What Is Esports and Should Your Filter Be Blocking It?

Esports, or electronic sports, is competitive video gaming. Unlike casual gaming, esports involves organized teams, professional players, and often draws large audiences both in-person and online. With the rising popularity of games like League of Legends, Fortnite, and Rocket League, schools are seeing the advantages of incorporating esports into their curricula. However, balancing access while ensuring appropriate filtering is essential. This is how the right filtering can allow esports when educators want it, avoiding unwanted overblocking, and blocking unwanted content when necessary.

Why Esports in Schools Is Becoming a Fixture

Esports is becoming a key part of many schools because it promotes essential skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving—skills that are beneficial both inside and outside the classroom. Across the U.S., schools are creating esports programs to engage students who might not participate in traditional sports. These programs are helping increase student engagement and boost school attendance.

In fact, research shows that students in esports programs are more likely to attend school regularly and even improve academically. FutureSource Consulting predicts that esports in schools will grow by more than 15% annually through 2027, encouraging more schools to get on board.

How It Builds Confidence and Academic Success

For many students, esports offers a space where they can thrive and build confidence, particularly those who may not connect with more traditional activities. According to NASEF, 60% of students who had never joined extracurricular activities before esports became actively involved when programs were offered. Additionally, students in esports programs attended school 7.34 days more per year than those who didn’t participate.

Esports goes beyond just playing games. It teaches critical skills like strategy, leadership, and decision-making. Students also develop social and emotional skills through healthy competition, learning respect for their opponents, and teamwork.

Should Your School Web Filter Block Esports? 

With the rapid growth of esports, some schools may wonder if they should block it on their networks. While it might seem like a good idea to restrict gaming, esports has proven benefits for students. A balanced approach is needed, allowing esports access while still protecting the school environment and learning. 

This is where content filtering becomes important. A good filter, like Blocksi’s, doesn’t just block all games outright. Instead, it lets schools filter specific content based on the time, context, or educational goals. For instance, educators can allow esports during scheduled practice times or tournaments while blocking other unrelated or distracting content.

How Blocksi Makes Managing Esports Easy 

Blocksi’s advanced content filtering tool gives schools total control over what’s allowed and what’s not. With over 80 content categories to choose from, administrators can enable esports without worrying about other inappropriate content slipping through. It’s a simple way to keep students safe and focused.

Blocksi’s smart filters work in real-time, so changes can be made quickly. If a teacher wants to block esports during class but allow it after school for practice, they can do so in just a few clicks. This granular control means esports doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision.

Furthermore, Blocksi’s filtering tool uses AI to adapt to new websites and content constantly, keeping students safe while still allowing them access to positive educational experiences like esports. Teachers can even monitor students’ screens in real-time to ensure they stay on task during class hours.

Balancing Esports and Content Filtering for Student Success

Esports in education is more than just a trend—it’s a growing part of school culture that promotes critical life skills and academic success. With the right approach to content filtering, schools don’t have to choose between blocking esports entirely or allowing unrestricted access. A school web filter like Blocksi’s can help manage the balance, enabling students to participate in esports when it’s appropriate while keeping distractions and inappropriate content at bay.

By introducing esports in schools, educators can create a pleasant learning environment where students gain confidence, increase attendance, and develop important teamwork skills. With Blocksi’s granular filtering controls, schools can ensure that esports and other educational tools are used effectively, keeping students safe and interested in the classroom and beyond.

An adaptable school web filter like Blocksi is the answer for educational institutions that want to capitalize on esports while preserving a disciplined and secure learning atmosphere. It allows educators to create an environment where esports in schools supports learning, without compromising on safety or content management.

SOURCES

[1] Esports to capture $60,000 of K-12 annual budgets in US and Western Europe
[2] FETC 2024: Numbers Don’t Lie: Connecting Research to Pedagogy in Scholastic Esports