AUGUSTA — A new sport has been added to the list of athletic offerings approved by the Maine Principals’ Association, the state’s governing body for high school athletics. 

Fittingly, given the current climate of sports, the MPA approved the state’s high schools to offer esports, which CNN described as, “the world of competitive, organized video gaming.” 

The addition of esports was approved in January by the MPA’s interscholastic management committee and board of directors.

“We approved it as schools expressed interest in adding it or were already participating in Esports,” said MPA Assistant Executive Director Mike Bisson. “When the [National Federation of High School Associations] partnered with PlayVS to provide Esports, we signed on with many other states.”

The decision was fueled as at least two high schools in the state added the sport to its offerings with the MPA, hoping to have 20 schools registered to participate in the upcoming school year. 

With schools such as Waterville and Cape Elizabeth offering the sport, will schools in the Midcoast offer it? 

Camden Hills Regional High School Athletic Director Jeff Hart said the department was still working through the initial stages of exploring the possibility. 

Oceanside Athletic Director Molly Bishop noted the topic will be approached in the fall, while Medomak Valley Athletic Director Matt Lash said his department was only recently made aware of the approval and thus had yet to begin discussions. Mount View Athletic Director Thomas Lynch noted his department has not entertained discussions. 

The athletic directors at Belfast and Searsport did not respond to requests for comment. 

“We feel that this activity will help bring some students in to a school activity that may not have participated in other school activities,” said Bisson. “Students participating will learn leadership skills, teamwork, and a sense of being a part of a team. We are excited to add another activity during this difficult time for students and hope that this will be positively received.”

Competitors, as part of teams, face off in popular video games such as League of Legends, Call of Duty, Overwatch or Fortnite. Maine high schools will offer Rocket League and League of Legends, according to WABI. 

Esports is recognized as a varsity sport by Thomas College in Waterville, which boasts a roster of players for League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Magic: The Gathering Arena and Super Smash Bros. 

Some of the major universities count the sport among its offerings such as the University of California at Irvine, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University and the University of Missouri. 

For those that turn professional and join professional organizations — such as FaZe Clan or 100 Thieves — the endeavor can turn extremely lucrative to the tune of millions of dollars through tournament prizes, brand deals with the world’s largest brands and international fan-bases of millions. 

FaZe Clan, for example, has partnered and collaborated with brands including Nissan, the European soccer club Manchester City, Mountain Dew, Wix, clothing brand Champion, the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Era and the Los Angeles Kings. 

The professional gaming organization, according to CNN, boasts a roster of roughly 80 members. Its youngest member — Soleil Wheeler, better known as Ewok — made history in July 2019 by being signed to FaZe Clan at 13-years-old. 

Some of the most well-known celebrities have found ways to be formally involved in the business side of esports. 

Offset, a rapper, and James Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, are both investors of FaZe Clan. Drake, another rapper, and Scooter Braun, an entertainment mogul perhaps best known as the manager to stars like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, are investors of 100 Thieves.