Levelling up on skills
According to XWA, the fact that this will be a student-run club means there are opportunities for those involved to develop a whole range of soft and technical skills.
SOFT SKILLS
Leadership – as captains of teams and as student leaders
Teamwork – working together in running the club and towards beating competitors
Initiative – becoming agents of their own learning by pursuing their interests and bringing others along
Communication – coordination with other students, especially during intense mid-game situations
Discipline/time management – setting and prioritising goals
Sportsmanship – developing the right mindset for healthy competition
Decision making/creative thinking – including decisions that need to be made in-game as well as in the administration of the club
Strategy setting and scientific thinking – by understanding game mechanics, competitor strengths and weaknesses and team predispositions
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Game design and development through industry interactions
Organising leagues and events – from start to finish
Marketing – by promoting the club and its events
Broadcasting, streaming and SHOUTcasting
Sports psychology and health
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Activities for all
Club members will be able to engage in a wide range of activities. For example, students of the club’s committee will be able to decide on running events for the club and inviting speakers to visit; they’ll also need to communicate with other members and the school’s student body, and liaise with other schools and partners. The committee will need to form and manage competitive intra/inter-school teams and organise tournaments both within XCL and with other schools.
Members will be able to attend special sessions by professional eSports players to gain insights into strategies, techniques and the mindset needed to take performance to the next level. Guest seminars will feature external speakers giving insights into the different aspects of the industry ecosystem, and there will be small group sessions too. The internship programme will link members to eSports organisations for behind-the-scenes industry experience.
Clearly, there is plenty to learn and enormous experience to be gained from the eSports club. The school says that this exciting opportunity is currently available to students from Grade 6 (age 12) and up. Students will need to present consent from their parents and homeroom teachers and meet certain academic requirements to join the club.
Laying foundations
XWA isn’t the only school with an eSports club in Singapore, but it’s the first to build a dedicated facility for it. October 2021 saw a groundbreaking ceremony for the Secondary Years Innovation Hub, which will add around 16,000 square metres to the current school grounds. Slated to be completed by August 2023, the hub will be a state-of-the-art, multi-level, purposedesigned building, with specialised labs and the latest technology for learning, including a multi-use eSports arena to support the school’s club members.
At present, the XWA eSports club is based at The Garage, which houses 24 high-performance gaming stations, two flight simulator rigs, two racing rigs, four VR stations, a full-wall LED display, sound system, and a robotics and drone lab.
Designed to be multi-use, the space can also be utilised for lessons, training sessions, seminars and social events.