Holy Family University students will have a new athletic option when they return to campus next month, complete with uniforms, practice time and a brand new facility.
The sport? video games.
The University of Philadelphia with a campus in Bensalem joins more than 170 collegiate programs as part of the National Association of Collegiate Esports. More than 5,000 student-athletes compete against each other, including students from several Pennsylvania colleges, including Alvernia, Immaculata, Neumann and Messiah Universities, and King’s College.
Esports is growing on college campuses and high schools across the country, in part as a way to reach students who may not participate in traditional, physical sports.
“We want to develop leaders,” said Abraham Joseph, Holy Family’s Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance. “That’s something the Holy Family is passionate about. We want students who have graduated from the Holy Family with the holistic point of view of the mission, academics, everything else, to be the best version of themselves when they leave our institution.
“So with this, it’s another opportunity to capture a different group of student-athletes that we may never have experienced,” Joseph said. “But give them the traditional experience of being captain and leader.”
High School Esports:Minecraft in the classroom? For Central Bucks, esports is more than a game
Original talks about starting an esports program at the Holy Family stalled when COVID-19 kicked in, but those talks resumed last summer and the university has set a schedule for the 2022-23 academic year.
As the program begins this fall, student esport athletes are expected to be held to the same standards as other athletes on campus. When players aren’t practicing or competing, expect them to be training at the gym or studying for school.
The Holy Family Athletic Department and other campus departments are also putting together the final pieces of an esports facility.
Incoming and returning students can reach their potential when it comes to competitive gaming due to the resources available.
“We currently have a gaming club,” said Tim Hamill, Holy Family director of athletics. “We’re trying to give that some legitimacy by structuring it a little better. Giving them access to our logo – our branding.”
The school is partnered with Adidas, so the team will wear uniforms. Players receive additional clothing from the Holy Family, including beanies and other items.
Inside the Holy Family esports facility
Holy Family’s new esports facility is located on the first floor of the Philadelphia campus center and should be ready by August. The team is expected to use this facility for competitions and training, but there will be open times for all other students on campus.
“A big mission we have with this is to be very inclusive,” Joseph said.
Here’s what student athletes should expect when entering the facility.
They can download their game of choice on any of the 20 PC computers. Keyboards and headsets come with every computer. A few PC computers have webcams to stream games.
The athletics department has researched the best equipment to use, including the best computer screen and table size, among other essential details. The program is willing to make improvements to their equipment as things change.
“Our goal is to be a pioneer and lead this effort forward,” Joseph said. “We want our kids to have the best equipment to be successful in this sport.”
Holy Family joined NACE because the organization provides important resources for college programs. In addition, NACE allows programs to compete against high and low level competition, creating more opportunities for students who want to participate.
Each player will likely participate in a specific game. There are single player options, but esports is team oriented and for the most part requires multiple players per game.
Some of the games NACE offers are Overwatch, League of Legends, and Valorant.
Fans are expected to come out and support the team. The play facility is next to the dining room so that makes it all easier. People can look outside the glass walls and cheer on their fellow students as they compete.
“It’s going to be a natural segment,” Joseph said. “When our students go to eat, they can sit. They are going to watch their friends and people they know compete in the next room.”
The streaming platform Twitch is another alternative for students to watch.
“It’s just one click away,” said Colin Sibilia, director of esports at Holy Family. “I think it will be very accessible for a lot of people to watch and support.”
How do you become a Holy Family esports team member?
Competitions are scheduled from fall to spring.
The program aims to add experienced and inexperienced players to the roster. There will be no roster cuts or tryouts as the program enters its first season due to the goal of being inclusive.
In the fall, the program aims to gauge the interest of students who can commit to a 20-hour work week. NACE’s recreational level is better suited to inexperienced players or busy students who cannot commit full-time.
“We want kids to experience what esports is, even if you’re brand new and have never touched a computer before,” Joseph said. “We want to give them the ability to access the equipment to play. Our idea is to have free open times where we teach experienced players to newer players.”
Sibilia will support its players from an academic point of view and provide resources.
He plans to recruit Philadelphia and South Jersey during the early stages of the program.
“We’ve already been in talks with some sports directors and some principals and head coaches, whatever every school has,” Sibilia said. “It grows near high school. We want to try to connect with these local schools.”
Sibilia has applied for a 2023 recruitment platform reaching out to high school students. The Central Bucks School District founded an esports club last year and Quakertown Community School District also started one.
Last year an esports center, Metro ESports, opened in Warminster.
Sibilia is looking for recruits with a passion for esports. He’s less concerned about their skill level at this point.
Holy Family has long-term goals for esports program
Holy Family has created a minor in Esports and Gaming Administration to suit the interest of their students.
There are several options for esports careers, including broadcasting and coaching. Esports also translates to other career areas such as technology-based and data-driven jobs.
The first year of this program is crucial to learning what works.
“The student-athlete experience – do they feel involved in athletics?” said Sibilia. “Do they feel like they matter? How does organizing the playroom schedule work as there will be classes at certain times and exercises? Opening hours, what will they look like?”
The final steps before the season are making the rosters, designing uniforms and finishing the facility.
Everyone involved will be encouraged with the long-term future of the esports program when it launches.
“It’s something I like to see grow,” Sibilia said. “I think this is part of helping Holy Family grow into a more inclusive and exciting university with more bells and whistles and things to offer.”
0 Comments