In the last few years, E-sport has been a global phenomenon that changes the public's view of sports. As a video game-based competition, E-sport is now recognized as the official sports branch of various countries and even put into physical education curriculum. These changes also went to education, especially among students, where virtual sports began to play an important role in expanding the concept of traditional physical education.
The physical education is conventional known as physical activity involving motor skills, like running, jumping, or playing team sports. However, with the emergence of e- sports, this definition is expanded to include cognitive skills and eye-coordination that is sorely needed in competitive video games. It changes the perception that physical education only focuses on physical and fitness.
For students, e- sports provides an opportunity to participate in sports competition without having to engage in intense physical activity. Moreover, E-sport offers an opportunity to develop strategic skills, quick thinking skills, as well as teamwork, which are all important in academic and professional life. Therefore, many universities are now putting esports into their physical education program.
Students involved in e- sports can sense a number of benefits that are less important than traditional sports. First, e- sports helps improve cognitive abilities, including quick and proper decision making, strategy analysis, and multitasking. In competitive games such as "League of Legends" or "Dota 2," students must be able to adapt quickly to changing situations and make decisions that determine the team's victory.
Secondly, e- sports also helps students in improving social skills and teamwork. Although it's virtual, many ethic games require close teamwork. Each member of the team has a specific role, and effective communication becomes the key to success. It's not much different from traditional sports like football or basketball, where cooperation and coordination between players is very important.
Third, E-sport gives students the opportunity to engage in a vast community, both on campus and internationally. Many universities now hold sports tournaments followed by students from various faculty. The participants in this competition not only increase the campus's pride, but also give students the experience of competing at a higher level.
Nevertheless, the introduction of e- sports in physical education is not off the charts. One of the main critics is that it doesn't involve enough physical activity to meet the basic purpose of physical education, which is to maintain physical health and fitness. However, the supporters of e- sports argue that this game is training equal mental and cognitive skills in the modern context.
Besides, there's concerns about the potential negative impact of playing too many video games, such as the risk of addiction or health problems due to inactive lifestyle. Therefore, it's important for education institutions to find a balance between e- sports and traditional physical activity, so that students can keep physical health while exploiting cognitive benefits offered by esport.
E-sport has brought great changes to physical education among students. Although it does not replace traditional sports, e- sports completes physical education by offering significant cognitive and social benefits. With technology growing and interest in E-sport, students now have more options for developing themselves in sports, both physically and mentally. In the future, collaboration between eco-sports and physical education can continue to evolve, creating more exclusive and fun learning experience for the current generation of students.
Source Taylor, T. L. (2018). Raising the Stakes:Cambridge: MIT Press.
