Information Video (Slides above plus me speaking)
GLLA ESPORTS 2024-2025
Calling All Competitive Gamers and Esports Fans!
Great Lakes Learning Academy has partnered with the Global Clubs and Activities Department to create our very own GLLA Esports Team! Please check out the FAQ below.
We will be competing using PlayVS in the following game titles (for those with enough students to field a team):
Rocket League (MS 13+ & HS) 3v3
League of Legends (HS) 5v5
Super Smash Bros Ultimate (MS & HS) 3v3
Chess (HS) 3v3
NBA2k (HS) 1v1
Madden NFL (HS) 1v1
Splatoon 3 (MS & HS) 3v3
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (MS & HS) 4v4
Marvel Rivals (New for Spring 2025! - Recruiting!)
Valorant, Fortnite, & Overwatch with extra permission if we have enough for a team.
Our goal is to build a community that promotes socialization and fosters positive relationships. We need competitive gamers to field teams for competition, but you do not have to play the game to participate. There are many other ways to get involved like shoutcasting, streaming, graphic design, web design, and marketing. GLLA Esports is an opportunity to compete with fellow students against other middle and high school teams.
There are some eligibility requirements in order to participate in Connections Esports. Team members must…
Esports Club members should attend weekly team practice (Mondays at 4PM).
GLLA Players should also commit to 1 game per week during the season.
Most of these activities will occur during traditional after school hours in the late afternoon. (4pm EST)
Great Lakes Learning Academy has partnered with the Global Clubs and Activities Department to create our very own GLLA Esports Team! Please check out the FAQ below.
We will be competing using PlayVS in the following game titles (for those with enough students to field a team):
Rocket League (MS 13+ & HS) 3v3
League of Legends (HS) 5v5
Super Smash Bros Ultimate (MS & HS) 3v3
Chess (HS) 3v3
NBA2k (HS) 1v1
Madden NFL (HS) 1v1
Splatoon 3 (MS & HS) 3v3
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (MS & HS) 4v4
Marvel Rivals (New for Spring 2025! - Recruiting!)
Valorant, Fortnite, & Overwatch with extra permission if we have enough for a team.
Our goal is to build a community that promotes socialization and fosters positive relationships. We need competitive gamers to field teams for competition, but you do not have to play the game to participate. There are many other ways to get involved like shoutcasting, streaming, graphic design, web design, and marketing. GLLA Esports is an opportunity to compete with fellow students against other middle and high school teams.
There are some eligibility requirements in order to participate in Connections Esports. Team members must…
- Be a full time high school student
- Maintain at least a “C” average in all courses
- Remain in good academic standing based on participation (stay “on track” and passing). This decision is made by coach.
Esports Club members should attend weekly team practice (Mondays at 4PM).
GLLA Players should also commit to 1 game per week during the season.
Most of these activities will occur during traditional after school hours in the late afternoon. (4pm EST)
How to Sign Up:
How Caretakers Sign Up for Clubs like Esports
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How to Finalize Esports Club Enrollment
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Available Esports, Leagues, and Requirements
*While participating with Great Lakes Learning Academy, Michigan High School Esports League, and PlayVS is free; some equipment may be required for our virtual program. The school must also have enough players to "field a team."
For example(s), Marvel Rivals is free to download and play as long as you have a PC or Console that can play them! However, we will need at least 6 Marvel Rivals players to field a team. Madden is not a free game, but if you own Madden 25 and a console to play it on, participating with GLLA Esports on PlayVS is free.
For example(s), Marvel Rivals is free to download and play as long as you have a PC or Console that can play them! However, we will need at least 6 Marvel Rivals players to field a team. Madden is not a free game, but if you own Madden 25 and a console to play it on, participating with GLLA Esports on PlayVS is free.
How to Set Up Parent-Student Account for students under the age of 13:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does it mean to be an esports player?
Imagine playing a game of 3v3 pick up basketball at the local playground versus playing in a 5v5 basketball travel league on a court with referees for a season. The pick up game is like playing video games at home on your own or with friends. The competitive travel league is CA Esports. There are seasons for esports just like competitive sports (Fall, Winter, Spring). Students meet each other at designated times to play against other students each week during the season. The best teams in the country win their playoffs and even get to travel to national competitions to play in person! Do you think you have what it takes to be a state or national champion? Your team might enroll in the "Major" Division. Are you just starting out and learning how to play? Your team might enroll in the "Intramural" Division. Coaches will help determine what experience will be the most positive for you and your team.
