Virginia Launching Pilot High School Esports League In '19-20

The Virginia High School League has a "pilot esports program" for '19-20, and at least 23 schools around the state have "expressed interest," according to Adam Zielonka of the WASHINGTON TIMES. Gamers will "form school teams and compete in three titles: 'League of Legends,' 'Rocket League' and 'SMITE.'" Esports platform PlayVS will "host the VHSL's season, culminating in state championships as in any other sport." PlayVS' website "counts Virginia among 11 state associations that sponsor varsity esports, while six others count it as a club sport only." Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Va., "counts the esports team as a student activity, like debate club or Model U.N., rather than part of the athletic department." VHSL Assistant Dir of Academic Activities Darrell Wilson said that esports "has a place in schools' academic missions with its emphasis on STEM" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/5).

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