CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
11/12/2026
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
Digital Athlete Pathway · Grades 7–12
Digital
Athlete
Gaming is bigger than playing.
Sports. Media. Technology. Culture. Career preparation. The Digital Athlete pathway turns a student's interest in gaming and esports into competitive, creative, technical and career-ready skills — inside a flexible online college-prep environment.
What is the Digital Athlete pathway?
A pathway for gamers ready for more.
What it is
A grades 7–12 college-prep pathway that treats gaming as a real industry — competition, content, technology and careers.
Who it's for
Students who love gaming and esports and want to compete, create, build and explore where gaming can take them.
How academics fit
Flexible online college-prep coursework wraps around the athlete's schedule — graduation planning and sports-industry electives included.
The experience
Compete. Create.
Build. Learn. Explore.
Five ways students experience gaming as more than a game.
Compete
Competitive esports and gaming.
- — Structured competitive play
- — Scrimmages and tournaments
- — Team and individual competition
- — Game fundamentals and coaching
Create
Streaming, content, video, graphics and digital storytelling.
- — Live streaming and broadcasting
- — Video editing and highlights
- — Graphics and digital media
- — Personal brand and storytelling
Build
Technology, game-related projects and digital skills.
- — Hardware and software fundamentals
- — Event production and brackets
- — Game and creative design exploration
- — Digital project building
Learn
Strategy, communication, teamwork, leadership and responsible digital participation.
- — Teamwork and communication
- — Leadership and strategy
- — Digital citizenship and safety
- — Responsible online engagement
Explore
Careers across esports, gaming, media, technology and the larger sports industry.
- — Gaming business and operations
- — Marketing and partnerships
- — Production and event operations
- — Community and brand engagement
Compete
Supported titles.
Titles REI has explored or intends to support. Titles can be added or removed as the program grows. REI Prep does not claim league participation or championships unless announced.
NBA 2K
Rocket League
Madden
EA Sports FC / FIFA
Fortnite
More titles
Added as the ecosystem grows.
REI Esports · Arizona CAA Winter '27
Our Arena.
Our Season.
REI Prep Digital Athletes don’t just learn about esports — they compete. Beginning this fall, REI Prep will compete in official Arizona CAA Esports League competition powered through PlayVS, giving students the opportunity to train, compete, represent their school, and build their competitive gaming résumé.
Marvel Rivals
High School
Mondays · 4:00 PM AZ
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Middle + High School
Tuesdays · 4:00 PM AZ
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Middle + High School
Thursdays · 4:00 PM AZ
The Season
Phase 1
Preseason
October 19–26, 2026
Phase 2
Regular Season
November 2, 2026 – February 8, 2027
Phase 3
Playoffs
Week of February 15, 2027
Phase 4
Top 4 + Championship
In-Person · Mesa, Arizona · Date TBD
11 regular-season match weeks. One goal: earn our place in the championship.
Ready to enter the arena?
Real-world experience
REI Esports
is outside.
REI Arena × Carz N Kickz
REI Prep brought the Digital Athlete pathway into the community at the 4th Annual Carz N Kickz — sponsoring the Gaming Truck experience and giving young gamers and families a place to play, connect and discover what we’re building through REI Arena.
Play
Gaming experiences for kids + families
Connect
Community, conversations + new relationships
Discover
A new pathway through esports + gaming
REI Arena isn’t just a place.
It’s wherever the community comes together to play.
We Play.We Connect.We Compete.We Represent.
Events + activations
Digital Athlete in the community.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
11/19/2026
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
12/1/2026
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports Playoffs — Marvel Rivals
2/15/2027
Online
Arizona CAA Esports Playoffs — Marvel Rivals. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports Playoffs — Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
2/18/2027
Online
Arizona CAA Esports Playoffs — Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
12/3/2026
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
1/14/2027
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
2/8/2027
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
2/11/2027
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
1/12/2027
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports Preseason — Week 1
10/19/2026
Online
Arizona CAA Esports Preseason Week 1. REI Prep Digital Athletes begin preseason competition.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
11/9/2026
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
12/8/2026
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
1/4/2027
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
1/28/2027
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
2/1/2027
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
11/5/2026
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
1/18/2027
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
11/2/2026
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
11/10/2026
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
12/10/2026
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
1/25/2027
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports Playoffs — Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
2/16/2027
Online
Arizona CAA Esports Playoffs — Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
11/30/2026
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
1/7/2027
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports Preseason — Week 2
10/26/2026
Online
Arizona CAA Esports Preseason Week 2. REI Prep Digital Athletes continue preseason competition.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
11/16/2026
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
1/5/2027
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
1/19/2027
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
1/21/2027
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
1/11/2027
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports Top 4 + Championship (Date TBD)
2/20/2027
ALA Technologies, 7729 E Pecos Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212
Arizona CAA Esports Top 4 + Championship. In-person at ALA Technologies, Mesa, Arizona. Date TBD.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
11/17/2026
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
1/26/2027
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Marvel Rivals — Monday
12/7/2026
Online
Marvel Rivals (High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Thursday
2/4/2027
Online
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
2/2/2027
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
2/9/2027
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
CAA Esports: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Tuesday
11/3/2026
Online
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Middle + High School) — Arizona CAA Esports Regular Season. 4:00 PM Arizona Time.
Two entry points
Digital Athlete or REI eJr.?
Grades 7–12 · REI Prep pathway
Digital Athlete
A full college-prep pathway. Compete, create, build, learn and explore gaming as an industry — inside a flexible online academic schedule with graduation planning.
Youth · Community
REI eJr.
The younger, community entry point into gaming, esports and digital experiences. Not a school enrollment program — a way for younger gamers and families to discover the REI ecosystem.
Join REI eJr.Academics + pathway
College-prep that fits the game.
Competition, content and career exploration sit inside a flexible online college-prep schedule — core academics, graduation planning and sports-industry electives built around the athlete.
Explore academicsCollege Concentrations
Go beyond the game.
Students can connect esports participation with game design, programming, technology, communication and digital career exploration.
REI Prep Certificate
Sports Media & Communications
COM 100COM 225ENG 101CIS 105
12+ potential college credits
REI Prep Certificate
Esports, Gaming & Technology
AME 160CSE 110CIS 105CIS 194
12+ potential college credits
REI Prep Certificate
Career & Leadership
CAP 150OGL 200COM 225FIN 294
12+ potential college credits
Know a gamer, creator or digital athlete?
There's a lane for them too.
Refer a future Roadrunner to the Digital Athlete pathway.