AN INDEPENDENT FRAMEWORK FOR QUALITY, SAFETY, AND PROGRAM EXCELLENCE
The Seven Domains
of Certification
Education Esports evaluates programs through seven essential domains
that define safe, credible, and sustainable scholastic Esports programs.
STANDARDS FRAMEWORK
JUMP TO A DOMAIN
->
THE FRAMEWORK
How the Framework Works
Our seven domains work together to create a complete view of program quality. Each domain contains five assessable standards. The key areas below summarize the scope of each domain.
Programs are evaluated across all domains to support a consistent, transparent certification process.
1
Standards
Clear, evidence-informed expectations
for each domain.
2
Evidence
Programs provide documentation
and examples of implementation.
3
Evaluation
Our team reviews, verifies, and
assesses program performance.
4
Improvement
Programs receive feedback and resources
to strengthen and grow.
01
Student Safety & Well-Being
Prioritizing the physical, mental, and emotional safety of
all students through proactive policies, education,
and supportive environments.
FOCUS AREA
Student protection & safeguarding
Mental health & well-being
Inclusion & accessibility
Incident prevention & response
−
THE FIVE STANDARDS
Each standard is evaluated through documented expectations, supporting evidence, and verified implementation.
SSW-1
Student Safeguarding and Conduct
Programs maintain clear conduct expectations, accessible reporting pathways, and consistent procedures for addressing bullying, harassment, discrimination, hazing, threats, retaliation, and other harmful behavior.
SSW-2
Digital Safety, Privacy, and Consent
Programs protect students across accounts, communications, recordings, broadcasts, social platforms, and other digital environments through clear privacy, consent, access, and security practices.
SSW-3
Healthy Participation
Programs establish healthy expectations for practice time, breaks, movement, ergonomics, hydration, sleep, stress, and students’ ability to step away when participation could affect their well-being.
SSW-4
Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging
Programs create equitable opportunities through inclusive recruitment, transparent selection, accessible spaces and technology, appropriate accommodations, and meaningful player and non-player roles.
SSW-5
Student Voice and Support
Students have clear ways to ask for help, report concerns, provide feedback, and reach appropriate institutional support without depending solely on their direct coach.
02
Program Governance
Establishing strong leadership, clear policies, and accountability structures that support sustainable and compliant Esports programs.
FOCUS AREA
Leadership & oversight
Policies & accountability
Risk management & compliance
Program sustainability
+
THE FIVE STANDARDS
Each standard is evaluated through documented expectations, supporting evidence, and verified implementation.
PG-1
Educational Purpose and Institutional Alignment
The program maintains a written mission and clear objectives that support institutional priorities, student development, and community values.
PG-2
Leadership, Oversight, and Accountability
Leadership responsibilities, decision-making authority, reporting relationships, and accountability are clearly assigned across the program.
PG-3
Policies and Risk Management
Current and accessible policies address eligibility, conduct, supervision, communication, travel, technology, incidents, emergencies, and data handling.
PG-4
Responsible Stewardship and Partnerships
Budgets, purchases, sponsorships, vendors, and outside partnerships are transparent, mission-aligned, and managed in students’ best interests.
PG-5
Program Assurance and Continuity
Required records, permissions, approvals, and continuity plans help the program remain stable through staffing, financial, technological, or operational changes.
03
Coaching & Staffing
Ensuring coaches and staff are qualified, prepared, and supported to create positive and effective learning experiences.
FOCUS AREA
Qualifications & screening
Coaching & supervision
Professional boundaries
Training & development
+
THE FIVE STANDARDS
Each standard is evaluated through documented expectations, supporting evidence, and verified implementation.
CS-1
Qualified and Approved Personnel
Coaches, educators, administrators, volunteers, and support staff are properly screened, approved, experienced, and prepared for their assigned responsibilities.
CS-2
Student-Centered Coaching
Coaching practices prioritize learning, well-being, teamwork, communication, and long-term student development above competitive results.
CS-3
Supervision and Professional Boundaries
Clear expectations govern supervision, communication, travel, access, and appropriate staff-student boundaries in physical and digital environments.
CS-4
Training and Continuing Development
Personnel receive ongoing training in safety, inclusion, accessibility, digital citizenship, healthy participation, program policies, technology, and competitive integrity.
CS-5
Staff Coordination and Accountability
Personnel coordinate across academic, technology, student-support, communications, and administrative functions using defined responsibilities and regular performance review.
04
Competitive Integrity
Promoting fair play, respect, and sportsmanship through clear rules, oversight, and violation management.
FOCUS AREA
Rules & eligibility
Match administration
Sportsmanship & conduct
Violations & disputes
+
THE FIVE STANDARDS
Each standard is evaluated through documented expectations, supporting evidence, and verified implementation.
