STUDENT & PARENT HANDBOOK - connect, compete, have fun. KINGSWOOD CLUB SPORT Spring 2020
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Introduction 2 Participant/Player 3 Registration 4 How It Works 4 Why ESPORTS? 4 Leagues, Divisions, Seasons, and Tournaments 5 League Schedule 5 Reporting Scores 5 Player Code of Conduct 6 Discipline for Violating Code of Conduct 7 Kingswood Athletics - 2020 1
Introduction Given the current status that our nation finds itself in regarding social distancing as the result of COVID19, Kingswood Athletics would like to propose a Kingswood ESPORTS club. Kingswood Athletics believes that ESPORTS is an inclusive activity that can serve multiple social needs at a time of physical distance. These needs can include a sense of belonging, verbal communication, and social interaction all in a fun competitive environment. ESPORTS encompass a thriving community, practiced by people in various situations and from different backgrounds (www.evolveyouthsports.com). Despite our initial concerns of some interested participants not having the needed equipment it’s been reported that over 80% of both tweens and teens have a gaming console (Center on Media and Child Health website). We will look to include age appropriate play by having both Middle School and High School divisions. Should this venture prove to be popular with our student body we will explore Esport offerings on campus when we return from our COVID19 hiatus. Our Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) will help organize the launch and day to day operations for the Kingswood ESPORTS Club. By engaging and including members of SALT we aim to promote community and leadership in an active school sponsored club. The countless life lessons that serve student athletes via traditional sports can also be experienced by an ESPORTS player. Sporting gamesmanship will be at the heart of our ESPORTS community. Kingswood Athletics - 2020 2
Why ESPORTS? ESPORTS have exploded in recent years. Over a dozen high school state athletic associations have adopted ESPORTS as a Varsity interscholastic sport. Over 200 colleges have begun ESPORTS programs with some even offering scholarships. The concept of having ESPORTS here in New Hampshire could become a reality as the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) has reviewed the possibility of adding it to their offerings. Additional information and facts can be found in Appendix A at the end of this guide. Kingswood Athletics would like to offer students at KRMS and KRHS an organized and competitive environment that will allow them to connect, compete and have fun. I. Participant/Player 1.1 - Kingswood ESPORTS will offer this opportunity to all currently enrolled KRMS & KRHS students for the 2019-2020 school year. All participants must have the following equipment to participate: ❏ Current gaming console/equipment needed to play online: ❏ Playstation 4 ❏ XBox One ❏ Nintendo Switch* ❏ Current games that will be used for online league play: ❏ Madden20 ❏ NHL20 ❏ NBA2K20 ❏ FIFA20 ❏ UFC3* ❏ Super Smash Bros.* ❏ Internet connection ❏ Speeds capable of online gaming ❏ Ability to connect and report scores on associated Google Classroom ❏ Completed FamilyID registration ❏ Acceptance of all Kingswood ESPORTS agreements/policies Kingswood Athletics - 2020 3
❏ Gamertag ❏ Used to link up for online competition *will be added to offerings in the near future II. Registration 2.1 - Students must register online via the Kingswood Athletics online registration system - FamilyID. FamilyID will allow us to collect registration, set up league play schedules, and communicate with students/parents. FamilyID will also help us hold participants accountable as a result of policies that must be agreed to as part of this guide and the FamilyID registration system. Kingswood ESPORTS will feature rolling registration for each upcoming season. Registration start and end dates must be adhered to in order to participate. Once a FamilyID registration is received by Kingswood Athletics the participants will be added to a Google Classroom that will be directly associated with Kingswood ESPORTS. The Google Classroom is only accessible by GWRSD Google account holders and will serve as a hub for reporting scores, posting schedules, and league standings by all participants. FamilyID registration instructions can be found at the end of this handbook. III. How It Works Leagues, Divisions, Seasons, and Tournaments 3.1 Kingswood ESPORTS participants will be split into a specific “league” determined by the console they have at their residence. Once a participant is placed in either the “Playstation League” or “Xbox League”, they will then be placed in a “division”. Game Divisions are determined by games owned by the participant(s) and are part of the League offerings. Currently Kingswood ESPORTS Kingswood Athletics - 2020 4
will offer the following Divisions in both Leagues: FIFA20, MADDEN20, NBA2K20, and NHL20. The opportunity to add additional leagues (new consoles) and divisions (new games) will be reviewed monthly. A “Season” will feature start and end dates along with a schedule for the participants to follow. Qualification for any subsequent “Tournament” will be based on the participants final “Season” statistics. Statistics and qualifications will vary between divisions depending on the game. League Schedule 3.2 A Kingswood ESPORTS League Schedule will follow a similar schedule to extra-curricular activities/athletics that take place on campus. All ESPORTS Leagues will take place Monday - Friday between the hours of 3pm and 5pm. The number of League Games for each participant will vary dependent on total Division size. Kingswood ESPORTS will aim to provide all participants with 2-4 games per week. Additionally each game will be limited to a half and hour time frame. Should Kingswood ESPORTS participants choose to play each other outside of the League schedule, that is considered a non-league game and will not count towards Division Standings. Reporting Scores 3.3 At the conclusion of a Kingswood ESPORTS League game, the winner must post the Game number (listed on the schedule), final score, and both player gamertags. Any issue with the game should be reported within 24-hours to Mr. House. IV. Player Code of Conduct 4.1 - Players include those who are registered, actively playing, and/or observing gameplay as a viewer. All Kingswood players will adhere to the Player Code of Conduct rules below. This will ensure that our events are a fun and welcoming ESPORTS environment. Kingswood Athletics - 2020 5
