Table Of Contenti
“The responsibility and opportunity to create an esports environment that allows
collegiate participants to be their full authentic selves belong to all of us. With their
book, Understanding Collegiate Esports: A Practitioner’s Guide to Developing Community
and Competition, Jennifer Hoffman, Regena Pauketat, and Kelsey Varzeas have
decided to claim their roles as co- conspirators in this journey to create an equit-
able esports space for all. Understanding Collegiate Esports: A Practitioner’s Guide to
Developing Community and Competition and, most specifically, the guiding questions
at the end of every chapter offer a blueprint for building esports programs rooted
in positive community and productive competition.
Throughout the book, the chapter authors provide historical context on how
we have found ourselves in our current iteration of esports in ways that honor
the lived experiences of those the gaming industry and esports have systematic-
ally marginalized. Understanding Collegiate Esports: A Practitioner’s Guide to Developing
Community and Competition also provides hope with insightful recommendations
and provocations to ensure that we co- construct a present and future version
of esports that is diverse, equitable and inclusive while providing the sense of
belonging that gaming has offered so many of us.”
Verta Maloney, Co- Founder & Chief Innovation Officer,
at the*gameHERs, https:// theg ameh ers.com/
“Understanding Collegiate Esports: A Practitioner’s Guide to Developing Community and
Competition is something that every practitioner entering the world of collegiate
esports should have on their bookshelves. My favorite sections have to deal with
protecting the health and wellness of these athletes— this volume lists the most
common physical/ mental problems these athletes face and provides clear step-
by- step solutions. I personally expect to be flipping back to these sections regu-
larly. On a personal note, as a dietitian, I need to say that I love that the authors
give a nod to the importance of nutrition for peak health and performance! One
chapter provides simple and effective hydration guidelines to enhance player
well- being.
Bottom line: If you’re working with collegiate esports athletes, you need this
book. Don’t let your program fall behind.”
Casey Thomas, RD, Founder, Gamer Diet, Performance Nutrition
for Esports Athletes, https:// gamerd iet.gg/
ii
iii
Understanding Collegiate Esports
As esports is one of the new and rapidly growing sports programs at the collegiate level,
today’s campus leaders are increasingly asked to navigate the complexity of esports.
This practical volume helps higher education professionals understand the expanding
role of collegiate esports, describing the ecosystem of college esports and the experience
for college players, as well as the connections between gaming and career preparation.
Chapter authors offer an overview and practical look at the main structures and issues
facing collegiate esports programs, athletes, and administrators. Chapters address the
needs of the campus gaming community, building gender and racial inclusivity, athlete
health, amateurism and the esports athlete, the role of the technology industry, gov-
ernance, career paths, and coaching. This cutting-e dge volume offers information to
support campus leaders and practitioners in building and expanding collegiate esports
programs in the quickly growing and changing aspects of both online and face-t o- face
campus communities.
Jennifer Lee Hoffman is an Associate Professor of Educational Foundations,
Leadership, and Policy and faculty in the Center for Leadership in Athletics at the
University of Washington, USA. Dr. Hoffman was the recipient of ASHE’s 2021 Special
Merit Award.
Regena Pauketat is a doctoral student of Educational Foundations, Leadership,
and Policy and a Research Assistant in the Center for Leadership in Athletics at the
University of Washington, USA.
Kelsey A. Varzeas is a doctoral candidate of Higher Education and Student Affairs at
The Ohio State University, USA.
iv
v
Understanding
Collegiate Esports
A Practitioner’s Guide to
Developing Community and
Competition
Edited by
Jennifer Lee Hoffman,
Regena Pauketat, and
Kelsey A. Varzeas
vi
Cover image: © Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Jennifer Lee Hoffman, Regena Pauketat, and Kelsey A. Varzeas
The right of Jennifer Lee Hoffman, Regena Pauketat, and Kelsey A. Varzeas to be
identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their
individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
A catalog record for this title has been requested
ISBN: 978- 1- 032- 21057- 5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 032- 22249- 3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978- 1- 003- 27177- 2 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/ 9781003271772
Typeset in Perpetua
by Newgen Publishing UK
vii
To all our students who have shown us the future of video gaming
every day and for those in the future who will lead the way.
viii
ix
Contents
Detailed Contents xi
Foreword by Karen Weaver xiv
Preface xvii
Acknowledgements xxii
Contributor Biographies xxiv
1 Video Games Go to College 1
jennifer lee hoffman and tricia seifert
2 Using Esports to Amplify Historically Black Colleges and Universities:
Shifting the Narrative 21
wayne l. black and kishonna l. gray
3 Confronting Toxicity in Esports and Building Inclusive Environments:
Challenging “It’s Just Part of The Game” Culture 33
regena pauketat
4 Mental Health and Wellness for the Esports Student- Athlete 50
kelsey a. varzeas
5 Coaching in Esports: Promoting Well- Being and Performance 68
yeonhee cho, eric s. cohen, autumn e. freund,
jason yip, and jin ha lee
6 (E)sports Medicine on Campus 78
lindsey migliore
7 Organizing and Governing Collegiate Esports 106
david welch suggs. jr.
ix
