work with others to overcome obstacles, and show leadership within their own team to yield success.
Esports offers several opportunities for our students as the field of esports continues to grow across the world.
Further Education
Opportunities across Ohio and the world are opening up for those interested in esports. In Ohio alone, there are over 25 colleges and universities that are offering scholarships for esports, including the University of Akron, Ashland University, Kent State University, and the University of Mount Union. Across the nation the number continues to grow even larger. Our program allows Barberton students to find another pathway to help pay for a college education among the more traditional pathways. In addition, we provide contacts to coaches and recruiters to various universities that allow our students to make connections in the world of higher education.
Careers
Esports is, much like the traditional sports industry, more than just playing games. It is a rapidly expanding entertainment industry and in 2018 alone the industry's revenue just for streaming was over 900 million dollars. Although not all students may go the route of a professional player, there are job opportunities in coaching, analytics, computer programming, broadcasting, and much, much more. Students in this program have a chance to learn more about this growing field and opportunities that exist within it where they can channel their passion into a lifelong career.
Community
Much like any other student organization, our esports program offers a positive social environment for students to make meaningful connections with others that share their interest. Over 70% of our players have never been involved in another extracurricular throuhg the school, showcasing how valuable this is for reaching out to students that have yet to find a community all their own at Barberton High School. Esports are also coed, which allows everyone to be able to compete equally with one another through the program.
In order to participate in our esports program, a student must be able to meet the following requirements:
Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Students must attend practice regularly.
Students must own a copy of the game they wish to participate in on PC.
Students may be asked to either tryout and earn a place on a team to use our machines [OR] bring/use in their own PC from home to forgo tryouts depending on interest in the teams.
Students must register for the ESO league and fill out relevant paperwork before the season deadline.
Program handbook and expectations read and agreed to by both parent/guardian and student.