What is Esports Club?
It is the mission of the Global Clubs and Activities Department to connect students with one another from across all Connections Academy and Pearson schools and to spark every student’s interest. Our goal with the Esports Club is to connect competitive gamers with each other, provide a social avenue to discuss competitive gaming, field school teams in the leagues and to foster personal skills through gaming such as critical/strategic thinking, problem-solving, reflection, communication, teamwork, and leadership. This Data View has important information for Caretakers and Students to understand and agree to in order to participate in the Esports Club.
High School Esports League & Middle School Esports League (MSEL) and PlayVS
Our Esports Club will participate with a provider outside of Connections; the High School Esports League(HSEL), Middle School Esports League (MSEL) and/or PlayVS depending on the game title. It is the mission of these leagues to make esports available to every student as a legitimate sport in schools across the nation. Many schools have clubs and esports teams. Many colleges now do too, even offering scholarships to the best players to compete for their university like any other competitive sport. They work to achieve this by making it easy for faculty to offer students an opportunity to engage in healthy esports competition, surrounded by peers, and supervised by teachers. Through organized esports competition, students will tie their commitment to gaming to their success in academics and future careers.
High School Esports League & Middle School Esports League (MSEL) and PlayVS
Our Esports Club will participate with a provider outside of Connections; the High School Esports League(HSEL), Middle School Esports League (MSEL) and/or PlayVS depending on the game title. It is the mission of these leagues to make esports available to every student as a legitimate sport in schools across the nation. Many schools have clubs and esports teams. Many colleges now do too, even offering scholarships to the best players to compete for their university like any other competitive sport. They work to achieve this by making it easy for faculty to offer students an opportunity to engage in healthy esports competition, surrounded by peers, and supervised by teachers. Through organized esports competition, students will tie their commitment to gaming to their success in academics and future careers.
How do you play, when do games happen?
Step 1 is to have your caretaker sign up for club.
Step 2 is to show up to the weekly team practice & club meeting Monday @4:00 PM.
Step 3 is to show up to the weekly team game. The games are a different day depending on the game title.
(For example: SSB is on Monday, Mario Kart is Tuesday, RL is Thursday, Valorant is Wednesday, etc.)
Step 4 is to join the game at your scheduled game time. Generally matches are at 4pm EST a specific day of the week.
Step 2 is to show up to the weekly team practice & club meeting Monday @4:00 PM.
Step 3 is to show up to the weekly team game. The games are a different day depending on the game title.
(For example: SSB is on Monday, Mario Kart is Tuesday, RL is Thursday, Valorant is Wednesday, etc.)
Step 4 is to join the game at your scheduled game time. Generally matches are at 4pm EST a specific day of the week.
What are the rules? What are the responsibilities of my student?
MSEL/HSEL have their own Player Guidelines and set of rules for each game title, which participants are expected to know and abide by. MSEL/HSEL reserves the right to suspend or terminate student participation for violating these rules.
● Your student will interact with students from other schools across the country (outside of Connections Academy) in game. Sometimes games can get a little intense and harsh words might be exchanged. All violations of the Behavior Code WILL be reported to League Officials for action.
● Students will be expected to attend regular practices (from home....no travel required), as well as maintain a solid academic foundation.
● Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (70% or above) in all courses and be in good standing with their participation metric (stay On Track). The previous semester’s grades will be used for initial club membership.
● Our practice and competition schedule will be determined by students and local Connections Academy or Pearson Online Academy General Managers, but will generally be around 3-4 hours per week, during traditional after school hours. Please note, no travel will be required, as all practices and competitions will be
conducted in game at home (unless your student’s team qualifies for the national championship tournament).
● In order to participate, students must have a PC or gaming console capable of running the games we play with the appropriate online gaming subscription.
● Being a competitive player is a team commitment, on par with joining any interscholastic sports team. Student will be expected to be on time for games, or they may be replaced.
