In today’s classrooms, esports is proving to be much more than a fun extracurricular activity—it’s a powerful tool for student career readiness and exploration. Running a successful esports team takes more than just great players; it requires a full roster of roles, from technical support and content creation to operations and event planning.
For middle and high school students, esports offers a meaningful introduction to the world of careers. By stepping into roles like IT manager, shoutcaster, graphic designer, or team strategist, students gain hands-on experience with tools and responsibilities that closely resemble real jobs in growing industries. These roles allow them to try out different tasks, build confidence, and discover what kinds of work they enjoy most. Because they’re working in a space they are already passionate about—video games—students are naturally motivated to engage and learn. Whether they’re setting up networks, producing livestreams, or managing a team schedule, each position teaches valuable soft and technical skills relevant to a wide range of careers in esports and the broader gaming industry.
Academic esports opens doors to a wide variety of careers, and these opportunities can be grouped into two main categories: those where students can gain hands-on experience directly through team participation, and those that are more tangentially related, which esports can help students explore and learn about in meaningful ways.
Within a school esports team, students have the chance to step into roles that reflect the demands and responsibilities of real-world careers. These aren’t just make-believe titles—they involve actual tasks, from setting up and managing tech infrastructure to promoting events and producing content. Each of these roles allows students to develop valuable skills like problem-solving, communication, and project management while gaining exposure to fields such as IT, media production, marketing, and event planning.
A network engineer or IT technician in the esports world ensures that all systems are running smoothly—from setting up devices and managing local area networks (LAN) to troubleshooting technical issues on the fly. This role is essential to keeping tournaments and practices operating without interruption.
In a school esports team, students in an IT-focused role might:
Media arts professionals shape how audiences experience esports through visuals and storytelling. From graphics to live commentary, these roles are creative, engaging, and vital to a team’s public presence.
In a school esports team, students in creative media roles might:
Students can take our Esports Broadcasting course to learn both the technical and soft skills needed to start their own streams.
Marketing and public relations roles focus on growing a team’s audience, building its brand, and communicating effectively with fans and sponsors.
In a school esports team, students in marketing and PR roles might:
Learn more about marketing in the gaming industry in our podcast episode with a Product Marketing Manager at Kabam.
Operations and management roles ensure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly—from scheduling practices to analyzing team performance.
In a school esports team, students in operations-focused roles might:
Event production roles bring esports competitions to life, both in-person and online. They focus on managing the technical side of events and creating a polished viewing experience.
In a school esports team, students involved in event production might:
Students can get hands-on experience in our Esports Broadcasting course, where they will explore broadcasting fundamentals and learn both the technical and soft skills needed to start their own streams.
Business and finance roles are key to helping esports teams grow, stay organized, and plan for the future. From managing budgets to strategizing long-term goals, these positions are all about making smart decisions behind the scenes.
In a school esports team, students in business and finance roles might:
Our Esports Business course teaches these business skills through the lens of esports and gaming and helps students prepare for the Certiport Entrepreneurship and Small Business certification.
Not every career connected to esports involves direct, hands-on experience as part of a school team—but these paths still offer exciting opportunities for career exploration for students. Many high-growth fields—such as artificial intelligence, software development, and health sciences—are increasingly relevant to the gaming industry. And while students may not step directly into these careers through team participation, esports provides an engaging, relatable context for introducing these subjects.
For example, students can begin coding by learning to build games. They can understand health and wellness by exploring how professional gamers care for their physical and mental performance. They can even discover the impact of AI by examining how it powers in-game opponents or analyzes team strategy. These connections help students—especially in middle and high school—make meaningful links between their personal interests and potential careers in video gaming, tech, and beyond.
Esports wouldn't exist without the games themselves. Careers in game development and product management call for creativity, programming skills, and strategic thinking. For students who are new to coding or game creation, USAEL's Introduction to Game Development course offers a beginner-friendly starting point. Using JavaScript, students learn foundational coding concepts while creating browser-based games.
For those who want to go deeper into game design, Mastery Coding offers a comprehensive Game and App Development Pathway. This two-course sequence uses industry-standard tools like Unity and C# programming along with Blender for 3D modeling. Students build several fully playable video games while preparing for Unity industry certifications, making this an ideal route for aspiring professional developers.
The esports industry increasingly relies on artificial intelligence to enhance gameplay, develop non-player characters (NPCs), and analyze player data. Students interested in this field can explore machine learning, game AI and more in our AI in Esports course.
With long practice sessions and high-stakes tournaments, esports athletes need support for their physical and mental well-being. Careers in esports health sciences involve understanding ergonomics, exercise routines, and mindfulness strategies. In our Careers in Esports podcast episode with Dr. Matt Hwu, students can learn how physical therapists are helping gamers stay healthy and perform at their best.
By participating in the USAEL, students don’t just learn how to play—they learn how to lead, design, produce, and innovate. Whether they’re behind the scenes managing streams, on the mic shoutcasting a final match, or working with teammates to build a championship roster, students develop essential soft and technical skills that translate directly into future careers.
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