I'm a Junior High School teacher and I want competitive League for my students

the0kid·Apr 27, 2015·161 votes·16,683 views

I currently teach at a junior high school, and have been working to try and start a competitive League of Legends club at my school. My dream would be to make a competitive league much like your standard after school sports. This league would reach students that are not typically involved with school because they are not interested in the traditional extracurricular activities schools offer, but would definitely participate if a video game was added to the mix. My students, parents, and school faculty are completely supportive of the idea, but my school district IT is getting in the way. They will only allow the program to run if Riot comes up with a plan to allow schools to play LoL on a closed school network, or if Riot has found a way to work with other schools and this issue. Riot, I need your help to get this going. I am in touch with some other schools that want to implement this same idea but are running into similar problems. I have been working on this for months with my school administrators, but it has come to a point where we can't accomplish anything else without your help. Please help me get this going.

89 Comments

DrCyanideApr 27, 201516 votes

I know the LCS tournaments use a local LAN server, which would meet the IT departments requirements. I don't think Riot would have a school only network, but if they do the NACC would be the group to use it.

Ultimately, you'll have to open a support ticket to get much further.

Has the IT department been made aware of the Custom game option, where you can choose every player in the game? This would keep students interacting with students, which I think is their goal here.

the0kidApr 27, 201513 votes

The problem isn't with student interactions, its network security. There is a huge list of IP addresses that need to be added to the schools firewall as exceptions for the game to work properly, and even then the school is concerned that the upkeep will become to much for the IT department to handle.

DrCyanideApr 27, 20153 votes

I wouldn't think there'd be a huge list of IP addresses to allow, but I think the support team should be able to help you regardless.

https://support.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

RhytoApr 28, 20154 votes

{quoted}

The problem isn't with student interactions, its network security. There is a huge list of IP addresses that need to be added to the schools firewall as exceptions for the game to work properly, and even then the school is concerned that the upkeep will become to much for the IT department to handle.

I smell a job opening at this rate ^_^....

rtbf211279518Apr 28, 20158 votes

I would totally join a club like this, it promotes teamwork, good communication, as well as good reflexes and the need to study. Or something.

RiotZwillApr 29, 20157 votes

Hey THEoKID!

First off, wow. I wish we had teachers like this when I was in middle school...although when I was in middle school, most kids were playing PC Games like Ultima 6.

Let me ask some questions and get back to you. I'm not sure what, if anything, that we can do, but I'll try to find out.

the0kidApr 29, 20151 votes

i really appreciate it. i've spoken to some people that have said they are "building" an education-only server for schools to use, is that something Riot could help with? basically ive been told, that to get this working, i need someone from Riot to be able to talk to my school districts IT department and show them what Riot has that can accommodate schools. If this education server is a real thing and Riot can get behind it, i think it would be the perfect way to introduce League of Legends to high schools and junior high schools all over the country

RiotZwillApr 29, 20153 votes

AFAIK, the education server isn't a thing we're working on. We haven't released a LAN client (which is essentially what it sounds like they're asking for) and do not endorse any private server options.

I'll shoot you an email :).

Sarah AshleyApr 29, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot Zwill,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=AOgVc7Zf,comment-id=001d,timestamp=2015-04-29T00:43:56.286+0000)

Hey THEoKID!

First off, wow. I wish we had teachers like this when I was in middle school...although when I was in middle school, most kids were playing PC Games like Ultima 6.

Let me ask some questions and get back to you. I'm not sure what, if anything, that we can do, but I'll try to find out.

Absolute Gaming is currently in the process of making an EDU based website for League of Legends. We are also setting up a private server for schools to use and of the like. University of Texas (League of Extraordinary Summoners) just became affiliated/partnered/networked with us this past week; as well as a High school in Texas. We are currently building the website that will host more information at the moment. We were drafting a Letter that we were going to submit to Riot this week with a few teachers from schools across the country. Our goal is to build a network / community with schools so that schools can scrimmage each other as well as connect the High Schools that offer LoL based activities to the colleges that offer LoL activities to their students so that their students can choose the college that is best for them.

