Garden State Esports

What is Garden State Esports?

A nonprofit competitive gaming league founded by educators during the pandemic to help our students stay connected, Garden State Esports has since grown into the largest scholastic league in the country and the organizing body for esports in New Jersey.

Mission

A nonprofit founded by educators, Garden State Esports is the organizing body of scholastic esports for New Jersey. Our mission is to create high-quality, student-centered experiences through scholastic esports so ALL students can use esports as a platform to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

Vision

GSE envisions a future where esports, like traditional sports, is recognized as a key contributor to positive youth development. We aim to lead this change, adapting to the evolving needs of our students and community. Our commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and comprehensive education in esports distinguishes us as a leader in the scholastic esports field.

Values

We cultivate a community that is not simply diverse but genuinely inclusive, where every individual feels valued and has equal opportunities to thrive. 97% of our participants report making at least one new friend and 93% report now having a sense of belonging at school because of esports. More than 75% of students report coming to school more often and trying harder in class because of esports.

Esports fosters a sense of belonging among students

42%

of participants did nothing at their school before joining esports.

97%

of participants make at least one new friend through esports.

72%

of participants say being part of esports motivates them to come to school.

Why join Garden State Esports?

To enhance school culture and foster student belonging through competitive gaming.

School Pride

Our competitions offer high school teams the chance to earn varsity letters and win state championships, while middle school teams compete for state titles, fostering school pride at every level.

Easy Integration

With our 3:30 start time, three-season structure, and use of traditional conferences and group sizes all scheduling and matchmaking mirror traditional athletics in New Jersey ensuring easy, seamless integration for schools.

Inclusive Leagues

Improve attendance, learning outcomes, and sense of belonging for our most marginalized students through our Unified League for special needs students and our Valkyrie League, which empowers women in STEM through esports.

Maximum Impact

With over 300 years of combined teaching experience in New Jersey, our understanding of our schools and students enables us to create exceptional esports programs that maximize their benefits for every district.

Curriculum & Professional Development

Gain access to resources and training for integrating esports into the curriculum through our esports electives and best practices for running a competitive team.

Program Evaluation

Assessing tech needs, offering expert advice, and recommending the most effective technology, our program evaluation ensures you receive the best value without unnecessary expenses.

Collegiate Engagement

Connect with GSE's Collegiate League for competitive and experiential learning opportunities, linking students to higher education institutions in New Jersey.

Funding Boost

Enhance school funding through improved attendance, successful fundraisers, and shared grant opportunities.

Esports serves as a pathway to workforce readiness

89%

of participants report that their teams' academic requirements motivate them to work harder in school.

68%

of participants want to attend college in New Jersey.

57%

of participants plan to major in STEM fields when they do.

How we play

3 Seasons
2 Levels Of Play
1 League

Championship Seasons - Compete for a state title in a 7-week season against local rivals with your top team!

Contender Seasons - A relaxed 6-week season with unlimited participation for schools seeking casual play

Valkyrie & Unified Leagues - additional leagues to make sure everyone has a chance to get in the game

Click Here for full 2024-2025 Schedule

Fall Season: 9/17 - 10/31

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
Championship: 3v3 Rocket League Contenders: 3v3 Rocket League	Championship: SSBU Crews Contenders: SSBU Crews	Championship: League of Legends Contenders: Overcooked! AYCE Valkyrie: SSBU Crews

Winter Season: 12/3 - 1/31

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
Championship: Overcooked! AYCE Contenders: Chess	Championship: Street Fighter 6 Contenders: Splatoon 3 Valkyrie: Overwatch	Championship: Overwatch Contenders: Overwatch

Spring Season: 3/4 - 4/24

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
Championship: 2v2 Rocket League Contenders: 3v3 Rocket League	Championship: 2v2 SSBU Contenders: SSBU Crews	Championship: Valorant Contenders: Valorant Valkyrie: 2v2 SSBU

Where we are

Big North Conference

Greater Middlesex Conference

The Shore Conference

Burlington County Conference

Hudson County Conference

The Skyland Conference

Cape Atlantic Conference

North Jersey Conference

Super Essex Conference

Colonial Conference

North West Jersey Conference

Tri-County Conference

Colonial Valley Conference

Olympic Conference

Union County Conference

Schools

Students

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Teams

Unlock the full potential of scholastic esports with Garden State Esports: join today and elevate student engagement, foster a sense of belonging, and compete at the highest level with schools across New Jersey!

Thank you to our partners!

GSE Collegiate Circuit Members

GSE and our Collegiate Circuit members are committed to keeping talented students in New Jersey. Find out how they’re making a difference—learn more here!