CI-1
Clear Rules and Eligibility
Eligibility requirements, roster rules, schedules, competition formats, participation expectations, and consequences are approved and communicated before competition.
CI-2
Responsible Title and Platform Selection
Games, platforms, communication tools, and competition providers are reviewed for educational value, safety, privacy, accessibility, and operational suitability.
CI-3
Fair Play and Account Integrity
The program prohibits and actively addresses cheating, unauthorized software, account sharing, identity misrepresentation, match manipulation, and other unfair practices.
CI-4
Sportsmanship and Team Conduct
Students and staff follow clear expectations for respectful communication, fair play, celebrations, opponent treatment, and public or digital behavior.
CI-5
Competition Administration and Dispute Resolution
Results, incidents, penalties, protests, and conflicts are documented and resolved through timely, consistent, and impartial procedures.
05
Facilities & Technology
Providing safe, reliable, and appropriate facilities and technology that enable a high-quality Esports experience.
FOCUS AREA
Facility safety & accessibility
Equipment & connectivity
Data security & privacy
Support & maintenance
+
THE FIVE STANDARDS
Each standard is evaluated through documented expectations, supporting evidence, and verified implementation.
FT-1
Safe, Accessible, and Healthy Environments
Esports spaces support safe movement, appropriate supervision, accessibility, ergonomics, ventilation, electrical safety, and emergency response.
FT-2
Fit-for-Purpose Infrastructure
Networks, devices, peripherals, displays, production tools, power, and internet capacity reliably support approved educational and competitive activities.
FT-3
Cybersecurity and Access Management
Accounts, permissions, authentication, software, updates, network access, and security incidents are managed with institutional technology leadership.
FT-4
Privacy-Aware Broadcast and Digital Production
Streaming, recording, photography, commentary, social media, and public distribution follow established approval, consent, moderation, and data-handling procedures.
FT-5
Maintenance, Support, and Technology Lifecycle
Equipment inventories, technical support, maintenance procedures, recovery plans, replacement schedules, and upgrade priorities are documented and regularly reviewed.
06
Education & Student Growth
Integrating Esports into the educational mission by supporting academic success, life skills, and personal development.
FOCUS AREA
Learning & academic alignment
Transferable skills
Digital citizenship & leadership
College & career pathways
+
THE FIVE STANDARDS
Each standard is evaluated through documented expectations, supporting evidence, and verified implementation.
ESG-1
Defined Educational Outcomes
The program identifies expected learning and developmental outcomes and connects them to competition, production, leadership, coursework, and events.
ESG-2
Transferable Skills and Digital Citizenship
Students develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, self-management, media literacy, ethical decision-making, and responsible online behavior.
ESG-3
Academic and Curricular Integration
Esports connects, where appropriate, with STEM, computer science, digital media, broadcasting, design, business, event production, and data analysis.
ESG-4
Career and Workforce Pathway
Students explore Esports and related careers through education pathways, credentials, portfolio development, mentorship, and age-appropriate work-based learning.
ESG-5
Student Leadership, Engagement, and Measurable Growth
Students receive meaningful leadership, production, mentoring, service, and community roles while the program measures participation, belonging, skills, and academic connection.
07
Continuous Improvement
Fostering a culture of reflection, assessment, and innovation to strengthen programs over time.
FOCUS AREA
Program assessment
Goals & measurable outcomes
Feedback & corrective action
Review & ongoing improvement
+
THE FIVE STANDARDS
Each standard is evaluated through documented expectations, supporting evidence, and verified implementation.
CPI-1
Baseline Assessment and Priorities
The program evaluates its practices across all seven domains, identifies strengths and gaps, and establishes realistic improvement priorities.
CPI-2
Goals, Measures, and Evidence
Measurable goals are connected to student outcomes and institutional priorities, with reliable evidence maintained to demonstrate progress.
CPI-3
Stakeholder Feedback
Students, staff, administrators, families, and partners receive appropriate opportunities to provide feedback, with major themes and responses documented.
CPI-4
Improvement Planning and Follow-Through
Identified gaps and risks receive assigned responsibilities, timelines, resources, completion evidence, and follow-up through verified closure.
CPI-5
Annual Review, Benchmarking, and Renewal
The institution reviews the program annually, measures progress, responds to emerging risks and updated standards, and completes certification-renewal requirements.
Built for Real Educational Environments
Our standards are designed for K–12 and higher education Esports programs of different sizes, structures, and stages of development. They reflect the realities of education while setting a high bar for quality and student success.
✓
Evidence-Informed
Built on research, best practices,
and real-world experience in education and Esports.
◇
Education-First
Every standard is grounded in
educational values and focused on
student outcomes.
◯
Scalable & Flexible
Designed to meet programs where
they are and support growth at
every stage.