● We will use the communications platform Discord to communicate with each other during games and practices. We have established a private server, with only Connections Academy and Pearson Online Academy students that will be available during the day for practice and in game communication. Every individual on the server is a VERFIED Connections Academy or Pearson Online Academy Student or Teacher. While activity on the server will be monitored by an administrator during established hours, it is unlikely that the administrator will catch every interaction. Please also note that Discord is popular among gamers. While our server is private, students are able to join OTHER servers on the platform and participate in direct communication with others that will not be within our control. We strongly encourage caretakers to familiarize themselves with Discord and their student’s
online activities. Discord has shared their Safety guidelines and other information for caretakers to review.
● We stream most of our competitive matches live on Twitch. Twitch is an interactive livestreaming service for gaming and entertainment. Student gamer names will be visible. The Connections Esports Twitch channel can be shared with friends, family, and relatives to support students. Select the link here to learn more about Twitch.
We are excited to bring this opportunity for your student to participate in competitive esports games and tournaments!
● Your student will interact with students from other schools across the country (outside of Connections Academy) in game. Sometimes games can get a little intense and harsh words might be exchanged. All violations of the Behavior Code WILL be reported to League Officials for action.
● Students will be expected to attend regular practices (from home....no travel required), as well as maintain a solid academic foundation.
● Students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA (70% or above) in all courses and be in good standing with their participation metric (stay On Track). The previous semester’s grades will be used for initial club membership.
● Our practice and competition schedule will be determined by students and local Connections Academy or Pearson Online Academy General Managers, but will generally be around 3-4 hours per week, during traditional after school hours. Please note, no travel will be required, as all practices and competitions will be
conducted in game at home (unless your student’s team qualifies for the national championship tournament).
● In order to participate, students must have a PC or gaming console capable of running the games we play with the appropriate online gaming subscription.
● Being a competitive player is a team commitment, on par with joining any interscholastic sports team. Student will be expected to be on time for games, or they may be replaced.
● We will use the communications platform Discord to communicate with each other during games and practices. We have established a private server, with only Connections Academy and Pearson Online Academy students that will be available during the day for practice and in game communication. Every individual on the server is a VERFIED Connections Academy or Pearson Online Academy Student or Teacher. While activity on the server will be monitored by an administrator during established hours, it is unlikely that the administrator will catch every interaction. Please also note that Discord is popular among gamers. While our server is private, students are able to join OTHER servers on the platform and participate in direct communication with others that will not be within our control. We strongly encourage caretakers to familiarize themselves with Discord and their student’s
online activities. Discord has shared their Safety guidelines and other information for caretakers to review.
● We stream most of our competitive matches live on Twitch. Twitch is an interactive livestreaming service for gaming and entertainment. Student gamer names will be visible. The Connections Esports Twitch channel can be shared with friends, family, and relatives to support students. Select the link here to learn more about Twitch.
We are excited to bring this opportunity for your student to participate in competitive esports games and tournaments!
Account Set Up & Player Agreement
Account Set Up
Students will be provided additional information with clear steps to follow once enrollment in the Esports Club is complete
(upon caretaker acknowledgement of the items in this Data View).
Here is an overview of the accounts that students will need:
Player Agreement
This player agreement was designed to ensure alignment with the values at Connections Academy and Pearson. These rules apply to every student and adult who participates in the Connections Academy Esports Club. In addition to your school’s handbook and Global Clubs & Activities Rules, Esports Club members will also review and agree to the Player Code of Conduct (outlined below) before participating in the Esports Club.
Code of Conduct
• Appropriate expression. Express yourself in a positive and appropriate manner toward or about other players (opponents or teammates) in any type of verbal or written communications (in-game, Discord, gaming platforms, email, etc). Do not use language, nicknames or other threatening expressions that insult another player’s gender, gender identity, culture, ability/skill level, sexual orientation, religion or age. Think before you speak and use words that are helpful and positive to the group.
• Team dynamic. Support your teammates, communicate positively and respectfully, build each other up, and cheer each other on. Show up, be reliable, and always play to the best of your ability.
• Cheating. Cheating and/or hacking will not be tolerated. Please come ready to play a fair game.
• Private information. Do not share your account information or any other private information that could put yourself or your peers at risk. Be wise about online safety.