{quoted}

i really appreciate it. i've spoken to some people that have said they are "building" an education-only server for schools to use, is that something Riot could help with? basically ive been told, that to get this working, i need someone from Riot to be able to talk to my school districts IT department and show them what Riot has that can accommodate schools. If this education server is a real thing and Riot can get behind it, i think it would be the perfect way to introduce League of Legends to high schools and junior high schools all over the country

My server host is online right now and we are building it as I type this to you as we discussed!

Ariel the CruelApr 29, 20152 votes

although when I was in middle school, most kids were playing PC Games like Ultima 6.

Zork, anyone?

Earthlord JazzApr 28, 20156 votes

Now I wish I was back in Jr. HIgh

Sarah AshleyApr 28, 20156 votes

Absolute Gaming is sponsoring/affiliated with a high school in Texas as well as University of Texas. Our goal is to be able to network League of Legends, high schools that offer the League of Legends e-sport, and Colleges that also offer it as well. We have a teacher from the high school on our teamspeak as well. Please feel free to add me and we can show you how we worked it with LFHS and Absolute Gaming.

Mango LocoApr 28, 20156 votes

Im in highschool right now and I would definitely join this club if they had it in my school (I dont play sports that much so i just go home after school)

The SoulforgedApr 28, 20153 votes

Better do it in a highschool where a lot more people play, and the District might not be as strict.

the0kidApr 28, 20152 votes

The club filled to capacity in 2 days in a junior high- it was the fastest they've ever had a club fill up. also the high schools i would use are in the same district :(

The SoulforgedApr 28, 20151 votes

{quoted}

The club filled to capacity in 2 days in a junior high- it was the fastest they've ever had a club fill up. also the high schools i would use are in the same district :(

Aww. Sounds like ur in a lame position :( Wish you get this prob solved!

Edit: Off topic question! What is the average/highest level of play you've seen in the club?

the0kidApr 28, 20153 votes

Ranges between brand new players to some surprisingly impressive play by one of my seventh graders.

DeusVultApr 28, 20153 votes

No offense, but junior high is grades 6-8. That means the kids are on average between the age of 11 and 14.

I have played with enough kids that age to know how incredibly toxic and immature they can be, especially over the internet, when they can say that they are anything

the0kidApr 29, 20152 votes

This was addressed in the permission slip that went home with each student before they could join the club. Any toxic attitudes would lead to a removal from the club.

w0nky d0nkeyApr 29, 20152 votes

This sounds like a learning opportunity more than anything. If kids at that age (11-14) have a mature person (teacher) show them and guide them to sportsmanlike behavior while playing, it makes the community better.

RaptorsplsApr 28, 20153 votes

Can you post what Riot says because I am currently having the same issues here at North Fort Myers High School. I am a student that has created a League of Legends club, but I was hoping for the capability to play League of Legends at school. In my instance the district claims that the chat of League of Legends would violate the Child Internet Protection Act. I really want Riot to consider having a programmer focus on making a school friendly version of League of Legends. This would need all forms of internet chat stopped. Teams can communicate through pings so I don't find this to be a large issue. Sadly I don't know how the chat coding is connected and how attempting to remove the chat from both in-game and out of game might cause issues with other things. I apologize for any errors in my typing.

the0kidApr 27, 20152 votes

I didn't think there was a LAN option for LoL

B00B00Jul 10, 20151 votes

yup, can set it up for yourself.

Dranul5Apr 28, 20152 votes

I am also a middle school teacher and love this idea. I think LoL could be a great after school activity for students who would normally not have an activity to be involved in.

CatrysaApr 29, 20152 votes

{quoted}

I am also a middle school teacher and love this idea. I think LoL could be a great after school activity for students who would normally not have an activity to be involved in.

Dranul5, you can find me on ts.absgaming.net if you want to talk more about getting LoL on your campus. :) I'm high school, but love all sorts of vertical alignment! YAY!

DONT NEEEED TEAMApr 28, 20152 votes

Y would they stay after school when they can go home and play

RiotZwillApr 29, 20157 votes

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a PC at home, let alone a laptop.

