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Minecraft and esports make a great match!

21 Oct 2025 A stadium in Minecraft is divided into two play spaces, surrounded by bleachers, waving flags, and exploding fireworks.

By Dr. Bron Stuckey, Minecraft Ambassador and Esports Champion

Minecraft has demonstrated its educational value more than any other game. Minecraft Education isn’t just a game—it’s a creative, adaptable, and extensible tool that empowers students to take ownership of their learning. Whether they’re designing worlds, solving problems, or working as a team, students are building real world skills in ways that feel meaningful and fun.

Minecraft might not immediately spring to mind as a top esports platform. Yet through Minecraft Education esports, students (and their teachers) are successfully exploring the benefits of esports. Instead of only focusing on professional-style competitions, Minecraft esports give students opportunities to collaborate, compete, mentor, coach, and experiment—all within a safe and respectful environment. The best part is that schools don’t need to invest in expensive new systems. They can use a tool that students already know and love, adapting it to fit their community’s needs.

What Do Educational Esports Look Like?

The esports community has grown across the world in the past few years. Justified high praise has been voiced for large-scale tournaments like the Battle of the Boroughs, the Sount Florida Showdown, and the Battle in the Rocks. NASEF offers a variety of creative Minecraft Education tournaments which are open for global entry. In Australia, commercial groups like the FUSE Cup and the Australian Esports League (AEL) sponsor nation-wide build battles and live tournaments.

While less visible, there are arguably even more valuable events and activities taking place at a grassroots level. Small, local esport activities are much more than rehearsal or training sessions for major competitions. These local in-school esports activities boost teamwork, confidence, communication, and school pride, while embedding esports into the curriculum.

Minecraft works just as well for a small build battle honoring a local hero as it does for a community library challenge to beat the fastest team time in Blockbeard’s Gold Race.

Jason Coleman from Ivanhoe Grammar School advises teachers, "You don’t need to be a gamer to be involved, seek help from the students and other schools and keep asking questions. Have a goal in mind, whether it is for interest groups, mental health, cybersafety, collaboration, or just fun, have a clear reason for doing it."

His advice underscores that esports don’t need to be complicated. They just need purpose.

Where Can Minecraft Education Esports Live in Schools?

Minecraft esports have proven value within grade levels, clubs, libraries, maker spaces, and as part of:

In School

  • Games clubs
  • Library sessions
  • Lunch time tournaments
  • House competitions
  • STEM Day activity
  • School fete/fundraiser
  • Traditional sports alternative
  • School camp

Between schools/across district

  • High school/primary mentoring
  • A local event
  • A sporting event
  • Host a local invitational
  • Summer school/after school programs
  • Public local library programs
  • Local council town hall event

These entry points make excellent pilots, helping schools scale gradually and find what works best for their students.

To see examples of these real world contexts for school esports visit the 2025 ANZ Minecraft Esports Mentoring SWAY where members share their grass-roots stories. With each addition we are broadening the view of not only where esports can live, but how significant its impact can be on our students.

Ready to begin teaching with Esports? Start with one idea, one event, or one club and watch your school community grow.

Learn more about Minecraft Education Esports here. Interested in training?  Check out our Esports Teacher Academy Series.

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