SALT LAKE CITY — Beehive State gamers, rejoice. The Utah High School Activities Association announced Monday a “groundbreaking” decision to officially recognize esports as a school activity starting in the 2025-26 school year.
The association said the move demonstrates “a commitment to adapting to the evolving interests and needs of today's young people, while embracing new trends in extracurricular participation.”
The association's board of directors' vote on esports sanctions was unanimous.
“We are thrilled to announce that esports will be recognized as an official activity by the UHSAA,” Rob Cuff, executive director of the Utah High School Activities Association, said in a statement. “We believe esports offers a unique avenue for student participation and competition and has the potential to enrich the high school experience for a wide range of students.”
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, high school students across Utah will be able to compete in organized esports competitions under the association's guidance, showcasing their skills in a variety of popular video games. The first season lasts from January to April.
The association said in a statement that the decision was made after consideration and collaboration with stakeholders across the state, including educators, administrators, students and community members.
The move comes at a perfect time, as the University of Utah's games department is at the forefront of game development education. In March, the Princeton Review ranked the school's undergraduate games program No. 1 and graduate program No. 2 among public universities worldwide. Utah State's undergraduate program moved up two spots from last year's rankings, and its graduate program moved up three spots.
In March 2023, the university hosted approximately 2,000 student-athletes at the Jon M. Huntsman Center for the Ken Garff Esports Spring Celebration. Students focused not only on competitive games but also on his STEAM concept, holding workshops and competitions that covered many bases, including:
- coding
- Esports – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Rocket League
- digital media and photography
- virtual reality
- jersey design
- Math
- engineering
- cyber security
- shout cast
“We believe esports has the power to unite students in new and exciting ways and foster teamwork, strategic thinking and leadership skills,” Cuff said. “By incorporating esports as an official activity, we hope to provide our students with opportunities for growth and personal development both on and off the virtual battlefield.”
