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3 Critical Questions to ask when Starting an eSports League
It is all too easy to get caught up in the idea of creating an eSports league for your organization or school and ignore the practical questions you need to ask to get started. Before launching your eSports League, here are three key things you should consider.
How Accessible Will This eSports Program Be for My Organization?
When eSports Coaches (aka Teachers and Administrators) are asked what games their league will focus on, they often respond with “All of them!”
It’s understandable — after all, who wouldn’t want to give kids as many options as possible? — but unfortunately, that can create a huge headache for you!
If you want to play basketball, all you need is a ball and a hoop. These are relatively inexpensive, (hopefully) one-time purchases. There’s a reason practically every playground has a place to shoot some hoops: they don’t become obsolete after ten years.
Video games are constantly being updated. If you look at the most popular esports, many of the games that dominate the list — League of Legends, Dota, Counter-Strike, etc. — are primarily played on PCs.
However, PCs designed for modern gaming typically cost thousands of dollars, on top of fees for repairs, upgrades, and general upkeep. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy them, but that price must be considered when you're developing your league.
If you can't afford that, all hope is not lost. Consoles are much more affordable than PCs, and fighting games like Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. are typically played on them. There are always options, it's just a matter of finding them.
What lessons are we trying to teach through gaming?
Okay, so you have figured out “what” you want to do with your eSports league. Now it’s time to figure out the “why.”
What do you want these kids to take away from your league? There are many lessons that games can teach, but different games lend themselves well to particular themes.
For instance, fighting games reward individual ingenuity and study. If you’re looking to help kids build better study habits, they’re a good option.
Conversely, shooters are typically team-based. These reward communication and teamwork, so if you’re looking to help kids develop social skills they are an excellent option.
Much like a school lesson, you need to think about what you want to teach and build a plan around that.
How Will This Be a Special Program?
Lastly, it’s important to consider what makes your program unique. Many kids can play games at home: it’s up to you to give them a reason to play with you. Otherwise, you’ll be little more than a tournament organizer for local kids.
One thing we recommend is having some sort of reward system. If kids can win small prizes or prestige in weekly tournaments, they’ll be much more inclined to hone their skills and visit regular practices.
That said, there are plenty of things you can do to deliver a top-notch performance. But if you find yourself struggling to come up with ideas...
What EliteGamingLIVE Can Do
If you’re struggling with the logistics of running an esports league, EliteGamingLIVE (EGL) can help. As the country’s first K-12 esports company, our goal is to improve student's futures by fusing gaming and learning.
We can help you:
If you would like more information, you can visit our site here.
How Accessible Will This eSports Program Be for My Organization?
When eSports Coaches (aka Teachers and Administrators) are asked what games their league will focus on, they often respond with “All of them!”
It’s understandable — after all, who wouldn’t want to give kids as many options as possible? — but unfortunately, that can create a huge headache for you!
If you want to play basketball, all you need is a ball and a hoop. These are relatively inexpensive, (hopefully) one-time purchases. There’s a reason practically every playground has a place to shoot some hoops: they don’t become obsolete after ten years.
Video games are constantly being updated. If you look at the most popular esports, many of the games that dominate the list — League of Legends, Dota, Counter-Strike, etc. — are primarily played on PCs.
However, PCs designed for modern gaming typically cost thousands of dollars, on top of fees for repairs, upgrades, and general upkeep. That doesn’t mean you can’t buy them, but that price must be considered when you're developing your league.
If you can't afford that, all hope is not lost. Consoles are much more affordable than PCs, and fighting games like Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. are typically played on them. There are always options, it's just a matter of finding them.
What lessons are we trying to teach through gaming?
Okay, so you have figured out “what” you want to do with your eSports league. Now it’s time to figure out the “why.”
What do you want these kids to take away from your league? There are many lessons that games can teach, but different games lend themselves well to particular themes.
For instance, fighting games reward individual ingenuity and study. If you’re looking to help kids build better study habits, they’re a good option.
Conversely, shooters are typically team-based. These reward communication and teamwork, so if you’re looking to help kids develop social skills they are an excellent option.
Much like a school lesson, you need to think about what you want to teach and build a plan around that.
How Will This Be a Special Program?
Lastly, it’s important to consider what makes your program unique. Many kids can play games at home: it’s up to you to give them a reason to play with you. Otherwise, you’ll be little more than a tournament organizer for local kids.
One thing we recommend is having some sort of reward system. If kids can win small prizes or prestige in weekly tournaments, they’ll be much more inclined to hone their skills and visit regular practices.
That said, there are plenty of things you can do to deliver a top-notch performance. But if you find yourself struggling to come up with ideas...
What EliteGamingLIVE Can Do
If you’re struggling with the logistics of running an esports league, EliteGamingLIVE (EGL) can help. As the country’s first K-12 esports company, our goal is to improve student's futures by fusing gaming and learning.
We can help you:
- Access an affordable-priced library of games and consoles.
- Fuse gaming and learning through a league that places a strong emphasis on education.
- Deliver a spectacular experience with top-notch customer support and coach training.
If you would like more information, you can visit our site here.
