AURORA – Esports is back for its second year as a sanctioned state championship for the Colorado High School Activities Association.
With the start of the fall season right around the corner, CHSAA will host an Esports Coaches Clinic at the Expo Community Center in Aurora on Friday, Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic is open to all CHSAA esports coaches and building administrators and will feature:
- Representatives from local college teams who will explain what scholarships and recruitment looks like in the esports world,
- Folks from PlayVS who can talk through how to solve connectivity issues and share information on how to secure switches and other equipment for schools or districts,
- A panel of esports experts who will be able to answer questions about everything from gaming to the growth of exports and how to get students on your campus involved.
As esports continues to grow, local communities, high schools, colleges and universities are all learning to embrace this booming new industry. Not only can esports be played in the comfort of your own home, but you can also play in person at a local establishment or recreation center.
For students that want to get involved in esports outside of school, help them identify local establishments that have a connection to esports and share any ideas that you have or what type of support you or they might need. Local establishments and community organizations are new to this, too, so the more ideas shared, the better for the growth of the game.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a professional gamer to get involved with esports. Start by picking a game and your platform. If you’re not sure where to start, consider that CHSAA crowns state champions in League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart! You could even visit a local venue and observe games being played so that when you’re ready to start competing, you’ll already be familiar with the community and the games being played.
Resources for getting involved in and/or finding more awareness of esports:
- Find 5280 Esports on one of their social media platforms. 5280 Esports is Colorado’s Gaming & Esports Community. They’re passionate about creating a thriving gaming community where players of all ages and backgrounds can come together to celebrate a shared love for competitive gaming. Follow them to keep up with the latest gaming/esports events around Colorado and be sure to check out their podcast to get more insights into the industry.
- Join the PlayVS Community. PlayVS is the home for Colorado esports. Not only can it help you build a program that’s right for your school, it’s the only place to play for recognized state championships. Its Youth Program is open to all 13 to 18-year-olds so that you can play with your friends and compete for fun.
- Connect with other CHSAA coaches and administrators on Discord. You’ll be able to network, share resources, find championship updates and celebrate accomplishments within the community.
- Find a place to play. In addition to Localhost in Lakewood, Colo., the host site for CHSAA’s Esports Championships, you can also drop in at various park and recreation centers across the state to play.
- Localhost: gaming and esports centers located across the country that are owned and operated by Nerd Street. A premier location for esports competitions, bootcamps, training sessions, summer camps and a wide variety of casual play video games.
- Expo Community Center: Located at 10955 E. Exposition Ave. in Aurora, this new esports hub features 10 gaming computers, six consoles and space for up to 22 gamers and spectators. Not only is it a safe space for video game fanatics to connect and compete, but you can also host parties in the space! Pre-registration is encouraged.
- The esports hub at Expo also offers programs and space for tabletop gaming with Dungeons and Dragons. Join in for a season of fantasy and imagination! ?
- South Suburban has an esports lounge at the Lone Tree Hub which features the newest technology to help anyone enhance their gaming skills. They have 17 professional-grade gaming computers and two TVs with various gaming consoles, and they offer camps, clinics, leagues and tournaments!