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SALT LAKE CITY — Gamers of the Beehive State, rejoice. The Utah High School Activities Association on Monday announced its "groundbreaking" decision to officially sanction esports as a school activity, starting in the 2025-26 school year.
The association says the move marks a "commitment to adapting to the evolving interests and needs of today's youth while embracing emerging trends in extracurricular participation."
The vote to sanction esports by the association's board of trustees was unanimous.
"We are thrilled to announce the sanctioning of esports as an official activity within the UHSAA," Rob Cuff, executive director of the Utah High School Activities Association, said in a statement. "Esports provides a unique avenue for student engagement and competition, and we believe it has the potential to enrich the high school experience for a wide range of students."
Kicking off in the 2025-26 school year, high schoolers across Utah will be able to compete in organized esports competitions, showcasing skills in a wide array of popular video games, all under the guidance of the association. The first season will run from January through April.
A statement from the association said the decision came after consideration and collaboration with stakeholders across the state, including educators, administrators, students, and community members.
The move comes at an opportune time, with the University of Utah's Games Division standing at the forefront of game development education. Princeton Review in March ranked the school's undergraduate games programs No. 1 and its graduate programs No. 2 among public universities worldwide. Utah's undergraduate program moved up two spots from last year's rankings while the graduate program climbed three positions.
In March 2023, the university hosted around 2,000 student-athletes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center for the Ken Garff eSports Spring Celebration where students focused not just on competitive gaming but also STEAM concepts, with workshops and competitions covering many bases, including:
- Coding
- Esports – Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Rocket League
- Digital media and photography
- Virtual reality
- Jersey design
- Mathematics
- Engineering
- Cyber security
- Shout-casting
"We believe that esports has the power to bring students together in new and exciting ways, fostering teamwork, strategic thinking, and leadership skills," Cuff said. "By embracing esports as an official activity, we hope to provide students with opportunities for growth and personal development both on and off the virtual battlefield."
