Games for Change is proud to be launching the Verizon Innovative Learning Esports League, in partnership with Verizon. This free scholastic esports league for high schools will enable educators across the country to engage their students in a safe, toxicity-free environment that combines students’ passion for gaming with a focus on well-being and social-emotional learning. With the help of trained coaches from Vanta Esports, educators will receive comprehensive professional development to support their students from pre-season to the championship. In the fall semester, students will be competing in Rocket League, where teams of 3 will go head to head in what is best described as “soccer with cars”!

WHY Scholastic Esports?

Scholastic esports refers to organized competitive video gaming within an educational context, typically involving students from middle school, high school, and college levels. These leagues combine the popularity of gaming with the structure and values of traditional scholastic activities like band or soccer. Most importantly, scholastic esports takes something students are truly passionate about and turns it into a productive outlet that can lead to positive student outcomes in collaboration, communication, and leadership.

WHY Verizon Innovative Learning Esports League?

By joining the Verizon Innovative Learning Esports League, students will be exposed to a world of league competition that can translate into future opportunities such as college scholarships and industry awareness in esports and beyond. We will be working with the esports provider Vanta who will offer trained coaches and extensive professional development resources for educators to elevate the experience, providing support for students around goal-setting, giving and receiving feedback in a productive way, navigating team conflict, and much more.

WHAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS:

👩‍🏫 EDUCATOR TRAINING to support you with standing up a successful esports league with your students.

💪 HEALTH & WELLBEING FOCUS to empower students to give each other feedback, navigate conflict, and manage their emotions in productive ways.

🤝 GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES to build student capacity in soft skills such as collaboration, teamwork, communication, leadership, and more.

📈 PROFESSIONAL MENTORSHIP to expose students to career opportunities and pathways in esports, technology, and related industries.

🎮 FULLY SCHEDULED SEASON to allow you to focus your time on supporting your students’ success.

🏆 PLAY-OFFS AND CHAMPIONSHIP to motivate students towards individual and team goals.

PROGRAM TIMELINE

Registration Opens: August 19th, 2024
Registration Closes: September 13th, 2024
Professional Development Loop #1: Week of September 9th, 2024
Professional Development Loop #2:Week of September 16th, 2024
Pre-Season Starts: September 23rd, 2024
Season Starts: October 7th, 2024
Play-offs Start: December 2nd, 2024
Championship & Season Ends: December 13th, 2024

Sign Up Today!

QUESTIONS? Please email us: [email protected]