ASBA Custom Digital Guide 2022 - 12

program and is working its way toward
championship status. At the NJCAA level,
executive director Dr. Christopher Parker
believes the organization could host a
championship, rather than an invitational, in
the sport this year. On the tournament circuit,
more classifications are being offered for
female wrestlers, and more women-specific
tournaments are being offered.
Photo courtesy of NJCAA.
Esports: Growing wildly at the high school level
(according to the National Federation of State
High School Associations, which in September
named it the fastest-growing sport), gaming
is also experiencing exponential growth in
colleges nationwide. The National Association
of Collegiate Esports (NACE) started in 2016
with a total of six members (the total number of
schools at that time with esports programs) and
now has 230 full members, three association
members and a total of 615 institutions
competing in its NACE Starleague.
Additionally, colleges are increasingly
offering scholarships to students who excel
in various gaming platforms. (In fact, the
NJCAA's Christopher Parker noted that
NJCAA Esports (NJCAAE) is now the national
governing body for two-year college esports
in the United States. It is its own separate
501(c)(3) organization with its own set of
rules and governance, and it manages its own
competitions. NJCAAE kicked off in the fall of
2019 with a total participation of 60 schools
and has since grown to 175.
Rugby: Another NCAA Emerging Sport for
Women, this sport is championed by both the
National Intercollegiate Rugby Association
and USA Rugby. The USA will host the men's
and women's Rugby World Cup in 2031 and
2033, something that is expected to provide an
enormous boost in visibility.
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash.
12 AMERICAN SPORTS BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
ASBA Custom Digital Guide 2022

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