4.1.1. Offensive expression. Expressing yourself in an offensive manner toward other players or their actions in the game, regardless of whether they are opponents, teammates, or observing will not be tolerated. 4.1.2. Offensive language. The use of offensive language, nicknames or other expressions that insult another player’s gender, gender identity, origin, physical ability, sexual orientation, religion or age will not be tolerated. 4.1.3. Team & Opponent dynamic. Always support your team and respect your opponents, communicating positively and with respect. Without your team or opponents there can be no ESPORTS. 4.1.4. Violent language. The use of language or actions that refer to sexual violence or other violence will not be tolerated. 4.1.5. Violent actions. Acting in a threatening or violent manner will not be tolerated. 4.1.6. Cheating. Cheating or hacking will not be tolerated. 4.1.7. Private information. Do not share your account information or any other private information that could put yourself or your peers at risk. 4.1.8. Harassment. You may not harass other players, team members, opponents or other associated parties. 4.1.9. Discrimination and Denigration. You may not offend the dignity or integrity of a country, private person, or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory, or denigratory words or actions on account of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability status, gender identity, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, sexual orientation, or any other reason. V. Discipline for Violating Code of Conduct 5.1 - Players include those who are registered, actively playing, and/or observing gameplay as a viewer. All Kingswood players will adhere to the Player Code of Conduct Kingswood Athletics - 2020 6
rules. Violation of the Player Code of Conduct will result in discipline that will be administered by Mr. House. Any player found to have violated or attempted to violate the Code of Conduct is subject to consequences. The nature and extent of the consequences shall be made at the sole discretion of Mr. House. Failure to abide by the Code of Conduct may result in any of the following: 5.1.1. Warnings. Low severity or first-time offenses may be offered a written warning, along with supplemental opportunities for mediation. 5.1.2. Immediate forfeit of game or match. In this case, Mr. House has the right to call for immediate forfeiture due to misconduct. 5.1.3. Player suspension from the league. In this case, a player will be barred from attending future events in totality. 5.2. Administering & Protocol consequences. Mr. House will review reports of misconduct at his own discretion. If a party is found guilty of misconduct, the protocol for administering consequences is followed as such: 5.2.1. Email. For written warnings, an email may be used to notify the guilty party. If the guilty party is under the age of 18, their parents will also receive a copy of the email. 5.2.2. Phone call. For repeated offenses or suspensions, Players will be notified by phone. If the guilty party is under the age of 18, the parent, guardian, teacher or school administrator must be present for the conversation. Kingswood Athletics - 2020 7
APPENDIX A - Info on Esports Kingswood Athletics - 2020 8
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What exactly is esports? ESPORTS STANDS FOR ELECTRONIC SPORTS , not to be confused with video games, because it’s much more than that. What sets it apart is the level of organized competitive gameplay between teams and its own strict set of rules and guidelines. Esports is about teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and leadership — in all the same ways that traditional sports are and then some. It’s time to expand the definition of an athlete. Today, esports is growing exponentially with 400 million fans Benefits of Esports worldwide who repeatedly pack out arenas. A recent survey shows that 72% of American teens play video games regularly. Character Development Currently, there are nearly 200 colleges and universities offering Students build character and develop esports scholarships. Establishing esports in high school enables discipline, self-esteem, patience and students to do what they love and provides them with additional sportsmanship through weekly practice opportunities to earn scholastic recognition. and gameplay. Community Building Students will develop a sense of belonging, meet new friends and have school pride by playing on a team with classmates. Teamwork & Leadership Students will learn how to communicate better and become leaders as they compete and work together as team. Strategic Thinking Students will compete in intense and fast-paced real time strategy games where they will need to quickly problem solve and adapt to win. pl a yv s. c o m
The Parents’ Guide to High School Esports Esports is growing, fast. Esports has become an officially sanctioned high school sport, and players across the country are changing what it means to be a student-athlete. To help parents in this new journey, PlayVS and the NFHS have put together this helpful guide. I. About Esports II. Benefits of Esports III. Esports in Education IV. Esports Safety www.playvs.com hello@playvs.com
