LOS ANGELES, CA – September 18, 2019 – Today, PlayVS furthers its mission to bring esports to high schools nationwide by announcing Washington D.C. as the newest addition to its roster of partnered states. The current waitlist to build an interscholastic esports program with PlayVS is over 13,000 schools long -- 68% of all high schools -- and spans across all 50 US states. This puts esports on par with traditional programs like football, which is available in 14,247 schools.

The popularity of esports is skyrocketing. The collaboration between PlayVS and the DCSAA is introducing esports into schools' extracurricular offerings to provide safe, supervised spaces to compete while coaches instill critical teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

“DCSAA is excited as an association to offer esports as a new opportunity for students to get involved at their schools,” said Clark Ray, Director, District of Columbia State Athletic Association. “We believe our partnership with PlayVS will enhance the student experience by providing an inclusive and accessible program.”

“Esports provides a new opportunity for students to become athletes,” said Dr. Clint Kennedy, Director of Education & Acquisition at PlayVS. “It opens the door to scholarships, recognition, and newfound communities on campus. We are excited to work directly with teachers and schools to build out their esports programs this fall.”

During the first year of PlayVS’ ‘Seasons,’ esports teams had an average of 15 players per program, with one in three players participating in their first-ever school activity. More than 70% of the students who participated said they found a community to connect with, and more than 40% plan on using their esports experience to apply for colleges and universities.

The cost to participate is $64/player per season. This cost provides students with a full suite of unlocked, in-game content (valued at over $700) and access to the full games themselves (each valued at $20-$60). Most schools already have the required computer equipment in existing labs or libraries, making esports a simple, low-cost/high-benefit program to get off the ground. Schools can still register for the fall season for free by signing up at PlayVS.com. The deadline for schools to register for this upcoming Fall season is October 11th.

For more information on PlayVS, please visit https://www.playvs.com/.

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ABOUT PLAYVS
PlayVS is the premier high school esports provider, in partnership with the NFHS and 17 state associations. Its product is the single destination where players come together to compete, fans gather to spectate and coaches manage their programs. Through partnerships with top game publishers, PlayVS powers inclusive league and State Championship play across the nation. For more information, visit www.playvs.com.

ABOUT DCSAA
About the District of Columbia State Athletic Association
The mission of the District of Columbia State Athletics Association (DCSAA) is to serve member schools and the maximum number of their student-athletes by providing leadership and support for interscholastic athletic programming that will enrich the educational experiences of all participants.