Texas TSA Academic Esports Notes

Overview of the Texas TSA Esports Partnership

• Purpose: Introduce and outline the new esports program for Texas TSA for the 2526 school year. Partners include:
  • Pam Cook (Speaker, TSA adviser/executive director)
  • Matt Frankenberry (PITSCO, partnership lead)
  • Steph Forbes (Coding and Robotics Portfolio Manager, Mastery Coding)
  • Mark Dewey (Competitive Events Manager, Pitt School Education)
  • Ben O'Grady (CSO, Mastery Coding)
  • Juan Arrazo (Chief Product Officer, Mastery Coding)
  • Sabrina Spadofino (onboarding/support, remote)
  • Mirrors (Beers) (competition guru, USA EL team member)
• Key ideas:
  • Esports is framed as an academic, curriculum-integrated program (not just gaming) to support math scores, reading scores, absenteeism, and STEM/CTE goals.
  • The program uses the United States Academic Esports League (USAEL) structure, combined with TSA-specific customization for Texas.
  • The competition combines an academic Python-based project with an esports game (Madden NFL) to create an "academic esports" experience.
• Delivery channels:
  • Live virtual sessions and a regional/State in-person event
  • LMS (Mastery Coding) with a built-in Python sandbox and course content
  • A single sign-on (SSO) and compliance framework (FERPA, COPPA, SOPA)
• Primary game: Madden NFL (for the 2025-26 cycle), with a Python-based academic project required for competition entry
• Core aim: Build student computer science skills through hands-on coding tasks tied to a popular sports game, leveraging intrinsic motivation and structured coaching resources.
• Onboarding and support: A dedicated team provides Q&A, onboarding, and ongoing assistance via a shared landing page and LMS discussion boards.

Why design esports this way? The three pillars

• Esports as more than athletics: emphasis on curriculum, career/CTE, STEM integration
• Addressing school challenges through esports:
  • Math and reading scores improvement
  • Reducing absenteeism by engaging students with relevant content
  • Providing a gateway to STEM and computational thinking via gaming
• Video and demonstration notes:
  • A video slide intended to illustrate the vision; technical hiccup occurred during sharing (audio only at times) and the team adjusted by continuing with slides and discussion.

Competition framework: combining academic and esports components

• Structure summary:
  • Academic side: Python programming project delivered through the Mastery Coding LMS
  • Esports side: Madden NFL competition, with two-player teams plus one alternate per team
  • Regional rounds feed into a live State championship for 2026
• Eligibility and student scope:
  • Students must be at least 13 years old (age criterion focuses on the Python coursework, not the game itself)
  • Team composition: two members + one alternate per TSA esports team
  • All team members gain access to the Introduction to Computer Science course in the Mastery Coding LMS and must complete a designated portion (Unit 1) of that course for competition
• Curriculum and assessment approach:
  • The Python project is assessed by product deliverable, not by code inspection
  • Deliverables must be a Python command-line program that takes input, processes data, and provides output related to the Madden game theme
  • Program must handle invalid inputs gracefully (no crashes) and respond with helpful prompts
• Project prompt (overview):
  • Based on Unit 1 of the CS foundations curriculum
  • Students build a simple application that takes input, processes data, and outputs results related to Madden
  • The project encourages intrinsic motivation by tying the content to the game the students are studying
• Program design tutoring and governance:
  • Juan Arrazo (Lead on the academic project) explains the prompt and expectations
  • The assessment focuses on the end product and user utility, not code aesthetics or complexity
  • The audience is beginners; the curriculum is designed for students with little to no prior coding experience