CatrysaApr 29, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot Zwill,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=AOgVc7Zf,comment-id=001a0000,timestamp=2015-04-29T01:31:31.561+0000)

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a PC at home, let alone a laptop.

Agreed. For the moment, my district isn't putting in money, but if we have a great first year there is a possibilty that they might! :) As then we can play LoL ON CAMPUS! WHOOOOOOO!

KeagnApr 29, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot Zwill,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=AOgVc7Zf,comment-id=001a0000,timestamp=2015-04-29T01:31:31.561+0000)

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a PC at home, let alone a laptop.

Aye Zwill, being a high school student, I would love to have this opinion (but sadly I think it might be a little late for me), but a lot of things could go wrong with it. First off, while some schools recognize the benefits, an overwhelming majority still fight against games in general. Another possible concern is the connection, but I think there's an interesting possibility possible here.

Setting up an individual server (maybe a test server called NA Classroom ) with specific limitations to the system, such as Class/School access keys, heavy- and possibly mandatory- chat filters, and a Teacher Mediation ability which will prevent a student user from playing if a certain assignment is not complete, or if the user/student's grades are too low. There may be a lag issue, as many schools (or at least the ones I've been to) have fairly limited internet, but I'm uncertain of how to fix this particular issue at this time. NA Classroom would be a pretty interesting experiment to start this idea with, seeing if grades are overall improved in students, as well as whatever they look at for benefits. Schools may have a problem with the violence at first, but I believe that most will see the benefits out way whatever worries they may have.

Just some thoughts, figured I'd put my two cents in on this, after all, its such a brilliant idea. Thanks to TheOkid for bringing this up in the first place!

CatrysaApr 29, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Aye Zwill, being a high school student, I would love to have this opinion (but sadly I think it might be a little late for me),

Keagan: There's always the Colligete Circuit for you! Rice, University of Florida, and University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley all have teams, just to name a few. :)

KeagnApr 29, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Keagan: There's always the Colligete Circuit for you! Rice, University of Florida, and University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley all have teams, just to name a few. :)

It'd definitely be cool to be able to participate team. I've had a couple colleges in mind, but I'll definitely take a look at those as well, thank you! Hopefully I can build up a regularity in my being able to play (currently only able to when I go over to my relatives' houses since middle-of-no-where internet doesn't cut it), and I can improve enough to appeal to their clubs/teams :P

BudupopsApr 29, 20151 votes

because playing next to real life people is fun

DONT NEEEED TEAMApr 30, 20151 votes

Meh i rather not see tje bullys after school

CatrysaApr 29, 20152 votes

Hi there. I'm a high school teacher on the (hopefully) final legs of having a League of Legends club fully approved by my school board. The principal has been supportive and I've been giving them lots of information. I've been working hard with SarahAshley of Absolute Gaming to create the EDU portion of that community's Team Speak Server.

As for CIPA concerns, I've expressed to my principal that RIOT's in game system hosts a language filter and all students will be asked to turn this on during game play in affiliation with the school. In addition, my principal has been informed of RIOT's Tribunal system and how negative behaviors are reportable for consequences. With assurances that I or any other faculty member wishing to join in will be monitoring student activity while online during school sanctioned practice and tournaments (and other LoL Online events), the principal knows that we have the students' safety on the fore front of our minds. With Sarah's help, the Team Speak Server can help make the real-time voice communications safer and more secure (only faculty, server admin, and students will be given the password to the EDU side of the community).

I'm eager to help any other school teachers in making gains toward having LoL at their school, as I believe this MOBA helps promote teamwork, communication, and a host of other very important soft skills that are offered by the physical sports but in a format which is accessible to a wider range of students, from the special education student to the physically uncoordinated to everyone in between who has a passion and enjoyment of the playing of video games. In addition, RIOT's LoL game is a potential eye-opener to the STEM fields for many students who would have otherwise not thought themselves interested in science, math, engineering, or technology. (A video game is a blend of all of these aspects.)

I'm also happy to discuss further with RIOT regarding any EDU applications of their platform.

