College Athletes: The Issue Of E-Sports

When video gaming became popular in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, would you have ever believed it could be a collegiate sport? Thousands of college students play video games mainly for entertainment but many have become very competitive with their past time. This competitiveness has led to the world of e-sports. Colleges, including UNA, are beginning to recognize and welcome e-sports on campus, but may be reluctant to accept it as a sport that would include scholarships. The first college to award a scholarship to an e-sport team member was Robert Morris University of Illinois. Their decision received much criticism and many colleges still debate the issue of e-sports’ physicality and lack of spectatorship. E-sports athletes should

Cornell University student and “League of Legends” player Brian Bao stated in a USA Today article, (QUOTE) “sports can be divided into two categories – sports that are mostly physical and sports that are mostly intellectual.” E-sports is one of those mental sports, although it does require physical attributes like stamina, hand-eye coordination, and quick reflexes. There are those who are against e-sports because of the lack of physical activity and they believe it requires little effort. Little do they know, these athletes train much like other athletes. In an article titled “The New Jocks on Campus” Robert Morris e-sports athlete comments, (QUOTE) “we practice for a minimum of four hours a day, scrimmaging, watching replays, working on mechanics, and strengthening team play.” In addition, like other sports the athletes hit the weight room and film room to prepare themselves. They have to build their stamina and prepare mentally. Just like athletes in the NFL and other sports, they credit their success to long hours of hard work. They also have to balance school along with their sport. They have to make sure to practice, but also find time to do their schoolwork and study. E-sports teams like other teams require a certain GPA to remain on the team. The dedication required is the same for all athletes no matter if they play a traditional sport or

E-sports have the ability to include all genders, ages, and those with physical disabilities. It would provide a way for those who lack the athleticism and strength, but have the mental ability to pursue being a part of a team and getting a valuable education. Teams can also play others from across the world without having to pay for travel; therefore, giving students a more culturally diverse experience. E-sports is a low cost sport, which in turn helps save the college money. It does not require expensive facilities. The basic components needed are a computer, fast network connection, and a television. Since the cost is low, the revenue increases. According to---------------------, (QUOTE) “There were 112 esports events around the world that generated over $20million in ticket sales and handed out $61 million prize money.” Some people do not believe it is popular enough to draw crowds, according to ---------------- (QUOTE) “the 2015 League of Legends World Championships drew 36 million unique viewers on Twitch and other streams around the world.” With these numbers one can see that esports is becoming increasingly popular. Scholarships for E-sports athletes can provide a way for some students to attend college that may not have otherwise had the chance, and it can be beneficial to the school by creating more interest and