Madden game specifics and cross-platform considerations

• Game choice and rationale:
  • Madden NFL selected to align with Texas culture and enthusiasm for football
  • The program includes both the academic (Python) and the game (Madden) components
• Platform options and cross-play:
  • Cross-play supported between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC
  • Nintendo Switch is not cross-compatible online with other consoles (Switch has separate online environment)
  • BYOD (bring your own device) is allowed; practice can occur at home as long as local school IT policies permit
• Licensing and access:
  • Players must own a copy of Madden for their device (PC, Xbox, PlayStation, etc.)
  • If opponents use different platforms, each side needs the respective licensed copy
  • A link to Madden’s official site and licensing details is provided for administrators
• Tournament platform and communication:
  • Competition is hosted on a dedicated online platform for signups and match management
  • Match communication occurs in a Discord-free, moderated environment via the competition platform’s match chat
  • Administrators manage score reporting and progression between rounds
• Onsite state championship details:
  • A two-day live event with a stage, lights, and an eight-station setup to handle multiple matches concurrently
  • The top 64 teams from regional rounds advance to the live state event
  • There is an emphasis on viewing and production at the state conference (esports integrated into the Exhibit Hall area)
• Regional logistics and streaming:
  • Regional matches are not streamed as a single broadcast; there is no central multi-match stream
  • If schools want to share matches locally, they can coordinate screen sharing or other arrangements via the admins

Event timeline, deadlines, and regional/state flow

• Registration and eligibility deadlines:
  • Registration opens now; closes on $11\,1$ (Nov 1)
  • First virtual regional is scheduled for $11\,15$ (Nov 15)
  • Academic project submission window: $Jan\,20\ to\ the\ thirteenth$ (as stated in the session)
  • Additional virtual regional rounds in February
  • Live state championship: April (two-day event)
• Scoring and advancement:
  • Each team earns a combined score from both the gaming portion and the academic project
  • Top $64$ teams advance to the live state championship
  • The live event will crown a champion after two days of competition
• Costs and funding:
  • Registration cost: $400$ per team (includes curriculum and platform access)
  • Additional benefit: access to Pathway Esports Toolkit (teacher-focused resource) included in the LMS
  • Grants for Texas TSA schools: first $50$ teams receive a $200$ grant per team (i.e., 50% coverage)
  • Grant details:
  • Grant opens on $Sept\,22$ and closes on $Oct\,10$
  • Schools must secure budget authority approval prior to applying for the grant
  • Texas TSA invoices the district; TSA pays the vendor (PITSCO) directly
  • The grant is intended to offset costs and facilitate broader participation; multiple grants possible for districts with many teams
• Additional financial and program notes:
  • The Pathway Esports Toolkit is designed for coaches/mentors to help form teams, run practice, and manage tryouts
  • The USAEL platform offers broader curriculum options beyond TSA (e.g., game design, web design, esports business, AI in esports, esports broadcasting); these are available if a school opts to upgrade to a full license
• Scheduling and administration:
  • Regional administration is handled externally (not by regional TSA associations)
  • An onboarding meeting will be scheduled after grant awards to kick off participation
  • A dedicated landing page and contact options are provided for questions and information

Technology and access requirements

• Hardware and software requirements:
  • No need for specialized hardware; most schools can use existing devices (laptop, Chromebook, Xbox, etc.)
  • Chromebooks are acceptable for LMS coursework
  • Practice and participation can be BYOD, subject to school IT policies and network restrictions
• Software tools and environments:
  • Mastery Coding LMS provides: introduction to CS course, Python sandbox, and the project environment
  • A built-in Versus code editor is available within the platform for student programming tasks
  • All essential tools for the academic component are contained within the LMS (no external downloads)
• Online competition infrastructure:
  • The competition platform hosts signups and match management
  • Match chats occur within a moderated, Discord-free environment; admins monitor activity
• BYOD considerations and IT coordination:
  • Schools should work with their IT staff to address firewall and network considerations
  • USAEL staff are available to assist with IT and deployment questions

