Is eSports a Sport? Insigjhts from Future Educators

This qualitative study explores university students' perceptions of esports, focusing on its classification as a sport, its potential educational applications, and its perceived effects on individuals. Data were collected during the 2023-2024 spring term from 40 volunteer students enrolled in a faculty of education at a public university in Türkiye. Participants were selected through criterion sampling to ensure diversity in gender, academic background, and prior esports knowledge. A phenomenological research design was employed, and data were gathered through semi- structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis with open and axial coding. Findings indicate divergent views on whether esports qualifies as a sport, often shaped by perspectives on physicality versus cognitive skill. While some students viewed esports as beneficial for strategic thinking, attention, and teamwork, others questioned its educational value. Moreover, esports was found to impact individuals cognitively, socially, and emotionally-both positively and negatively. © 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing.