Esports offers incredible opportunities for youth. Beyond gaming, it teaches teamwork, discipline, and life skills that prepare players for their future. But one concern always comes up, such as what about physical health? Spending long hours at a computer can reduce physical activity, which is something I think about often for our players. That’s why we’ve built solutions into our programs to keep health at the forefront.
Why Physical Activity Matters
Having played traditional sports myself, I know the importance of staying active. Physical activity builds resilience, reduces stress, and supports overall well-being. Youth benefit not just from competition but from developing habits of movement that last a lifetime.
That’s why I regularly emphasize to our gamers: your body and your mind go hand-in-hand. You can be a great player, but without physical health, your performance and growth will always be limited.
The Role of Team Workouts
At North Carolina Esports Academy, we’ve already added team workouts to our program. These sessions create balance by giving players a structured way to move, train, and strengthen their bodies—just like any traditional sports team would do.
But there’s an even better way to ensure kids get consistent physical activity.
The Best Solution: Individual Sports
For young gamers, individual sports can be the perfect complement to esports. Activities like:
- Swimming
- Ninja Warrior training
- Parkour
…all provide strong physical benefits while allowing for flexible scheduling. Since they aren’t team-based, kids can choose their own training days and fit them around esports practice and competitions.
This way, players don’t have to choose between physical activity and esports—they can do both without conflict.
Building Skills in Two Worlds
Traditional team sports help youth develop character, responsibility, and collaboration. Esports does this too—but by combining it with individual sports, kids can:
- Get the life skills from team-based gaming
- Maintain physical health through consistent exercise
- Avoid scheduling conflicts that often occur with multi-sport commitments
It’s a system that gives them the best of both worlds.
Final Thoughts
Esports doesn’t have to mean sitting still. By combining structured team workouts with flexible individual sports, youth can enjoy the excitement and character-building of esports while still prioritizing their physical health.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to build great players, it’s to build healthy, well-rounded young people who are ready for life on and off the screen.
