The Virtual Voice

It’s Game on for the Florida Virtual School eSports Club

When I was a kid, playing with friends looked like basketball in the driveway or a bike ride through the neighborhood. Now, playing with friends looks a little different. Okay, a lot different. Life-long friendships are being formed online, through video games! 

Recently, we had a chance to chat with two Florida Virtual School (FLVS) online student captains of our eSports Video Game Club. And they confirmed—video games are more than you think, they’re a community builder for this and future generations. 

eSports, What’s That? 

FLVS Fury, the FLVS eSports Team

So, we know sports. Football. Basketball. Tennis. But what are eSports? Simply put, eSports are multiplayer video games that are played competitively! Now you might be wondering… how does that work? Well, for the FLVS eSports Video Game Club, students are divided into teams based on the game they wish to play and then split into smaller teams who compete against each other. Of the smaller teams, whichever team wins the most games, goes on to compete against other schools’ teams.  

FLVS Flex student Reese L. explained that the smaller teams give online students a space where they can play to their individual strengths, collaborate to build team synergy, and develop winning strategies! And since the FLVS eSport Video Game Club (grades 9-12) and the Junior Gaming Club (grades 6-8) are made up of more than a hundred active members, the clubs can support multiple teams across the 7 eSports games they play.  

It’s More than a Video Game, It’s A Virtual Community 

For FLVS Flex student Trevor F., the club’s impact spreads far beyond playing video games with other FLVS students. Throughout our chat, he talked about the connections he’s made with fellow online students and the tight-knit community that has grown over the years.  

Trevor also shared that they have a Discord with more than 300 members, where online students connect with each other outside of club meetings, chat about their classes and games, and organize game time amongst smaller groups.   

And Reese agreed. As someone who was hesitant to join, she said that the club welcomes all levels of gaming experience, and they strive to create an environment where everyone can be seen and heard. 

Inspiring the Future of the Gaming Industry 

When we asked Trevor and Reese about their plans after high school, both shared their excitement about computer science. In fact, Trevor’s dream is to attend Full Sail University to major in computer science—and FLVS is helping him get there. Trevor says he’s taken a few computer science courses through FLVS, including the Foundations of Programming course.  

And not to mention, scholarships. Last year, Trevor earned a $500 scholarship from PlayVS, an online platform that hosts eSports tournaments. And he’s not the only one—FLVS club sponsor, Coach Lambart says six students have earned scholarships through their involvement with the club! 

Reese is also considering a career in computer science, specifically game design and development, a career path that she may not have considered if she hadn’t joined the club. She says the club has impacted her in many positive ways from being part of a community to inspiring her path forward.  

Ready to press play? Join Trevor & Reese at Club Rush to learn more about the FLVS eSports Video Game Club!  

Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones is a Social Media Support Specialist for FLVS and FlexPoint, sharing the unique online learning experiences of students, families, and educators. Outside of work, she enjoys road trips to new places and spending time with family!

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31 comments on “It’s Game on for the Florida Virtual School eSports Club”

  2. Wes

    I’ve looked at the Junior Gaming club since I’m currently in 8th grade and it shows the games titles that are associated with the club this school year…it shows only 5 but is there more than that or is it just those 5 that they play???

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    1. Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones Post author

      Hi Wes, Those are the 5 games for this year but students do play other games together outside of the club. 🙂

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    1. Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones Post author

      Hi Nora, We do not, but second-grade students can join Robotics. We also have a Coding club for grades 3-5.

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  6. Cooper Herman

    I, being an 8th grader who loves League of Legends, think it would be a great addition to add League to the list of games for the Junior Gaming Club. I get that it’s a more advanced game, but a lot of kids start getting into it at around 7th and 8th grade, so I think some might join specifically for it.

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    1. Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones Post author

      Hi Tatiyana. Unfortunately, the eSports Club is not open to Elementary students, but we do have a Coding Club for grades 3-5. Check out all of our clubs at flvs.net/clubs.

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  9. Philip Fleming (Agentsplat)

    I definitely would join because of my MK8 experience, but my mom has me doing other things right now. Instead, I participated in a Gamers on the Edge Charity stream with Angel Miranda in May of 2021. You can watch it on their twitch!!

    Reply ↓
    1. Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones Post author

      Hi Emilio! Here are the game titles for 2022-2023 School Year: Rocket League (All Platforms), Overwatch (All Platforms), Valorant (PC Only), League of Legends (PC Only), Super Smash Brothers (Switch Only), Splatoon 2 (Switch Only), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch Only)

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    1. Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones Post author

      Hi Aleah! These are the titles from the 2022-2023 school year: Rocket League (All Platforms), Overwatch (All Platforms), Valorant (PC Only), League of Legends (PC Only), Super Smash Brothers (Switch Only), Splatoon 2 (Switch Only), and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch Only). 🙂

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    1. Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones Post author

      Hi Yadira, Applications open at the beginning of the school year. Visit flvs.net/clubs for more information.

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    1. Elizabeth JonesElizabeth Jones Post author

      Hi Yadira, Don’t hesitate to reach out to the FLVS Club Sponsor to see if the club is full.

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