Arizona to Offer High School Esports

Arizona high school students will be able to compete for a state championship in video games starting this winter, the state announced this week.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association, the governing body for high school athletics and activities, will sanction three-on-three competitions in "Rocket League," a game of vehicular soccer, and five-on-five competitions in "League of Legends," a multiplayer battle game.

More than a dozen states already feature video game state championships. Arizona will sanction the esports competitions as "activities" rather than a varsity sport.

After its first season, beginning in February, the state will feature two esports competition periods each academic year, in fall and spring. The contests will be sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations, the nationwide high school sports governing body, which partnered with start-up PlayVS in April to build a platform for high school competition.

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