Esports programs are gaining popularity in schools across the country, with projections showing that the global esports market could reach $4.8 billion by 2030. While traditionally found in colleges and universities, high schools and even middle schools are beginning to launch their own programs.
Participating in esports can help students develop important skills such as teamwork and leadership, and may even open up scholarship opportunities at certain institutions. The foundation of any successful esports program lies in a modern digital infrastructure. Technology plays a crucial role in ensuring that competitions run smoothly, with even a few milliseconds of latency potentially impacting the outcome.
Schools looking to establish an esports program do not necessarily need to have extensive internal IT resources. Partnering with a technology expert can help set up the necessary infrastructure to get students into the esports arena. It is important to have a dedicated wired connection to minimize latency and ensure reliability. Service-level agreements from providers can guarantee performance indicators like latency and scalability as the program grows.
One example is The Cannon School in North Carolina, which has successfully launched an esports program serving as both a recreational league and competitive varsity sport. By opting for a co-managed system, the school’s service partner handles network security while the internal IT team manages content filtering. This approach has attracted around 60 students to the program in its first two years, with expectations of significant growth in the future.
For schools with limited internal IT resources, working with a technology partner for managed network services can be beneficial. These partners offer expertise in implementing and supporting esports programs, ensuring that network operations are monitored and competitions run smoothly. This can alleviate the burden on internal IT staff and provide predictability in budgeting.
Schools interested in starting an esports program should consider engaging with a technology solutions partner to assess their current IT network and develop a plan for implementation. A robust digital infrastructure can provide students with unique opportunities to engage in esports and excel in a competitive environment. Leveraging managed network services can make the execution and success of the program easier for school staff.
In conclusion, esports programs offer valuable opportunities for student development and engagement, and having a strong technology foundation is essential for success. Partnering with experts for managed network services can ensure that schools have the support and infrastructure needed to launch and sustain a thriving esports program.