Kindest regards, Catrysa, AbsoluteGaming.net

Sarah AshleyApr 29, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Hi there. I'm a high school teacher on the (hopefully) final legs of having a League of Legends club fully approved by my school board. The principal has been supportive and I've been giving them lots of information. I've been working hard with SarahAshley of Absolute Gaming to create the EDU portion of that community's Team Speak Server.

As for CIPA concerns, I've expressed to my principal that RIOT's in game system hosts a language filter and all students will be asked to turn this on during game play in affiliation with the school. In addition, my principal has been informed of RIOT's Tribunal system and how negative behaviors are reportable for consequences. With assurances that I or any other faculty member wishing to join in will be monitoring student activity while online during school sanctioned practice and tournaments (and other LoL Online events), the principal knows that we have the students' safety on the fore front of our minds. With Sarah's help, the Team Speak Server can help make the real-time voice communications safer and more secure (only faculty, server admin, and students will be given the password to the EDU side of the community).

I'm eager to help any other school teachers in making gains toward having LoL at their school, as I believe this MOBA helps promote teamwork, communication, and a host of other very important soft skills that are offered by the physical sports but in a format which is accessible to a wider range of students, from the special education student to the physically uncoordinated to everyone in between who has a passion and enjoyment of the playing of video games. In addition, RIOT's LoL game is a potential eye-opener to the STEM fields for many students who would have otherwise not thought themselves interested in science, math, engineering, or technology. (A video game is a blend of all of these aspects.)

I'm also happy to discuss further with RIOT regarding any EDU applications of their platform.

Kindest regards, Catrysa, AbsoluteGaming.net

Also in response to Catrysa's message the Team-Speak server for the Education side will be a COMPLETELY different server than the server that the public community is hosted on. Thank you very much Catrysa for posting this!

the0kidApr 29, 20152 votes

I presented this same information to my school admins and it was the final bit of info they needed to approve the game. Sadly it is my district IT department that is keeping this from happening for technical reasons more then anything

CatrysaApr 29, 20152 votes

{quoted}

I presented this same information to my school admins and it was the final bit of info they needed to approve the game. Sadly it is my district IT department that is keeping this from happening for technical reasons more then anything

TheoKid: I understand. For the moment, my high schoolers are meeting off campus. After all, the ones interested are already playing, already have the setup and the dedication. But, that's high school. I understand that middle school is a completely different beast. To that end, working with RIOT to see the minimum specs for the game on a machine, plus hte minimum bandwidth needed for (mostly) seamless game play might be on going conversations to be had. Then (the actual hard task) of convincing Parents and Schoolboard and Campus Admin that this is a good idea begins. From my experience, most of the 'we don't have bandwidth or money for that' attitude stems from their misunderstanding of this as 'just a video game'. I've done some research and if you want will happily share with you the emails that I sent (with my research included) to my principal as I worked to convince him to support my push for a League organization on campus. (Plans are in motion to make it feel like a UIL sport, with a No Pass No Play rule. IE: If you don't keep a minimum passing grade on every subject, electives included, you don't get to play in any tournament game, period. No if ands buts or whining to the teacher for a passing grade allowed. Plans in my head include putting students in a Tutoring lounge during practice on the teamspeak server, where college studetns and other teachers might be available to them to help them finish their homework so that they can get back to passing and thus back to competitive play.)

If you are located in California, you might want to get in touch with Alex Hsu of High School Star League. He can help brainstorm ways to help get League on campus. He works with high schools, but I don't see why he can't at least be a very knowledgeable sounding board for you. You can find him on facebook. Search for the group HSL LoL Coordinators group. Link him (Alex Hsu) to a post, and he should get back to you ASAP. They are finishing their season, in case he's slow to respond. (Took him a few days to get back to me regarding the AbsGaming opportunity.)

In the end, if in your heart you know this will be good for your kids (as I do), then don't give up. Fight this good fight; you are not alone. I and many other teachers, from high school through college, are standing with you to help bring this STEM opportunity to our children to help them continue on the path of 21st century learning and Digital Citizenship.

