For the past two years, PlayVS (pronounced "play versus") has been the exclusive platform for high school competitions of "League of Legends." Anyone can play "League of Legends" free at home, but to compete in officially sanctioned high school leagues, students and schools had to pay PlayVS, which charges $64 per player per season. But the exclusive agreement between Riot and PlayVS barred these leagues from hosting interscholastic matches in "League of Legends," one of the most popular competitive games in the world.

Assistant Principal Miles Carey oversees a Rocket League practice at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Va. Assistant Principal Miles Carey oversees a Rocket League practice at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Va. Nowadays, if you're a teenager who's good at video games there's a lot more to be had than just a pot of virtual gold. Today, more than 170 colleges and universities participate. Naturally, high schools have followed suit.

Delane Parnell is the cofounder and CEO of PlayVS. If there's ever a constant in the flourishing world of esports, it's that enthusiasm often outpaces the necessary infrastructure to match it. In particular, high school students and teachers who hope to participate in competitive gaming must self-organize without the structure of an official body. Delane Parnell's high school science teacher was someone who took it upon themselves to organize a gaming club for students. He provided the equipment, he kept track of stats and even awarded trophies for the myriad of games they played.