With this week’s news of Riot’s “North America Community Competition Guidelines,” educators are stepping forward and locking arms in defense of the new and evolving ecosystem of esports in high schools and the children who inhabit it. In order to correct this action, we ask of Riot Games the following: 1. Revision of the North America Community Competition Guidelines (Last Updated: March 9, 2020) by removing Item 9, and working through the RSAA to create new separate Item 9 guidelines for college and high school groups. 2. Representation on the Riot Scholastic Association of America (RSAA) Board of Advisors via a diverse group of high school esports leaders (there are currently zero seats allocated). 3. Creation of pathways for high school esports associations to gain sanctioning to conduct events using Riot Games intellectual property, games and the terms: Varsity, Season, Championship, Post-Season, League, or Playoffs. 4. A pledge to never receive equity or direct funding from another for-profit association or company arranging, operating or hosting high school esports events. Should there be any previous, or future, equity or funding received from any such companies, it should either be returned, or set aside for grants to high schools working to create, or sustain, esports programs. The high school esports community will not stand idly by, or feel bullied or pushed due to special interests. The high school esports community sets the scholar gamer experience first, shall boldly dare to dream of a great esports experience for our children, will thrive together through mutual respect and care of each other, will collaborate and execute with excellence a meaningful experience for and with our children, and we will stay hungry and humble learning and growing together with, or without, Riot Games.
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#RiotAct2020: An Open Letter to Riot Games
Riot Games North America Community Competition Guidelines
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Esports is organized competitive video games allowing schools to redefine their athletic culture, diversify opportunities for student participation, promote physical and mental health, increase collegiate scholarship pathways, and play games! We cannot forget the importance of play!
James O'Hagan (LinkedIn // Twitter) is the Founder and Host of The Academy of Esports podcast.
The Academy of Esports (Website // Twitter)
You may email any questions or topic suggestions to contact@taoesports.com.
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