Please join me on teamspeak tomorrow evening (ts.absgaming.net) to discuss this further in person and/or follow me on Twitter (@CarranzaLFISD) so we can have more conversations on how to make this a reality. :)

Regards, Catrysa, Absolute Gaming

ValuedCustomerApr 29, 20152 votes

Whatever this becomes, I hope it starts casual and stays that way. When a school sport starts "professionalizing" and money/bets/fame starts changing hands, expect more scandals like the 146-word Rosa Parks essay to hit the press. All those well-intentioned "exams first", "pass or you don't play" and "homework before practice" policies mean nothing with that kind of atmosphere.

DarkFaun FortesApr 28, 20151 votes

My question. How dose this actually relate to school? I know many have a chess club, and while both are very strategic I dont think thats enough.

the0kidApr 28, 201522 votes

It does everything for the student that organized sports do, aside from the physical aspect. It promotes teamwork, leadership, objective thinking. Its also a way for students that are typically not social, or involved to meet other students with similar interests and make friends. Ideally it would also give them an opportunity to represent their school in a competitive format. There are a lot of benefits to students if the stigma that comes with video games can be overcome. When my school saw the students that were signing up for the club they almost begged me to get it working because many of them were either special needs students, or had severe discipline issues. This helps with a lot of those problems

DivewingApr 28, 20154 votes

Ive seen/heard many people saying that the teamwork and strategic thinking aspect of LoL is in fact vastly superior to physical sports.

Dr PoroApr 28, 20154 votes

It depends on what kind of sports and at what level you are talking about. There is indeed not much teamwork and strategy involved in athletics, but in sports like soccer, if you play on a higher level, there certainly is. While it can be overcome by physical strengths in sports, it can also be overcome by micromanaging in LoL, so I don't think league is strictly superior in this area than sports.

(end of reply, back to the main post)

While I believe that the physical aspect of sports (I'm not a sporter myself, but I also don't see e-sports as a sport) still makes sports more beneficial for students/people in general (because in the modren days, too many people lack physical exercise), this plan is for a different target group which wouldn't do sports otherwise anyways and would probably do this instead of... nothing (going home alone). Therefore, I fully support this idea and think it's a great innitiative to have more people socially involved in the school environment. I hope you can work out a way and upvoted to help getting a response from rito.

DivewingApr 29, 20151 votes

How "High level" are we talking cos........school kids >_>

Dark TriggerApr 28, 20153 votes

{quoted}

....... many of them were either special needs students, or had severe discipline issues. ...........

Yep, sounds like LoL players.. :)

RiotZwillApr 29, 20155 votes

I'm glad to hear that schools are recognizing that games like League impart life skills like strategic thinking, decision making under pressure and teamwork.

The fact that you're able to reach special needs kids through the game is just so awesome and humbling all at once :).

cookiesforuApr 28, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=HisPrince Fortis,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=AOgVc7Zf,comment-id=0008,timestamp=2015-04-28T02:54:09.452+0000)

My question. How dose this actually relate to school? I know many have a chess club, and while both are very strategic I dont think thats enough.

Do you even get the game man? By this logic, how does football relate to school other than tradition of being a school sport? Also, what is wrong with making a new tradition? I dunno your comment just got to me.

I would argue that league is a more complicated version of chess in which anybody on either team can pick up a piece and move it wherever they want at any time. If you don't work together then you lose as a team. It's a MORE strategic version of chess that encourages social skill building. Are you even a gamer?

DarkFaun FortesApr 29, 20151 votes

By this statement, that ANY PVP game can be a school activity!

DONT NEEEED TEAMApr 30, 20151 votes

Making special needs kids play video games at school will make them more anti social there not gunna play league when there adults for freinds

B00B00Jul 10, 20153 votes

anti social? having a team of 5 people to talk stratergy with and to fight for bragging rights in school, and to communicate with on game and to play with each other more online aswell to practice team stuff? or just for fun?!

if anything it could make them more social, not more anti social - gaming in general is also pretty social now more so than the likes of a lot of other things. not to mention not viewed as geeky anymore in the slightest.

not to mention off the streets and with a purpose > on the streets without a purpose eventually causing some small or big trouble.