• Harassment. Do not harass other players, team members, or other associated parties. Toxic language, behavior, or actions are not allowed in this environment. Participants are expected to do their part to help others feel welcome and comfortable.
• Discrimination. Do not speak negatively about a culture, country, or group of people. Do not use harmful words or actions against someone’s ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, gender identity, language, or religion.
Consequences
Any team member who violates the Code of Conduct is subject to consequences.
The nature and extent of the consequences will be determined by the club administration.
▪ Warnings. Low severity or first-time offenses will receive a verbal and a written warning. The goal is to grow. If you know better, you can choose to do better!
▪ Player suspension from a game, match or tournament. In this case, a single player may be suspended, while the team may continue to compete with a replacement.
▪ Player suspension from the club. In this case, the player will no longer participate in any aspect of the club, including team communications, meetings, or playing in games.
▪ Team disqualification. In this case, if more than one player on a single team has violated the Code of Conduct, the entire team may be disqualified.
If it is determined that a student participated in misconduct, the protocol for administering consequences as follows:
▪ WebMail. A WebMail message will be used to provide the student and the student’s Caretaker with a detailed explanation of the rule that was broken, the consequence, and guidance for alternative ways to deal with similar situations moving forward.
▪ Right to publish. The club administration reserves the right to notify team members and coaches of any consequences administered.
Students will be provided additional information with clear steps to follow once enrollment in the Esports Club is complete
(upon caretaker acknowledgement of the items in this Data View).
Here is an overview of the accounts that students will need:
- PlayVS Account:
Students will create their own account on PlayVS competition platform to connect to the school's PlayVS student-athletes. - Discord:
Optional for HS Students for game time communication. There is a Global Discord for all Connections Academy Esports student-athletes. - CA Account:
Students will meet in Mr. Thrower's Live Lesson room Mondays at 4pm to take care of team business like setting rosters that week and practices.
Player Agreement
This player agreement was designed to ensure alignment with the values at Connections Academy and Pearson. These rules apply to every student and adult who participates in the Connections Academy Esports Club. In addition to your school’s handbook and Global Clubs & Activities Rules, Esports Club members will also review and agree to the Player Code of Conduct (outlined below) before participating in the Esports Club.
Code of Conduct
• Appropriate expression. Express yourself in a positive and appropriate manner toward or about other players (opponents or teammates) in any type of verbal or written communications (in-game, Discord, gaming platforms, email, etc). Do not use language, nicknames or other threatening expressions that insult another player’s gender, gender identity, culture, ability/skill level, sexual orientation, religion or age. Think before you speak and use words that are helpful and positive to the group.
• Team dynamic. Support your teammates, communicate positively and respectfully, build each other up, and cheer each other on. Show up, be reliable, and always play to the best of your ability.
• Cheating. Cheating and/or hacking will not be tolerated. Please come ready to play a fair game.
• Private information. Do not share your account information or any other private information that could put yourself or your peers at risk. Be wise about online safety.
• Harassment. Do not harass other players, team members, or other associated parties. Toxic language, behavior, or actions are not allowed in this environment. Participants are expected to do their part to help others feel welcome and comfortable.
• Discrimination. Do not speak negatively about a culture, country, or group of people. Do not use harmful words or actions against someone’s ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, gender identity, language, or religion.
Consequences
Any team member who violates the Code of Conduct is subject to consequences.
The nature and extent of the consequences will be determined by the club administration.
▪ Warnings. Low severity or first-time offenses will receive a verbal and a written warning. The goal is to grow. If you know better, you can choose to do better!
▪ Player suspension from a game, match or tournament. In this case, a single player may be suspended, while the team may continue to compete with a replacement.
▪ Player suspension from the club. In this case, the player will no longer participate in any aspect of the club, including team communications, meetings, or playing in games.
▪ Team disqualification. In this case, if more than one player on a single team has violated the Code of Conduct, the entire team may be disqualified.
If it is determined that a student participated in misconduct, the protocol for administering consequences as follows:
▪ WebMail. A WebMail message will be used to provide the student and the student’s Caretaker with a detailed explanation of the rule that was broken, the consequence, and guidance for alternative ways to deal with similar situations moving forward.
▪ Right to publish. The club administration reserves the right to notify team members and coaches of any consequences administered.
