How to Start and Grow an Esports Club at Your College

Why Start an E-Sports Club at Your College?

If you want to know how to start an e-sports club in college, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll discuss the six major steps in doing so. We’ll cover planning, securing approval, finding funding, recruiting members, and organizing events. You’ll also know the strategies to maintain – or better yet, expand – your new e-sports club.

But why start a college e-sports club in the first place? After all, starting a student-led organization has its challenges, including manpower and money. We can mention two major benefits that doing so can bring to your college experience.

First, you can cash in, so to speak, to the explosive growth of e-sports in colleges and universities. According to gaming experts, e-sports competitions will attract 640 million people by 2025. This is an increase of about 60% from 2019.

With an explosive growth in viewership comes immense profit potential. Gaming experts predict that the global e-sports market will expand to $1.87 by 2025. You and your e-sports club members can get your share of the pie. Think sponsorships and scholarships.

Once successful, your e-sports club will join a dynamic collegiate e-sports community, too. Latest National Association of Collegiate E-sports (NACE) data show that more than 175 colleges have varsity e-sports teams. Even if your club doesn’t join varsity e-sports competitions, it’s still part of the e-sports community.

Second, you and your fellow e-sports club members will enjoy these benefits.

• Develop technical gaming skills, such as knowledge of computer hardware and software components. Being tech-savvy has its merits in the Digital Age.
• Hone your transferable skills, such as teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking skills. You’ll find that these soft skills have value in your studies and career prospects.
• Be eligible for scholarship opportunities. Your college and third-party organizations can offer e-sports scholarships.
• Expand your circle of friends and take advantage of networking opportunities. You can even make e-sports your career, whether as a player or behind the scenes (e.g., marketing).

With that said, your interest in how to grow a college e-sports club increased. Read on and find useful information to achieve success.

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Step 1: Research and Plan Your Club

Let’s start our college e-sports club guide with the most crucial step – planning. When you fail to plan, you plan on failing. But when you plan, you plan on succeeding.

Determine if there are existing gaming communities on campus, if any.

This stage demands effective communication and collaboration skills. You’ll talk to a wide range of people and get them on your side.

• Talk to your peers and fellow students about their interest in e-sports and gaming. Do a survey using questionnaires, if possible.
• Check for existing gaming-related clubs and groups. Request for meetings to determine their willingness to collaborations.
• Ask the student affairs office about available resources and services for clubs.
• Identify possible mentors/advisors among professors and staff members. Request for their help in setting up your e-sports club.
• Align your planned club with whatever collegiate e-sports organization is operating in your college (e.g., NACE or Tespa).

Decide on the types of games and platforms that will be used.

Diversity in games and platforms is key to success in your e-sports club.

• Research the most popular e-sports games among your peers. Rocket League, LoL, Valorant, and Overwatch are the most popular.
• Offer members both casual and competitive games. This way, you’ll attract players with all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players.
• Provide many platforms, too, including console, mobile, and personal computer.

Develop a clear vision and mission for your club.

Think of your club’s vision and mission as its map with milestones. You and your fellow members will use them as your guide in everything you do for the club.

Here are examples of vision and mission statements for an e-sports club.

Vision: To create an inclusive and dynamic community of students where our shared gaming passion will connect us and allow us to grow together.

Mission: The Hogwarts E-sports Club seeks to provide casual and competitive gaming opportunities for students while fostering sportsmanship, skill development, and camaraderie.

Step 2: Secure Approval from Your College

While you can be an underground e-sports club, you should rethink it. Being an approved collegiate club has its merits, including securing funding. Besides, your college already has policies and procedures in place to secure approval. Your job is to follow them – and these are usually easier than expected.

Read and understand the policies and procedures first.

Ask for assistance from the student affairs staff if you have concerns or questions. You don’t have to do it alone or make it more complicated.

Make a checklist of the required procedures and corresponding documents in each step. Check each step and document as you complete them.

Make an effective pitch about your idea for an e-sports club to the student affairs office.

Preparation is key to your success in pitching your idea.

• Prepare your presentation well in advance to ensure its effectiveness. Edit and proofread. Seek constructive criticism from mentors/advisors and student leaders.
• Highlight the benefits that your e-sports clubs can bring to the college and students. Show the popularity of e-sports among colleges. Emphasize your focus on diversity and inclusivity.
• Present your club’s formal structure, vision and mission, and budget. Highlight planned events, such as marketing, fundraising, and tournaments.

Address concerns raised by the student affairs staff during the pitch. Be open to suggestions, too.

Submit the required documents and forms for official recognition.

Again, read and understand these documents and forms. Fill in the required fields with complete and accurate information. Common forms include:

• Club registration form
• Constitution/bylaws
• Membership roster
• Advisor agreement form

Be sure to meet the deadlines, too. Keep your club documents in order. Follow up on your application. Throughout the process, show professionalism.

Step 3: Find Funding for Your E-Sports Club

Starting an e-sports club in college requires $41,000 in funding, on average (NACE). But you must have money to launch and maintain an e-sports club.

So, here are our useful tips for e-sports club funding.

