The rise of interest in Esports combined with the interest of spectating other people playing games has increased immensely over the last years which has attracted the attention of scientists as well. An article of Austrian scientists was published in March 2021 which talks about Esports in the scope of pedagogical work in both school and after school settings showing how Esports can be applied in an educational context.
According to a study conducted in 2019, 5.3 million people currently play games in Austria alone, 2.6 million of them daily (out of 8.8million inhabitants of Austria).
The rapid developments in 2019 show that Esports is no longer a marginal phenomenon but has found its way into the middle of society. Games, often condemned, were recommended by institutions such as the WHO to promote emotional and psychological health.
In order to win young people’s attention, classic sports clubs are increasingly focusing on the topic of Esports hoping the new fans will become interested in classic sports through Esports. Therefore, it was only a logical step that first attempts were made to integrate the topic of Esports into everyday school life: according to the new research from OnePoll, 4 out of 5 parents and teachers in the UK want to see esports take a more significant role in children’s education while some schools already exist in germany and the USA.
As with everything in life, there are two sides of a medal. The scientists recognize there are several risks of promoting esports, that include high time costs, overuse injuries or gaming disorders or extreme emotional disorders. The article talks how important it is that Esports are applied in a suitable didactic context and that it is accompanied by trained personnel to avoid these risks and obtain numerous benefits such as better Physical Fitness, the enhancement of cognitive and communication skills, and the build of friendships.
Done correctly, an Esports Youth League supported and accompanied by school programs and youth centers can result in positive development steps for young people making education more inclusive and attractive.