NASEF Lassos Texas Esports Federation to Broaden Esports Impact in State
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 05/14/20
Scholastic
esports is gaining momentum in the Lone Star State. The Texas
Scholastic Esports Federation (TexSEF)
is becoming an affiliate of the North
America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF).
The goal is to enable Texas schools to take fuller advantage of
esports-based education resources, including classroom curriculum,
afterschool club programs and esports tournaments.
Students
at a previous TexSEF esports tournament. Source: TexSEF
NASEF,
a nonprofit that offers its programs free, combines esports
tournaments with academics. The learning is embedded in coaching,
mentorship, class materials, club organization and management.
Participants learn about all aspects of the esports ecosystem, not
just how to play the games better.
TexSEF
was founded in fall 2019. Becoming a NASEF affiliate "is a huge
benefit to our organization and its members," said Gregg Kite,
technology trainer for Humble
Independent School District
and CEO of TexSEF, in a statement. "NASEF has been the singular
most positive force for scholastic esports in the country, and their
contacts and support make our work in Texas both easier and more
potent."
"It's
fantastic to see the vision of the TexSEF team," added Gerald
Solomon, founder of NASEF. "The leaders have personal experience
as gamers, and they know how much gaming meant to them as teens.
They're excited to provide a structured but fun program to youth, to
give students that have traditionally been marginalized a place to
come alive and to envision career possibilities in the wide-ranging
esports ecosystem."
TexSEF
runs varsity, junior varsity and middle school leagues and has drawn
interest from a number of school districts in the state, including
Dallas,
Galveston
and Klein.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.