ABOVE Esports requires dedication,
teamwork and practice just like any
sport. Coach Tyler Corley works with
players in the technology lab after
school.
HOMETOWN LIVING AT I TS BEST 113
immediately got on board and agreed
to add it as a varsity sport, which
brings it under the oversight of
the school’s Athletic Department.
“They’re supportive of nontraditional
extracurricular activities and put a lot
of effort into this,” said Tyler.
It was quickly discovered that the
regular school PCs could not handle
what esports required. “The regular
school system network structure
wouldn’t typically support gaming,”
said Tyler. “Conner Stanley, the
technician at the Board office, assisted
in getting the network structure in
place. It takes a lot of work on the
networking side, and he’s been really
helpful. We now have Game PCs with
‘flying T’s’ etched into the side of each
one, and they light up on the inside.
Our lab is unlike anything anyone
has around us. We’re really proud of
it. We started with thirteen stations
and added seventeen more for the fall
giving us thirty stations total.”
According to Tyler, not all esports
teams receive the same support as
the Toombs County High School team
receives. “We are treated just like any
other athletic program,” he said. “But
I’ve found that a lot of other coaches
across Georgia don’t get that. Some
schools still refuse to acknowledge it
as a sport and instead label it as an
after school program or club.”
Esports has two seasons. The
first begins in early September and
ends with state championship games
in December. The second begins in
February and goes through April
followed by another round of state
championship games. Practices are
scheduled after school like any other
sport and include a summer schedule
of workouts. “We have organized
practice in the afternoons from 3:05
to 5:30 or 6:00. Competition games
are played at 4:00.”
The first season of esports at
TCHS was in September of 2020.
Forty-three students tried out
with only fifteen making the team.
“Competition esports is very different
from sitting at home casually playing
video games,” said Tyler. “There’s
a level of skill involved. Many who
tried out did not realize the level of
competition involved and/or the yearround
commitment.” Although home