The Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations (NASEF) recently completed a two-year study funded through the Department of Homeland Security's Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program. The study evaluated the implementation and outcomes of NASEF programs, examining NASEF's effectiveness in creating resilient safe spaces that promote positive youth development while preventing radicalization in underserved and high-risk communities.

The study demonstrated successful engagement of target populations and showed significant improvements in participants' social-emotional development, academic engagement, and positive gaming behaviors. Longitudinal analyses showed decreased disruptive gaming behaviors and enhanced communication skills, team collaboration, and leadership capabilities among participants.

Further, the findings suggest that NASEF's scholastic esports program serves as an effective intervention strategy for youth development and radicalization prevention while promoting inclusive, safe spaces for student engagement.

Proactive measures are important to thwart potential radicalization. As noted in the report, extremist groups use gaming platforms to disseminate propaganda, build relationships, and foster a sense of belonging—key elements in radicalization. Recruitment efforts often begin in innocuous ways, such as joining gaming groups, participating in chats, or engaging in team play, where recruiters can build trust with potential targets.

Studies have highlighted that youth, particularly those who feel isolated or marginalized, are more susceptible to such recruitment tactics. Addressing recruitment through online gaming platforms requires proactive strategies that combine education, community engagement, and the promotion of positive online behaviors. Initiatives such as NASEF’s scholastic esports clubs play a critical role in countering these threats by providing safe, structured environments where students can engage in gaming while developing social-emotional skills, critical thinking, and resilience.

NASEF’s scholastic model contains a foundational SEL platform, rooted in five years of research, that has demonstrated significant positive impact and efficacy among targeted participants. The interactive combination of play/competitions with relevant and applicable learning content gained by individual and Club members forms a foundational and sustainable platform for continued engagement, relationship development, and cross-cultural activities.

Student interviews demonstrate the immediate, real-life impacts of involvement in these clubs: "It helped me get to know people better and be nicer to others," shared one student, reflecting the program's success in fostering positive social attitudes. "It's taught me how to communicate and work as a team, which I didn't do much before," reported one student participant. The data showed significant improvement in adult relationships, with student-reported ability to relate to adults nearly doubling from 12.2% at baseline to 23.5% at year-end.

Adult leaders also shared about noticeable improvements: "Some students went from failing a couple of classes to consistently passing because they knew they needed to keep their grades up to stay on the team," reported a General Manager, demonstrating the program's positive influence on academic motivation.

Program development in Puerto Rico is offered as a model in the report. Key improvements were noted in life skills development (reported by 52.1% of participants) and peer relationship abilities (46.6% of participants). Additional benefits included communication capabilities, team collaboration, and leadership skills.

The program leads noted that they have witnessed firsthand the benefits of these practices in transforming disruptive gaming behaviors among youth. Through the lens of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), integrating mindfulness and emotion regulation strategies were shown to effectively channel gaming behaviors into positive developmental outcomes. The ability to adopt effective coping strategies and overcome barriers to optimal performance proved to be essential for maintaining focus and achieving success in competitive play. By leveraging these insights, participating schools and institutions aim to create an environment where students not only excel in gaming but also develop life skills that extend far beyond the screen.

As noted: "In short, we have found that successful implementation of scholastic esports programs can have an inoculation effect, effectively protecting and insulating participants from online radicalism."

Read the full report, including Program Design & Objectives, Key Findings, and Reflections & Recommendations of the researchers, Kevin Brown and Jihan Johnston-McGlotten, MAEd., who are well-respected scholastic esports leaders who drove much of the development and evolution of NASEF’s model.