AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron has created a varsity sports program for players of competitive, sports-related video games.

The varsity eSports program will involve 30 to 35 students, who will be eligible for scholarships. An associated club eSports program will involve several hundred students.

The structure of the program will mirror traditional varsity athletics with team members participating in tryouts, wearing uniforms and maintaining practice schedules.

ESports, or "electronic sports," have gained popularity on college campuses. UA is the first public university in northeast Ohio to create a program.

In Ohio, Miami University launched a program in 2016. Tiffin University and Lourdes University began programs this year.

Ohio State University students participate in the Big Ten tournament for League of Legends, a popular e-sport.

UA's new program will be housed in a eSports arena in the Williams Honors College that will be furnished with customized gaming computers, the university said.

The university is developing an annual budget, officials said.

"The University of Akron and its students will benefit significantly from the creation of an eSports program," President Matthew Wilson said in a news release. "Embracing eSports allows the University to continue attracting top students while providing an innovative pathway for students to flourish academically, socially and professionally."

Michael Fay Jr. will be hired as eSports director and head coach, pending final approval by the board of trustees. Fay's experience includes being a production director for eSports competitions for Softlocke, which specializes in producing content and entertainment for the industry.

Fay also provides commentary for eSports tournaments and has created competitive-video-gaming content for online platforms such as YouTube. Fay received his master's degree in emergent media from Champlain College and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Saint Michael's College.

UA's varsity eSports teams will train and compete with other colleges in some of the nation's most popular strategy and battle video games like League of Legends (a multi-player online battle arena), Rocket League (a vehicular action sports game), Hearthstone (an online trading card game) and many others, the university said.

"Students involved in the eSports program will also receive academic oversight - similar to students in traditional UA athletic programs - to enhance the success of their overall collegiate experience," Sarah M.R. Cravens, vice provost for strategic initiatives, said in the release."Participation in this program will strengthen students' abilities to collaborate and take on leadership roles. In a multitude of fields and programs, eSports will also be an outstanding resource for experiential learning opportunities and the development of job skills."

Engineering and computer science students have volunteered to build the machines for the eSports arena on campus; communications students can broadcast games and provide commentary, while also serving as videography and audio experts; graphic designers can create uniforms and logos; and students in various health professions majors can work with the teams as personal trainers, sports psychologists and nutritionists, the university said.