Roles, contacts, and on-site opportunities

• Primary contacts and roles:
  • Steph Forbes – Coding and Robotics Portfolio Manager (Mastery Coding)
  • Matt Frankenberry – PITSCO liaison
  • Mark Dewey – Competitive Events Manager (Pitt School Education)
  • Ben O'Grady – CSO (Mastery Coding)
  • Juan Arrazo – Chief Product Officer (Mastery Coding, developed the academic portion)
  • Sabrina Spadofino – Onboarding and onboarding-related questions
  • Mirrors (Beers) – Competition guru (USAEL)
  • Pam Cook – TSA speaker/adviser/executive director (organizer)
• On-site sessions and events:
  • Texas TSA statewide adviser training in San Antonio (Region 20) with breakout sessions on the new events
  • On-site presence of Steph, Matt, Mark, and Ben for in-person questions and demonstrations
• Resources and information channels:
  • A dedicated landing page with contact buttons for general questions, grant information, registration, and program details
  • Email and chat channels established through the LMS and TSA coordination team

Educational rationale, ethics, and practical considerations

• Educational value and aims:
  • Integrates coding, problem-solving, and software development concepts with a tangible gaming context
  • Promotes engagement through a culturally relevant sport (football) and a widely recognized game (Madden)
  • Provides a structured pathway for teachers to coach esports teams via the Pathway Esports Toolkit
• Ethical and practical implications:
  • Emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity through BYOD and common school devices
  • Emphasis on cybersecurity, FERPA/COPPA compliance, and safe online environments via moderated platforms
  • Clear emphasis on learning outcomes (CS fundamentals) rather than purely competition results
• Real-world relevance:
  • Demonstrates how gaming can serve as a gateway to STEM careers and computer science literacy
  • Aligns with Texas TSA’s mission of equipping students with technology skills and real-world project experience

Summary of key numerical and logistical references (LaTeX-formatted)

• Team size: two players + one alternate per team $2$ players, $1$ alternate
• Academic unit duration: roughly $10 ext{ hours}$ total per unit (Unit 1 in Introduction to CS)
• Regions and match setup:
  • Regions: $8$ stations per live state event setup
  • Regional format: multiple regional dates, optional participation window
• Competition scale:
  • Top $64$ teams advance to live state championship
  • Live two-day championship event
• Timing and deadlines:
  • Registration close: $11/01$
  • First virtual regional: $11/15$
  • Academic submission window: $January 20$ to the thirteenth
  • Live state championship: $April$
• Costs and grants:
  • Registration cost: $400$ per team
  • Grant: $200$ per team for first $50$ teams
  • Grant opening: $Sept 22$; grant close: $Oct 10$
• Game licensing and platforms:
  • Madden version reference: Madden NFL (disc or digital copy) with cross-play across $Xbox, PlayStation, PC$; Switch not cross-compatible online
• Miscellaneous:
  • Project delivery focuses on playable, usable end product rather than code inspection
  • Regional broadcasts not provided (no centralized regional stream) but potential for local sharing is possible with admin support

Quick reference: main takeaway points

• Esports in Texas TSA is designed as an integrated academic program (not just a game) with a Python-based project and Madden competition
• Teams: $2$ players + $1$ alternate; age threshold $ext{13+}$ (but allowances may apply to younger students who can complete the curriculum)
• Curriculum and delivery: Mastery Coding LMS with a built-in Python sandbox; all required coursework and project work are completed within the LMS
• Costs and grants: $400$ per team with up to $200$ grant per team for the first $50$ teams; grant process includes budget approval and TSA invoicing
• Game-specific notes: Madden NFL with cross-play among Xbox/PS/PC; Switch has limitations; ensure licensed copies for each platform used
• Timelines: Registration by Nov 1; first regional by Nov 15; academic submission window in January; additional virtual rounds in February; live state championship in April; onsite sessions in San Antonio for adviser training
• Support network: A cross-functional team from TSA, USAEL, PITSCO, Mastery Coding to answer questions and assist with onboarding
• Educational impact: Combines gaming with CS education, supporting STEM interests, and providing practical, scalable teacher coaching resources

End of notes