Deer Valley is looking to create an esports team following the acceptance by the AIA, approving esports to be an AIA-sanctioned activity.

“Esports will reach a demographic that isn’t being represented in schools,” Deer Valley Principal Kim Crooks said.

The AIA recently approved eSports as an activity, similar to that of robotics and theater.

According to Deer Valley Athletic Director Stacy Spencer, the initial investment into an esports program would cost the school around $1,000 per student setup.

Some games can be played on all main gaming systems, (PC, PlayStation, XBOX) while others can only be played on PC, which creates the potential need to pay for numerous setups.

One potential issue that arises with high school eSports programs is the vast difference in booster club money that gets raised by larger schools as opposed to smaller schools that don’t have as prominent boosters.

While this is a norm in most sports, the impact it has on esports is more significant due to the advantages superior computers, monitors, and hardware can have on the games.

The integration of esports at the high school level will help normalize esports as a reputable activity, similar to that of football or baseball.

“This is a very big step,” Jack Lauteret, head of content for ASU eSports, said. “Now young people have the opportunity to work on a team from a young age, get recruited at the college level, and potentially make a career out of it. There is a true avenue, like traditional sports, to rise through the levels of competition.”

The first esports season is set to begin in February.