Texas UIL considers adding E-Sports to its roster of competitions for state schools

Texas UIL considering adding E-Sports to its roster of competitions for state schools

 


Texas UIL Deputy Dirctor Jamey Harrison said it’s not a matter of if, but when the UIL will sanction gaming.  He tells The Mark and Melynda show it could start as soon as 2021.  In the meantime, UIL will study the possibility and reach out to school district leaders across the state for their thoughts.

 

Harrison explained it is an interesting proposition for the flexibility of sorts that it offers schools since it has very low startup costs and since the competition part is all online, it would not add to a school’s transportation budget.

 

There would be a few limitations though.  Harrisons said, first person shooter games would not be part of any UIL competition.  He said they would instead lean on more non-violent, strategic kind of games.  The Dep. Dir. said there is alot interest growing in E-sports from students that don’t typically engage with extracurricular options currently available.

 

There is also a career aspect, Harrison explained, several colleges are already offering scholarships for E-sports and offer courses in video game design.

 

But even if UIL sanctions E-sports, he said, it would still be up to individual school districts to accept it.

 

(Photo: Shutterstock)

 

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