CHSAA will be testing a pilot program this fall to make video games a high school sport.
According to recent reports, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSSA) is considering adding a new sport to its list of high school-sanctioned activities -- video games, aka eSports.
A pilot program is set to last three years, starting in the fall, and if things go as planned, eSports will become the norm in high schools in Colorado as soon as 2022.
The sport will be coed and there won't be divisions based on a school's size/location like there are for other sports (football, basketball, etc.). Also, since the matches are played online, it eliminates travel costs.
This could open the doors for those students who are not athletically inclined and provide them with new opportunities to get involved in their schools.
"eSports has the potential to provide opportunities for more students to become engaged in their school and communities," said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green in a statement. "Many of these participants may not be involved in any other activity in their school. eSports will provide the same opportunity to this population that many other traditional sports and activities have provided to other students in their schools."
The pilot will be run by PlayVS, a league for high school eSports, which will have competitions in 15 states. The program will be set up for fall (October to January) and spring (February to May) seasons, however, CHSAA may end up combining the two into one season during the winter -- that is if it gets approved.
Several games will be included in the program, including League of Legends, Rocket League, and Smite, among others.
For more information, visit CHSAA's website.
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