It’s game time for students in the Jordan School District as the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) approves Esports as an official activity starting in the 2025-26 school year.
The UHSAA Board of Trustees unanimously voted on Thursday, March 28, to formally recognize Esports as a sanctioned activity, providing a structured platform for students across 156 member high schools to participate in Esports competitions.
“It’s good to see recognition coming their way. We’ve been fighting for this for almost a decade,” said Tabor Redford, a Physics/Chemistry teacher and Esports Assistant Coach at Herriman High School. “It’s good news to have this sanction because it opens up a lot more doors for us.”
Herriman’s Esports team competes in League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch, Valorant, Splatoon 2, and Minecraft.
“Most of the games I’ve played and tried, I’m not very good at them,” Redford said while one of his students shouted “Amen!” in the background.
It has yet to be decided which games will be in the sanctioned Esports arena. Still, the UHSAA hopes this decision will bring students together in new ways.
“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,” said Rob Cuff, Executive Director of the Utah High School Activities Association.
“It’s awesome and important to include something so widespread, rapidly growing, and competitive,” said student Caleb Griner, the state’s Super Smash Bros champion.
Beginning in Jan. 2025, Utah high school students will represent their schools in Esports competitions, with the inaugural season stretching until April.
In the meantime, Herriman High School streams its Esports games online. You can watch live and recorded games
