*By Britt Terrell*
The dreams of teenagers everywhere will come true this fall, when video gaming becomes an official high school sport, sponsored by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The best high school gamers can earn scholarships to college and turn what used to be considered a distraction into a part of their extracurricular experience.
"There will be millions and millions of kids every year ー especially in the U.S. ー who participate in eSports in an organized way," said Delane Parnell, founder and CEO of Play VS, the startup that will bring an eSports league to nearly 20,000 high schools across the country.
There are already about 200 colleges in North America that offer eSports scholarships, according to Parnell. PlayVS will help these schools recruit in a more organized way, and raise the profile of the best high-school gamers.
"We're excited to be able to own that system as a company," Parnell said in an interview with Cheddar. "We're going to loop in some recruiting technology directly into the platform in which recruiters from colleges will be able to easily recruit players in terms of engaging with them but then also be able to see their performance data from an individual stand point and a team performance stand point validated."
PlayVS is working with game publishers to determine which games will be included in the inaugural high-school season.
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/esports-is-coming-to-a-school-near-you).
From autonomous bots keeping airports running to humanoids that might become your best friend, take an exclusive look at the machines redefining how we live
From AI everywhere to LEGO’s Smart Brick, The Verge’s Sean Hollister breaks down which CES 2026 innovations are really game-changers—and which may be hype.
Holiday shopping heats up as Tom’s Guide editor Kate Kozuch reveals the tech gifts everyone wants, from wellness gadgets to gaming buzz—and how to score deals!
2025’s top Black Friday tech deals from smart speakers to wearables. Tom’s Guide editor Kate Kozuch shares expert picks and tips for smart holiday shopping.
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni introduce Phia, a fashion tech startup that helps users find price comparisons and discover alternative options for apparel
Brain.fm merges music and neuroscience to enhance focus, creativity, and mental health—Dr. Kevin Woods reveals how sound is transforming cognitive performance.
Ashley Fieglein Johnson, CFO & President at Planet, joins us to share the story behind the Owl launch—and how strategy, tech, and vision are fueling liftoff.