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California Interscholastic Federation

CIF Esports Initiative

Education-based esports for California high schools. Students compete for their school and build career skills while they do it.

Register Your School Hall Of Champions Rulebooks2026 Versions Coming Soon

Registration is open October 5 to December 18, 2026.

CIF Esports Initiative, presented by the California Army National Guard

Operated by NASEF in partnership with the California Interscholastic Federation and powered by Fenworks.

How To Join

01

Check Eligibility

Your school must be a CIF member school to participate in the CIF Esports Initiative.

02

Register

Submit the form on this page between October 5 and December 18, 2026. Our team will get you onto the platform and added to your school.

03

Onboarding

Two onboarding calls before the season, October 21 and December 14. Scrimmage weeks are optional.

04

Compete

Nine weeks of regular season from January 18, then playoffs and State Finals.

Register Your School Read The Rulebooks2026 Versions Coming Soon

The CIF Experience

CIF Esports Initiative x NASEF Championship 2026, live at CSU Dominguez Hills
CIF Esports Initiative x NASEF 2025 Championship Finals
2024 NASEF x CIF Esports Initiative Championship Finals

The 2026–27 Season

Register Oct 5 – Dec 18 (Expand for more details)
Oct 5, 2026 Registration opens through the CIF Esports League
Oct 21, 2026 Onboarding call #1
Dec 14, 2026 Onboarding call #2
Dec 18, 2026 Registration closes and CIF payment is due
Preseason Nov 30 – Jan 11 (Expand for more details)
Nov 30, 2026 Scrimmage week 1
Dec 7, 2026 Scrimmage week 2
Dec 14, 2026 Scrimmage week 3
Jan 4, 2027 Scrimmage week 4
Jan 11, 2027 Scrimmage week 5
Regular Season Jan 18 – Mar 2027 (Expand for more details)
Jan 18, 2027 Week 1 begins
Feb – Mar Weeks 3 through 9
Playoffs & Finals Apr 5 – Apr 24 (Expand for more details)
Apr 5, 2027 Post-season play-in
Apr 16, 2027 Playoffs conclude
Apr 24, 2027 State Finals, in person

Titles And Match Days

Default match time: 4:15 PM Pacific.

Tuesday
Marvel Rivals Cross-platform · 6v6
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Girls Division · Switch / Switch 2 · 3v3
Splatoon 3 Switch / Switch 2
Wednesday
Rocket League Cross-platform · 3v3 · Varsity and JV
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch / Switch 2 · 4v4 · Varsity and JV
Madden Cross-platform · 1v1
Thursday
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Open Division · Switch / Switch 2 · 3v3 · Varsity and JV
League of Legends PC · 5v5

For League of Legends, SSBU (Girls Division), Madden, Splatoon and Marvel Rivals, Varsity status and inclusion in the Championship Finals (in-person) will be determined based on the number of schools participating.

Meet The Scholastic Tournament Administrator

James Wood, Scholastic Tournament Administrator

James Wood

Scholastic Tournament Administrator

James runs the CIF Esports Initiative week to week: tournament logistics, gameplay, and every other part of competitive play. He ran leagues in Northern California before this and completed NASEF's Scholastic Fellow and Mentor programs.

If you have a question about your roster, a match, or getting your school started, he is who to ask.

[email protected]

About The League

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) governs high school athletics and activities across California. The CIF Esports Initiative is its esports program, run for CIF member schools. Registration runs through the CIF Esports League only.

NASEF, the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations, is the Official Esports Provider of the CIF Esports Initiative. CIF selected NASEF for its focus on connecting competition to education around life and career skills, and James works within that structure.

NASEF

The CIF Esports Initiative is partnered with NASEF, the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations.

Register

Bring Your School Into The League

Tell us about your school and we will follow up with what your program needs to compete this season.

Registration closes December 18, 2026, and CIF payment is due the same day.