• Explore as many funding options as possible. Ask leaders of student organizations for ideas. Contact the student services office for recommendations, too. Work with your co-founders and peers to find funding. The more people on board, the more ideas you can generate and more sources you can tap. The most common funding sources include:
  • Membership fees
  • College grants for student organizations
  • Student government funding
  • Sponsorships from e-sports companies, local businesses, and gaming retailers (e.g., Alienware, HyperX, and Corsair)
  • Fundraising events, such as gaming marathons, tournaments, sales of merchandise, and charity events
  • Crowdfunding, such as through GoFundMe or Kickstarter
• When you’re securing funding, you must have a professional proposal. In it, you’ll outline your e-club’s vision and mission, budget, and relevance.
• There are also affordable ways to build an e-sports club. Start by obtaining affordable gaming hardware and software through the following:
  • Establish partnerships with media and IT departments. You can borrow or share their computer resources.
  • Take advantage of student discounts. You can register for student accounts on manufacturer and retailer websites. Consider Razer, SteelSeries, and Logitech.
  • Buy pre-owned and refurbished gaming setups from reliable sellers. Newegg and Amazon Renewed are excellent sources. Consider eBay and Facebook Marketplace, too.
  • Use open-source and free software. Discord and OBS Studio are excellent for this purpose.
  • Work with other clubs to share their resources and organize joint events.
  • Organize donation drives for gaming equipment and gear.

Other tips include:

• Ask tech-savvy members to become your club’s maintenance team.
• Look for a free or affordable club space, too.
• Negotiate the price of a high-speed Internet subscription.

Nobody said finding money for your e-sports club is easy – unless you have rich members. But it’s doable, so get to it.

Step 4: Recruit Members and Build a Team

Members are the heart and soul of any group – no members, no club. So, recruiting members for e-sports clubs is a critical step, too.

Here’s what you can do to build your e-sports club membership.

• Take full advantage of social media platforms. Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter are popular among college students. Create your club’s official social media accounts. Post engaging content on a regular basis.
• Be active in campus life and highlight your e-sports club and its membership benefits. Setting up a booth, giving small giveaways, and other marketing activities are a must.
• Organize a gaming showcase or e-sports tournament on campus. Expand your reach by working with other student clubs.
• Use campus resources to promote your e-sports club. Being featured on the campus newsletter, website, and bulletin is a great start.
• Explore the possibility of offering college gaming scholarships. But don’t make promises you can’t keep.
• Attract new members through low or affordable membership fees. Highlight the benefits of membership, such as free access to the gaming stations.

Be sure that your members come from diverse backgrounds, too. We’re talking about different skill levels and interests. This way, your members learn from each other.

Step 5: Organize Events and Tournaments

Yet another challenging step is organizing college gaming tournaments. Your leadership skills and your club’s teamwork will be put to the test with every tournament. But it can become easier with practice and perseverance.

Keep these tips in planning and hosting gaming tournaments. Your goal is to engage current members and attract new ones, as well as boost your club’s reputation.

• Choose the games for the tournament first. Ask your members for their preferences, but it’s a good idea to provide a mix of games.
• Select the tournament format (e.g., single-elimination or double-elimination). Set the rules and regulations, too.
• Secure the venue and create a welcoming atmosphere. On-campus and off-campus spaces are good choices. Ensure that these meet technical specifications (i.e., gaming equipment, lights and sounds, broadcasting). 
• Budget for the food and drinks for the players and gaming officials.
• Hire moderators and/or referees, if necessary.
• Promote the event among the e-sports and gaming communities.
• Keep on top of the tournament through your physical presence. Be ready for issues.

When partnering with other colleges for intercollegiate competitions, remember:

• Agree on shared goals. Develop a comprehensive plan for each event.
• Create and follow a competition schedule, rules, and prizes.
• Establish clear communication between members.
• Work toward setting up the venue according to the agreed setup.
• Foster sportsmanship, camaraderie, and friendly rivalry.

Suffice it to say that being a successful host of e-gaming events is far from easy. But when your influence and membership grow, it’s well worth it.

Step 6: Establish Long-Term Goals for Growth

Now that your e-sports club is a success, your next goal is long-term growth. You’ll graduate from college, but you want it to be your legacy.

Here are strategies to make it possible:

Be clear about the club’s governance and leadership roles.

Doing so fosters collaboration among members and reduces misunderstandings about their roles. Create committees, too, so there’s a group that focuses on specific responsibilities.

Agree on a succession plan.

Smooth leadership transitions demand a clear succession plan. Regular elections, leadership training, and a handbook for club operations are a must.

Build partnerships with local gaming businesses and other sponsors.

These partnerships are vital for networking opportunities, collaborative projects, and financial support.

Incorporate e-sports into career development opportunities.

Encourage your members to explore e-sports careers. Organize career-focused events, such as guest lectures and career fairs, for this purpose.

Conclusion: Turning Your E-Sports Club Into a Lasting Legacy

The personal and professional benefits of e-sports in college are yours to enjoy if you want. Being able to start an e-sports club in college will enrich your student experiences. You’ll be part of your peers’ success and a more vibrant campus community.

However, starting a club is different from maintaining momentum for current and future members. Take the vital steps for adaptability and innovation.