Students from Winnipeg high schools now compete with their rival schools not only in the athletic field but also online.
Such form of competition gives students a chance to rep their school off the field. It became possible thanks to Manitoba High School eSports League.
Brian Cameron, principal at the Louis Riel Arts & Technology Centre, said that many students perceived Esports as another extracurricular activity. Now children who are not part of the school sports team can also participate.
The idea of creating the league appeared about two years ago. It consists of 11 schools and 14 teams.
16-year-old Kaiden Roach said his team chose the game League of Legends. It is a game that can be easily played by a team. In addition to the desire to win, children also see the opportunity to know students from other schools.
Each team consists of 5-10 students. A school may have a maximum of 2 teams. Any school in the province can join the league if it wants. The membership fee is 75 dollars. Most importantly, children do not need to physically be in the same room to compete with each other.
Children really like such competitions, because they can lead their school to victory, make new friends and just enjoy the time.
Lopez, one of the students, admitted that he plays about five hours a day to improve his skills. He believes that eSports is not just playing a computer. This is a sport in the team.
Cameron added that parents also participate in the competition. This adds a teamwork component. Moreover, none of the parents said that eSports is a waste of time. They all support their children and believe they can win.
The season of games began on March 6 and it will last until the end of April. The final match will take place on April 27 and the winning team will receive a trophy that can be placed in the school.