On Friday, June 2, The Loyalty Foundation officially launched New Jersey’s very first high-school Esports (Electronic Sports) league in conjunction with Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology.

Three players from the Data Science Circuits team competed with a team representing West Morris Mendham High School.

The teams played the colorful vehicular soccer video game Rocket League on PCs that The Loyalty Foundation customized and helped to install at the school.

The energy of the match and camaraderie amongst the players was heart-warming and moving. When asked how the Circuits feel wearing the very cool jerseys designed by Coach Joseph Lima, the team enthusiastically replied, “Wearing them all day! People are jealous! The heart is the pride of Data Science. It feels good. You see the way the circuits connect in the heart? It symbolizes our connection and our family.”

Esports programs are not just for Esport players, but also provide skill-learning opportunities for team managers and game commentators, as well as a joyful environment for community building and new friendships.

We had filmmaker Francis Corby Ceschin on hand to record the match and post-game interviews with the team’s players, manager, assistant manager and commentators. We’ll post and share that video soon. (Meanwhile, check a couple video shorts posted on our YouTube channel.)

The Loyalty Foundation is in the process of setting up an Esports league for the Police Athletic League of New York and plans to bring Esports to partner organizations in cities across the U.S. Interested organizations should contact elizabeth@loyaltyfoundation.org.

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