Esports has evolved beyond mere gaming, transforming into a highly professional industry with a diverse range of career opportunities. Top-level players now compete in lucrative arenas, vying for million-dollar prizes.

Nevertheless, despite the advancements, gaming and esports continue to carry a certain stigma. Although this perception is gradually changing as newer generations immerse themselves in gaming culture, there remains a necessity to enlighten parents about the potential benefits that esports can bring, especially at the grassroots and scholastic levels.

Educational institutions are increasingly embracing esports as a means of engaging students, whether at the high school or university level. Yet, for esports to transcend being merely a commendable social initiative, there is a requirement for a structured framework within esports clubs and programs.

Therefore, the advancement of esports coaching, a vital component of scholastic esports, is imperative.

One significant obstacle for parents in embracing esports and gaming is their inherently virtual nature. As gaming is often perceived as a solitary activity, especially with the prevalence of online gaming, concerns arise regarding addiction and potential adverse effects on mental health. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has even established a service to assist children and young adults dealing with Gaming Disorders.

Despite the presence of these risks, severe cases of addiction are relatively rare. According to an OFCOM report, 89% of UK children aged between 3-17 engaged in video gaming in 2022 across diverse devices. With gaming's widespread popularity, discussions have shifted in recent years towards finding ways to embrace gaming to ensure its positive impact on individuals—with esports emerging as one such solution.

Esports involves competitive gaming where players, either in teams or as individuals, vie against each other in various games. Consequently, social skills such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making are already inherent in this activity. As educational institutions increasingly embrace the esports sector and establish initiatives, there's an opportunity to impart these skills in a more structured environment under supervision.

For instance, in 2019, Glebe School in Bromley, London reported that 96% of students participating in the British Esports Federation's program acknowledged that esports contributed positively to their social skills. Reasons cited included interacting with fellow students, observing matches, and exchanging ideas.

In the current year, the Connected Learning Lab, affiliated with UC Irvine and serving as a research partner for NASEF, found that 23% of parents with children involved in scholastic esports reported an increase in their child's GPA.

Taking it a step further, having esports coaches available at schools or within grassroots communities opens up opportunities to harness competitive gaming for the development of fundamental STEM skills. In the United States, the popularity of esports is growing in middle schools (ages 11-13), exemplified by tournaments like the Middle School Esports League (MSEL), where students from educational institutions compete against each other in organized competitions spanning various games.

While the advantages of integrating esports initiatives into education are gaining recognition, it is equally essential to establish proper systems. Unfortunately, potential drawbacks may include financial constraints or a shortage of space to accommodate clubs and community meetups.

Furthermore, it is equally crucial to have the right individuals spearheading these initiatives and clubs to effectively coach and cultivate both in-game esports skills and out-of-game talents such as leadership, teamwork, and communication.

There is a necessity not only to train grassroots-level esports players but also to train dependable esports coaches. Companies like Iceland's Esports Coaching Academy address this need with programs specifically designed to train coaches and offer coaching to players, facilitating the implementation of youth esports programs.

Furthermore, to alleviate the financial challenges associated with establishing coach-led esports communities and clubs, innovative technologies are emerging. An example is Game Lens, a novel esports coaching platform that facilitates online training, eliminating the need for a LAN environment.

Game Lens' platform grants coaches access to each player's game view and voice communications, allowing real-time feedback during training. Significantly, this solution enables educational institutions to establish online after-school clubs, thereby crucially saving costs for those without dedicated esports facilities.

While the negative stigma surrounding gaming and esports is diminishing, there remains a need for new solutions tailored to grassroots and educational settings to foster positive developments for children and young adults. These solutions can offer enhanced guidance for those seeking to enter esports, whether at a competitive level or within the industry. Furthermore, by tapping into this burgeoning sector, schools and grassroots communities can instill skills that extend far beyond esports, contingent upon the implementation of proper structures and coaching systems.

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