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The British Esports Association, a national governing body for UK esports, has announced a competition for schools and colleges. Starting this October with League of Legends, the initiative is aimed at students between 12 and 19 years old, who will represent their individual schools.
The event kicks off Oct. 10 with two seasons. The first is scheduled to last eight weeks with half term breaks. The second will start in 2019.
First full competitive gaming championships for schools and colleges
While BEA revealed the idea of a championship event for schools and colleges at the beginning of the year, this time the association is making it official. The non-profit organization teamed up with Twitch Student and AoC Sport. The trio aims to help grow the British esports scene by giving students support and nudging them in the right direction.
“The British Esports Association and Twitch Student program share a belief in the ability of students to grasp the entrepreneurial spirit inherent in gaming and esports,” said Twitch Director of Strategic Partnerships Mark “Garvey” Candella. “We are proud to work with the British Esports Association on helping students realize their potential through the practical experience this program creates.”
A College Esports Committee will take care of management and oversight of the competition. Moreover, it will seek to properly manage esports in the college setting.
“We see esports as a route to engaging inactive students in colleges and encouraging them to engage in physical activity,” said AoC Sport Managing Director Marcus Kingwell.
Event launch follows a successful pilot
The launch of the British Esports Championships comes on the heels of a pilot that ran in schools and colleges between January and April this year. The pilot drew not only national attention but also sought to improve student-teacher relationships and raise awareness for esports.
Supported by multiple government departments, the forthcoming endeavor aims to foster talent, champion positive role models, and promote leadership, communication, creativity, and teamwork skills.
