Deer Lakes Middle School provides gaming club to build skills, friendships

For gamers like Deer Lakes seventh grader Lucas Channel, a school club dedicated to Super Smash Bros. and Minecraft sounded like a dream come true.

“I love this club,” Channel said. “It’s a bit of time after school where you get to play in a nice surrounding.”

The 13-year-old is among a growing number of students to join the middle school’s eSports Club, which launched in April as a way to help players sharpen skills and build in-person friendships.

The club was spearheaded by STEM and math intervention teacher Alex Gigler who was looking to break the isolation of gaming.

“Sure, players communicate with others online, but they lose that personal connection to their peers,” Gigler said.

“Coming to esports after school allows them to put a face to the username of those they are playing with, promoting a positive social environment and fostering interpersonal skills.”

The club is offered to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. It combines short, competitive gaming rounds with the development of skills such as reflexes, teamwork, accuracy and strategic planning.

Deer Lakes is among a rapidly growing number of schools to implement a gaming club, capitalizing on kids’ interests.

According to the Pew Research Center, more than 90% of teens are active video gamers.

Esports, which sometimes involves a livestream audience, has been on the rise as schools and colleges across the country start clubs or teams.

More than 8,600 high schools and 175 colleges have added esports to their extracurriculars since 2018, according to DOGO News, a publisher of current events.

Gigler said gaming’s popularity has resulted in scholarship opportunities, cash prizes, career opportunities and audiences rivaling some more traditional sporting events.

The National Association of Collegiate Esports features more than 240 schools and 5,000 student athletes. The league has distributed $16 million in esports scholarships and financial aid.

For Channel, those benefits are outweighed by sheer enjoyment.

“It’s not stressful or competitive,” he said. “People bring in snacks and everyone gets a turn to play.”

Already, the middle school club has more than 20 members. Students can compete individually or as part of a team, giving them the chance to build relationships with kids who might not be in their typical school circle of friends.

Gigler is hoping the club can compete against other schools in the future.

“Students have been very helpful when it comes to running the meetings,” Gigler said. “Students who aren’t actively competing are playing casual games with each other or cheering others on.”

Having grown up with the rise of online gaming, Gigler said he wants to share the positive impact it can have.

He also takes an occasional turn with the controller.

“I definitely still enjoy playing video games, so it’s fun to game with them,” Gigler said. “The students who have joined have given me very positive feedback that makes it all worth it.”