The British Esports Association has announced that it will be bringing a children’s after-school esports club to Maida Vale library in London. It will run over the next month as a pilot scheme and is the UK’s first free esports training club supported by a local authority.
There will be four sessions each week, beginning on June 20th and running through until July 11th. The two-hour sessions will be open to ten children from local schools between the age of 10 and 13 as well as their parents.
Children attending will be able to compete in Rocket League as well as try their hand at casting and coaching. There’s set to be eight gaming systems and a casting workstation – all supplied by London-based custom PC builder DinoPC.
In addition to the frivolity of playing Rocket League, members and volunteers from the British Esports Association will be giving talks on careers in esports. Notable names include Ceirnan “Excoundrel” Lowe, a British Esports Advisory Board member and professional caster.
The British Esports Association has suggested that the pilot scheme will allow British Esports to instruct schools and libraries as to how best to set up their own clubs in the future.
British Esports Content Director Dominic Sacco commented: ““By engaging with children, we are looking at the bigger picture with the goal of creating more British esports talent in the long-term.
“This pilot scheme will help children, parents and teachers learn about esports and the career paths it offers, while at the same time demonstrate the benefits of playing esports, such as team-building and cognitive benefits.
“The findings from the pilot scheme will also help us instruct schools how to set up their own extracurricular esports clubs, and other libraries may be inspired to run their own sessions in the future. We’re delighted to be teaming up with Westminster City Council and DinoPC for this initiative.”
Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sports and Community, Westminster City Council, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to receive training in one of the fastest growing international sporting arenas. But this isn’t just about helping support a generation of world class cyber athletes. As part of the pilot we are encouraging children to take the strategic skills and team management expertise they’ll develop online out onto our playing fields, and make healthy choices around playing a physical sport.
“The UK, and London in particular, has a global reputation for innovation and excellence in interactive creative media. I’m pleased Westminster City Council can be the first authority in the country to support a type of professional competition that is becoming a global phenomenon.”
Finally, DinoPC Marketing Manager Nic Carnelutti revealed: “We believe the educational aspects of what the British Esports Association aims to achieve are highly beneficial to children and younger audiences.
“This scheme encourages young people to learn teamwork and participate in a challenge – building up their social skills which can then be used in other aspects of life.
“They couldn’t have decided on a better choice of game either. Rocket League emphasises each of the aforementioned traits and remains enjoyable throughout. We are very proud to support this event and be part of this from the very beginning.”
Esports Insider says: Great initiative from the British Esports Association. Dom & co will be hoping that the sessions educate both children and parents alike about esports and the opportunities there. If the UK want to compete with the best, talent needs to be carefully nurtured from a young age.