Esports vindicate any teenager that has been told “you spend too much time playing video games”. Esports is competitive electronic video gaming and the fastest-growing addition to high school athletic departments. Esports brings the same benefits as traditional sports — camaraderie, academic accountability, and college scholarships. PressPlay™ is preparing students to compete and win big careers in the esports industry. Gamers learn, train, and play hard to develop critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills that propel academic excellence. PressPlay™ is a STEM and STEAM academic program that is led by professional educators and esports coaches. Learners meet monthly to challenge their peers to learn critical thinking, team building, and communication skills. Each session includes STEM content that helps gamers balance esports with academic excellence.