It’s Time To Tell The World
Why We Play Esports – Spring ’23
Share Your Program's Story Showcase Your Casting Take Us Behind The Scenes
All submissions and entries will be eligible for Program Development Grants and/or equipment raffles!
Submission deadline: April 29, 2023
NASEF Beyond The Game Challenge
& WWP ’23
In our first Why We Play campaign, we asked scholastic and community organizations to share any existing content or create documentaries about their programs. We challenged you to tell us, “Why We Play.”
The response was amazing! This year, we’re adding two additional challenges around broadcasting and shoutcasting.
Just in case you’ve never done either but have been interested, we spent the last few months developing courses in both areas for anyone who wants to get started. The courses are free and we encourage you to explore them, take them, and provide feedback!
Grants and Gear!
All you have to do is submit to one of the three categories. We are actively working on additional gear giveaways and will update this page when confirmed!
Program Grant
PHNXGaming Foundation and NASEF will award 3x $400 grants
(One for each category)
Headset Raffle!
TWT Audio Esports Headsets will be raffled of to a team in each category! (US Shipping only)
What’s New This Year?
A new category for submissions to let individual students tell us their stories and show us how they support their programs. We even released a free beta course in broadcasting and shoutcasting to get you started!
Challenge 1 – WWP Esports
Program Documentary
Bring us into the program, interview your teammates and coaches, tell us why you show up every day.
The WWP Documentary is what started it all, and it’s one of the most powerful ways to share your story.
The content and format is up to you, the only thing that matters you tell us, in your word: the story of Why We Play.
Challenge 2 – “Call it!”
Production/Behind The Scenes
Students who are interested in or are already producing and broadcasting for your program, we want to hear directly from you, why do you do it?
Tell us what it means for you to be behind the scenes to make your program visible. Take us there, show us what you do, and what it’s like to make it all come together.
On-Air Talent & Shoutcasting
For the casters, this one is for you. We’re challenging you to make a casting reel and show us your chops, how you got there, and where you are headed.
What is it about being in front of the camera that you love? Is it the action? The stats? Just being there for the key moments and memories? Tell us, why do you cast?
Inspirations To Get You Started!
Need some inspiration? No problem! Here are a few prompts to get you started and some entries to get you thinking.
Ask yourself why you want to make a documentary for your program, about broadcasting, or about shoutcasting.
Is it to become more visible?
To highlight your team’s success?
Educate your school community, parents, admin?
Or is your program unique and you want to share that special “something” that sets you apart?
Think about categories
Why We Play: The Challenge
Why We Play: The Community
Why We Play: For What’s Next
Is there a mission statement, personal goal, or experience that you believe in and want to share? Tell us about it!
Our Partners
Their mission is “to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to develop STEAM-based skills and social emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in work and in life.”
Their Fellows and Mentors provide outstanding curriculum for educators, and they themselves provide incredibly accessible, national competition options.
Start Your Club or Join an Affiliate!
NASEF Clubs and Affiliates are all over the country! Join up with local, like-minded scholastic organizations for support, networking, and resources! And… it is FREE!
.Skillshot Media, based in Atlanta, GA, is a community-first esports production and event company capable of creating incredible experiences from grassroots events to live-arenas.
Submissions will be compiled into an overview video and shared at the Esports Summit conference in December of 2023
Skillshot Media
Skillshot Media
.Skillshot Media, based in Atlanta, GA, is a community-first esports production and event company capable of creating incredible experiences from grassroots events to live-arenas.
Submissions will be compiled into an overview video and shared at the Esports Summit conference in December of 2023
How it started
In 2021, PHNXGaming created its first round of grants. One of the schools that received funding was Canyon Ridge High School in California. A few months went by and their coach sent an email, “Thank you for the grant, it went to purchase some equipment to help create this documentary.”
From this point, we knew we needed to find more stories like Canyon Ridge’s – and we knew we wanted to share them.
Coach Rivals
The PHNXGaming Foundation is the passion project of several Coach Rivals coaches.
Coach Rivals is a tournament league for middle school, high school, and college esports coaches (boasting 375+ members and growing every day!). In addition to periodic “friendlies” across multiple titles, the main event of CR is the League of Legends Summer Season: 6 weeks of matches with a 3 week pre-season culminating in a multi-week playoff.
All skill levels are welcome as Coach Rivals is about learning, teaching, and growing as coaches!