What are esports?

Esports (or electronic sports) are best understood as competitive-level online videogaming. Esports players compete against each other for prizes, money, and prestige.

Any videogame with the potential for competition can become an esport – from sports games (e.g. FIFA) to first-person shooter games (e.g. Call of Duty) to card collecting battle games (e.g. Hearthstone).

Esports can be team-based or solo experiences. They require training, skills, and time. Teams have coaches, sponsorships, and friendly matches for practice (called ‘scrims’) before competitions. The games themselves are designed to be immersive and to encourage players to become the best, with in-game rewards and achievements awarded to higher levels of skill.

Games that children and young people may be playing daily, such as Fortnite, Rocket League, and Overwatch, have cemented themselves in the esports scene, hosting tournaments and causing some professional players to gain celebrity-like status. There are clubs, such as Manchester City, who recruit players. Even celebrities, like David Beckham and Drake, co-own esports organisations. Shaquille O’Neal invested $155 million in the Sacramento Kings-owned esports team.

Esports are fast developing and gaining more momentum each year, with the industry growing in value by 8.5% every year. Young people can now choose esports as a skill for their Duke of Edinburgh Award and even gain a BTEC qualification in the subject.

Discord communities for games can also host and promote private tournaments, especially with so many games like Fortnite introducing custom modes where players can create their own matches.

Fast facts about esports

A study by YouPoll (2022) suggests that participating in esports increases the development of teamwork skills, communication skills, problem-solving, and confidence in children and young people which translates to their daily lives.

Almost half of parents believe esports should be added to the school curriculum and two-thirds think that esports should be offered as an extra-curricular activity.

Ar gyfartaledd, children between the ages of 11 and 18 play esports for three and a half hours a day, either at home (94%) or at a friend’s house (40%).

The first ever esports tournament took place at Stanford University in 1972, as 5 students went head-to-head in the ‘intergalactic spacewars olympics’. However, the event was referred to as a ‘gaming tournament’ and the winner received a prize of a year’s subscription to the Rolling Stones magazine.

Why do young people Like esports?

Remember trying really hard to erase the name at the top of the list on the Pac Man machine at the arcade? Or perhaps getting sweaty hands at Street Fighter? The competitive nature of games that sparked friend-versus-friend matches and sibling rivalries is what esports is built on.

Esports may have been around for a long time, but their recent rise in popularity can be attributed to livestreaming on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. With the rise of streaming and influencers, many young people look up to esports professional players like they would a football player. Professional players are often also content creators and livestream the game they compete in during downtime, training time, and online tournaments. Livestreaming has helped expand esports as a legitimate career option or goal for young people.

Children and young people can  participate in esports amateur tournaments regularly, either with friends or by getting matched up against other players online. For example, Rocket League hosts tournaments everyday where players can compete for in-game rewards. Amateur tournaments are often advertised on the games themselves. Some tournaments host events for amateur teams to compete for a chance to play against the pros in professional events.

Are esports like other sports?

Like traditional sports, esports have a spectator element to them in which fans watch tournaments and matches, support particular teams, and admire certain players. Esports tournaments can range from small-scale events aimed at amateur enthusiasts or large-scale events for professional teams sponsored by game publishers.

Dota 2’s ‘The International’ tournament is consistently one of the largest esports events every year, selling out stadiums and boasting a $34 million (£25.8 million) prize pool.

Amateur Tournaments

Smaller-scale tournaments aimed at non-professional players. These can be both official (hosted as an event) or as a feature of the game itself (incorporated into regular gameplay).

Professional Tournaments

Larger-scale tournaments aimed at professional players, often with a cash prize, multiple rounds, and sponsored by organisations (for example, electronic companies such as Lenovo).

What are the risks of esports?

Inappropriate and distressing content

Games may contain inappropriate or distressing content which a child or young person could be introduced to through watching or by playing. This could include violence or inappropriate language.

Gambling

Most games have a form of loot boxes (in-game treasure chests) for purchase, which could result in unhealthy spending habits, especially when boxes offer competitive advantages. Children and young people may not understand the mechanics of gambling (like risk and reward) and this increases chances of possible exploitation.

Rapport in games

Esports are played by people of all ages all over the world. When playing team-based games, the child in your care could match up against strangers in a team. This could create a potential environment for grooming (when an adult builds a relationship with a young person based on trust and connection to manipulate, exploit, and abuse them).

Cross-platform risks

While playing online, there is a risk that gameplay sessions move across platforms (such as using Discord for voice chat). It is also likely that young people may want to follow their favourite esports teams and players on social media and engage in discussions with other fans. This could make it easier for strangers to contact them and introduces more avenues where abuse could take place. There is also a danger that platforms may be end-to-end encrypted, a system that keeps interactions between users private and therefore not accessible to law enforcement.

Time consuming

Practicing and competing in tournaments requires a time commitment. This could interfere with schoolwork, sleep schedules, and family routines. It could also introduce added stress if a young person is using all their free time to engage in training and competition, without leaving time to relax by doing other things.

Emotional Distress

Much like traditional sports competition, especially in a team setting, there is a chance that a bad match could frustrate a child or young person playing the game. They may also get upset if their favourite team doesn’t win or perform well. This could result in negative emotional reactions such as outbursts, sulking, or fixation.

Lack of oversight

Esports lack an overarching authority body like those in traditional sports, such as the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in football. Bodies, like the International Esports Federation (IESF) are still in the early stages of attempting to introduce global regulation standards. This is problematic because there are no standards for accountability and a disparity in rules and requirements for competitions.

Sponsorships

It is common for pro-players to be sponsored by companies, like energy drinks. Popular creators often have ‘signature’ flavours aimed at their fans and promotion codes that are constantly advertised on streams and social media. This could influence a child or young person to want to buy these products despite potential dangers of excessive caffeine intake.

Top Tips

• Be mindful of age limits for games. Check a game’s PEGI rating to determine if it is appropriate for children or young people to watch or play the game.
• Engage in esports, Watching livestreams of tournaments with your child is the easiest way to get a grasp on what esports are. This can also help you to facilitate conversations about teams, players, what happens in the competitions and any concerns you may have.
• Find the right balance.Encourage screen time limits to find the right balance between competitiveness and healthy habits. It is important for children and young people to feel in control of their time to avoid stress. Try using phrases such as: “When will your match be done?” or giving them a time frame for when you need them to be finished, i.e. 10 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.
• Not everyone makes it!As with traditional sporting ambitions, not everyone succeeds in joining professional teams. It is important to know how to manage expectations while still supporting their dreams to become a pro-player. Set realistic goals and understand that this may be a legitimate ambition for children and young people. Be ready to celebrate their successes and to comfort them in the event of a loss.
• Encourage digital safety.Advise children and young people to never share any personal information with other players, even friends, such as their phone number, real name, address, school, or any clubs they attend. Many players in the esports scene are only known by their gamertag or username – make sure this doesn’t have any identifiable information either!
• Make a plan.Ensure that children and young people know what to do if they come across upsetting content online. You can use our Trusted Adult resources to help them understand who they can turn to in times of worry, stress, or crisis.