Nearly two dozen schools statewide have signed on to participate in pilot season
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) has partnered with PlayVS to kick off a pilot season of esports called ‘Season Zero’ beginning Feb. 26, with 23 public and private member schools statewide.
Through the PlayVS platform, schools will be able to participate in three different games – Rocket League, SMITE and League of Legends – and will be able to build as many teams as they’d like across every game title, creating a truly inclusive activity and increasing participation on school campuses.
Each team will play weekly matches remotely from their own school campuses in a swiss-style system where teams with equal win records are paired up to create fairer matchups.
“We are very excited to offer our member schools organized esports competition where our student-athletes will be playing against other student-athletes in a scholastic environment,” said HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun.
The regular season will run from the week of February 25th to April 22nd with the post season to run through mid-May. Matches will be played at 4:00 pm on the following days for each league:
- Tuesdays: League of Legends - two consecutive games against a single opponent
- Wednesdays: SMITE - two consecutive games against a single opponent
- Thursdays: Rocket League - best of five matches against a single opponent
Participants by island:
Big Island (public/private = 7/3)- Hawaii Preparatory Academy
- Hilo High School
- Honoka‘a High & Intermediate School
- Kamehameha Schools – Hawaii
- Ka‘u High School
- Kea‘au High School
- Kealakehe High School
- Konawaena High School
- Pahoa High & Intermediate School
- St. Joseph Catholic High School
Kauai (public/private = 2/1)- Island School
- Kapa‘a High School
- Kauai High School
Maui (public/private = 0/2)- Maui Preparatory Academy
- Seabury Hall
Oahu (public/private = 5/3)- Damien Memorial School
- James Campbell High School
- Leilehua High School
- Pacific Buddhist Academy
- President Theodore Roosevelt High School
- President William McKinley High School
- Saint Francis School
- Waialua High & Intermediate School
About PlayVS:
PlayVS' mission is to build the infrastructure for high school esports. Through its exclusive partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and NFHS Network, PlayVS is introducing esports into all high schools in the U.S. This marks the first time students will be able to compete in esports for an official state championship and be recognized by their state athletic/activity association.
About NFHS:
The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports.
About NFHS Network:
The NFHS Network, now in its fifth year of covering high school sports events through its digital network at
www.NFHSNetwork.com, is a joint venture between the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), its member state high school associations and PlayOn! Sports. The NFHS Network celebrates and showcases the unique accomplishments of high school students, including the student-athletes participating in 27 different sporting events and the student broadcasters from schools around the country that produce events through the School Broadcast Program.
About HHSAA:
Founded in 1956, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational athletic organization exclusively dedicated to serving 96 public and independent member high schools statewide, as they work cooperatively to support and promote athletics as part of the high school education program. As the umbrella organization of high school athletics, the HHSAA operates 44 state championships in 18 different sports, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, in addition to providing professional development opportunities for coaches and athletic administrators.
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