About Esports What is esports? Esports officially stands for electronic sports, not to be confused with video games. Esports takes video gaming to another level with organized competitive gameplay between two teams, governed by its own strict set of rules and guidelines. The difference is comparable to a pick-up basketball game at a park versus a varsity high school basketball game. Esports requires teamwork, communication, critical and strategic thinking, creativity, sportsmanship, and leadership — much like traditional sports. What does the high school experience look like? Like any other high school sport or extracurricular activity, your student will attend team meetings, practices, and official matches. However, since esports is played online, there is no travel required throughout the regular season. Players compete from their respective campus, supervised by a coach. Currently through PlayVS, students can compete in teams of five for League of Legends and SMITE, and teams of three for Rocket League, three of the most popular titles in esports. Each school year is divided into two regular seasons, Fall and Spring, each with their own playoff season. Regular Season Playoff Season ● Weekly matches and practices ● Top teams compete ● On campus, no travel ● Single elimination ● State rankings ● Online finals What equipment does my student need to participate? Many school computer labs or libraries already have the equipment needed to participate on campus. All your student needs to compete is a PC, keyboard, and mouse. Additional equipment includes a headset with mic, jerseys, and game controllers. With their PlayVS season pass, students will receive in-game perks and free copies of games for an even playing field. www.playvs.com hello@playvs.com
Esports Benefits Esports requires a tremendous amount of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity from players to achieve and sustain success. It reaches beyond traditional sports to create an all-inclusive environment that breaks barriers. Sense of Community Character Development AP ew Research Report states that video games There will inevitably be challenges and early play a vital role in teen friendships. The failures, but players who demonstrate grit and inclusiveness and accessibility of esports allow adapt/learn will typically succeed in esports. students to come together over a common Fortunately, these attributes are exactly what passion while providing access to a positive employers and colleges are telling high schools adult mentor in their lives. they are looking for in recent graduates. Increase Participation There is a strong correlation between student engagement and student achievement. NCES reported that students who participated in extracurricular activities perform higher on math and reading assessments. STEM Engagement The amount of technology involved with esports enables students to practice and develop STEM skills. Students spend hours analyzing data, 84% of Season Zero players game statistics, and strategies, which provide reported they finally found a real-world experience and application. community they could connect “The kids that are participating here with. have dramatically pulled up their grades to be eligible. It gives this small group a reason to come to school.” Coach Catherine Turner Lafayette High School, GA www.playvs.com hello@playvs.com
Esports in Education We firmly believe that esports has a place in education. It provides many opportunities for growth and learning, such as the creation and practice of “soft skills,” including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Many of the same skills that employers are looking for in recent graduates. Scholarship Opportunities Esports Embody ISTE Standards Esports can provide a gateway to colleges and ● Empowered Learner universities. The National Association of Collegiate ● Digital Citizen Esports (NACE), the main governing body for varsity ● Knowledge Constructor collegiate esports, has awarded millions of dollars ● Innovative Designer in esports scholarships and aid over the last five ● Computational Thinker years. Currently, more than 200 colleges and ● Creative Communicator universities offer nearly 15 million dollars in ● Global Collaborator scholarships. Esports majors and careers are becoming increasingly more accessible. There are growing More than 200 colleges and opportunities to find employment in esports-related universities offer nearly 15 million careers. These opportunities include broadcasting, marketing, graphic design, multimedia production, dollars in scholarships. hospitality, coaching, and management. www.playvs.com hello@playvs.com
Esports Safety What are these games rated? All games offered to high school students for competition purposes are either rated "T for Teen" -- games that are appropriate for students 13 years or older -- or "E for Everyone" -- games for all ages. Players must be 13 years or older to participate in the PlayVS high school leagues. Should I be worried that my student is playing too much? The amount of screen time should always be discussed and monitored. Just as in traditional sports, student-athletes must find a balance between practice, games, school work, rest, proper nutrition, social time, and, of course, sleep. One of the benefits of joining a formal esports team is that rules and practice schedules can be set and monitored regarding how much students can play during the week and on weekends. Setting clear guidelines for device and computer-free times and zones in your home will help your student find a proper balance between all of their interests. Additionally, with an esports coach, parents are able to discuss concerns and develop plans with them to help students stay on top of academics and extracurricular activities. About PlayVS PlayVS is building the infrastructure and platform for amateur esports, starting with high schools. We work directly with game publishers and states to build and operate sanctioned leagues across the country. Through the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), PlayVS is empowering students to compete in esports on behalf of their high school, with the opportunity to win a championship, just like any other youth sport. Contact your local school’s principal or athletic director to get a program started and learn more at www.playvs.com. www.playvs.com hello@playvs.com
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