Starting a Program

Questions to Consider

Do you have the space required? Ideally, spectators should be able to watch your team compete. Will you do this in the gym or cafeteria? Where will their practices be held?
Do you have the network needed? The network is a critical component to building an esports program, interconnecting powerful gaming stations and myriad devices, minimizing latency, and ensuring a smooth spectator experience. Schools need to have a reliable, high-speed wired and wireless network with analytics to optimize programs and maximize value. Check out the hardware and network specifications recommendations here.
Who will be the club sponsor(s)? It might could be a teacher who has a personal interest in gaming or experience helping with other school clubs. It should be someone who can coach the players so that they get better at the games and at working together.
Will you ask students to bring their own gaming hardware or provide stations for them to use? A gaming computer with headset, mouse, and keyboard can be more expensive than a Chromebook or standard laptop due to processor and graphics requirements. But most schools who have begun a program estimate an annual cost of $10,000/year after the initial purchases. (By the way, one of the leagues is offering the HSEL Esports Equipment Bundle for $4,000 a year. The bundle includes unlimited access to HSEL competitions for the three years for any number of teams and students, a fixed membership price, and six player Maingear Vybe PCs with Razer peripherals. The computers run AMD Ryzen processors and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti graphics cards. The peripherals include Razer BlackWidow Ultimate keyboards, DeathAdder Essential mice and Electra V2 headsets.)
An upgraded graphics card can sometimes turn an existing computer into an esports machine or extend the life of a gaming computer that has aged its way toward obsolescence. The fastest graphics cards retail for over $1,000, but a number of cards in the $200 range offer performance levels that will meet the needs of most gamers. Schools that aim to update their gaming computers with graphics card upgrades should make sure that the machines’ power supplies can support the new GPUs
Successful esports play relies on precision, timing and communication — all of which are enabled by gaming peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and headsets. Even if participants are playing on standard PCs, schools should outfit teams with peripherals that will help them to be competitive. Gaming keyboards are typically more durable than regular keyboards and have mechanical keys (as opposed to rubber domes and membranes) that respond more quickly to a player’s input. Gaming mice are designed to be more sensitive, reliable, and comfortable than regular mice, and have additional buttons to facilitate game play. Gaming headsets come with microphones to allow teammates to communicate and may have additional features such as surround sound.
What games will you support? League of Legends (81%) and Overwatch (50%) are the two most popular games, followed by Fortnite (37%). Others with frequent mentions include FIFA, Hearthstone, Dragonball Fighter Z, Rocket League, and Super Smash Brothers. Will you only allow students to play those games that have an Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating for ages Teen or lower or will you allow games with a ESRB rating of Mature or Adults Only?
Did you get buy-in from your school's athletic department?
Who can participate? Will you limit how many can be in the club? Will there be tryouts? If so, once a year or twice a year for fall and spring tournaments?
How will you recruit students?
How will you encourage diversity in your esports program?
When and how often will you meet? Is this a club (after school) or part of a class?
What will the curriculum and instruction look like for this program? If it's part of a class, how will students be assessed?
How will you involve the parents and community in this new venture?
Will players have to maintain a minimum GPA in order to participate?
How will you help students involved in the program to take their learning to the next level, whether that is in college or by going professional?