You already play video games.
But what if you want to compete?
That’s esports.
Esports turns games such as League of Legends, VALORANT, Rocket League, Fortnite, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2 and Super Smash Bros. into organized competition.
You can start at home, join a school team, enter tournaments and—if you’re good enough—work toward higher levels of competition.
Here’s where to start.
What Is Esports?
Esports means competitive video gaming.
Depending on the game, you might compete alone or as part of a team.
There isn’t one universal esports league or governing body. Different games have different competitive systems, usually built around the company that publishes the game.
For example, Riot Games operates competitive ecosystems for League of Legends and VALORANT, while Valve owns Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2.
What Games Can I Play?
Some of the biggest competitive games include:
- League of Legends
- VALORANT
- Counter-Strike 2
- Dota 2
- Rocket League
- Fortnite
- Overwatch 2
- EA SPORTS FC
- PUBG
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Don’t choose a game because somebody tells you it’s the “best esport.”
Start with a game you actually enjoy playing.
How Do I Get Started?
Start by learning your game.
Play regularly. Learn its rules, characters, maps, strategies and ranking system.
Then move into competitive play.
A typical path might look like:
Play the game → Ranked competition → Local/online tournaments → School or club team → Larger tournaments → Higher-level competition
You don’t need to begin with dreams of becoming a professional player.
Start by competing.
Can I Play Esports at School?
Possibly.
Many U.S. high schools now offer organized esports programs. PlayVS works with schools to provide structured scholastic esports competition.
Ask your:
Athletic department → Activities office → Technology department → Gaming club
If your school doesn’t have a team, ask whether you can help start one.
What About College?
Colleges and universities across the United States have esports clubs, teams and gaming facilities.
Esports is not currently an NCAA championship sport, so don’t assume college esports works exactly like football or basketball. You can check the NCAA for its current championship sports and use individual college websites to investigate their esports programs.
If you’re interested in a particular college, search its official site for “esports.”
Where Can I Compete?
That depends on your game.
Start with the game’s official competitive site:
VALORANT Esports
LoL Esports
Dota 2 Esports
Fortnite Competitive
You can also explore international competition through the International Esports Federation and multi-game competition through the Esports World Cup.
Where Can I Watch?
Two obvious places:
But also follow the official competitive website and channels for your game.
Watching high-level players is one of the easiest ways to understand how your game changes when it becomes serious competition.
What Equipment Do I Need?
It depends on the game.
You might need:
PC or console → monitor → keyboard/mouse or controller → headset → reliable internet
Mobile esports may require little more than the appropriate phone or tablet.
Don’t assume you need an expensive gaming setup just to begin.
Start with the equipment required to play your game reliably.
Can Esports Become a Career?
Professional player is one possibility, but esports involves far more people than the competitors you see on screen.
The ecosystem also includes:
Coaches, broadcasters, event producers, developers, designers, analysts, marketers, tournament administrators, content creators and technology professionals.
Companies such as Riot Games, Valve and Epic Games aren’t simply connected to esports—they create the games around which entire competitive communities are built.
Start Here
If you’re interested in esports, don’t make it complicated:
1. Pick a game you love.
2. Learn how its competitive system works.
3. Play ranked competition.
4. Find your game’s official esports site.
5. Look for a school, local or online competition.
6. Watch good players.
7. Play.
You don’t need to understand the entire esports industry.
You just need to find your game and your next place to compete.
Author: theHowie
We are building a network of digital resources designed to bring some much-needed order to the internet's most chaotic corners. I don't just collect domains; I build them into authoritative hubs for the topics I’m passionate about.
