WARWICK, R.I. (September 15, 2022) – The Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) is excited to offer a more cost-effective and more inclusive opportunity for its member schools to participate in esports for the 2022-23 school year. With a renewed focus on the educational benefits of participation, the RIIL has been working with the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) to create a new league structure and championships in a range of esports titles. NASEF shares the core values and mission of the RIIL to provide education-based opportunities for the students of Rhode Island while adhering to the governing values of equity, fair play, honorable competition and good sportsmanship. NASEF’s model connects gameplay and competition to meaningful education around life and career skills.

RIIL eSports competition will be hosted on the Ultimate Gaming Championship (UGC) platform, which is recognized for its ease-of-use and is supported by a highly responsive development team. The RIIL aims to combine competition with education about career pathways in the esports world and beyond, making high school esports a place where students prepare for global career opportunities while engaging in interscholastic competition.

Based upon early enrollment activity, the number of registered schools has already increased from past years, and the RIIL is confident that this new structure will be give more member schools the opportunity to engage their students and join the RIIL esports movement.
 

“The RIIL is excited to be working with NASEF as they will help us provide additional educational-based opportunities for our member schools and students,” said RIIL Executive Director Mike Lunney. “We are equally excited about working with UGC, as they offer a first-class platform for our esports competition and championships. The RIIL is committed to expanding school-based opportunities to allow all aspects of the school population to connect with their schools in a meaningful educational space.”

“This partnership between RIIL and NASEF will provide students across Rhode Island with engaging high school esports tournaments in a structure that emphasizes collaboration, communication, and good citizenship. Plus, participating students will go ‘Beyond the Game™’ and learn about college pathways and esports career possibilities including shoutcasting, streaming, design, event management, and more,” said Gerald Solomon, Founder and Executive Director of NASEF. “We’re excited to work with RIIL to leverage scholastic esports to help students to thrive and grow.”

About NASEF
The North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to acquire STEM/STEAM-based skills and critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life. NASEF operates under the umbrella of the World Wide Scholastic Esports Foundation (WWSEF). Find NASEF at NASEF.org and on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

About the Rhode Island Interscholastic League 
The Rhode Island Interscholastic League is a voluntary organization of principals who pledge their high schools and participants to follow the Rules and Regulations of the League. There are more than sixth (60) public, private and parochial high schools who make up the membership. These schools sponsor athletic activities in thirty (30) sports. More than thirty thousand (30,000) student-athletes compete annually in thousands of competitions among Rhode Island Interscholastic League member schools. The purpose of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League is to supervise and administer the athletic programs, contests, and schedules and matters related thereto in participating schools of the State of Rhode Island. Find RIIL at riil.org and on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For additional information, please contact:
Claire LaBeaux, NASEF Communications Director; [email protected]
Rhode Island Interscholastic League: [email protected]