New Platform. New Structure. Same Great League. Get the answers you need to register your teams and prepare for the Fall 2026 MHSEL season.
Hello MHSEL Community!
Registration for the Fall 2026 Michigan High School Esports League (MHSEL) season is officially open! We are excited to welcome both returning and new schools for another incredible year.
As we kick off the season, you'll notice a few important changes designed to position MHSEL for long-term growth and sustainability while continuing to provide outstanding opportunities for Michigan students.
Included in this email:
- 📋 Registration + Resources – Everything you need to get enrolled, including the Registration Guide and IT Guide.
- 💲 League Participation Fees – Why annual participation fees were introduced and what they support.
- 🎮 New Competition Platform – Learn about our transition to USAEL/RallyCry. No longer affiliated with PlayVS.
- 🏆 Game Titles & Competition Opportunities – Explore 19 game titles, state leagues, and regional/national competitions.
- 💬 Information Sessions – Join us August 13 for league updates and Q&A, then attend a platform onboarding session for a deeper dive.
Registration & Resources
Ready to get started? 👉
Check out these resources to help you register for the Fall 2026 MHSEL season on our new USAEL/RallyCry platform: Registration Guide and IT Requirements Guide.
League Participation Fees
As a reminder, beginning with the 2026–27 school year, MHSEL has transitioned to an annual school participation fee that provides schools with unlimited teams and unlimited student-athletes across both the Fall and Spring seasons.
This investment helps ensure MHSEL can continue delivering high-quality programming, championship events, expanded opportunities, and exceptional support for Michigan's scholastic esports community.
- Class A: $1,000
- Class B: $800
- Class C: $600
- Class D: $400
- Middle School: $200
- New schools participate at no cost during their first year.
No payment is required at registration. Invoices will be sent mid-season.
Resources: Fee Structure under Welcome to MHSEL, League Participation Fees FAQ and Fundraising & Budget Support.
New Competition Platform
Beginning this fall, MHSEL competitions will take place on USAEL/RallyCry.
MHSEL is no longer affiliated with the PlayVS platform or its business operations, including registration, leagues, pricing, and season management. If you register through PlayVS, you are not registered for MHSEL. MHSEL competitions are now hosted exclusively on USAEL/RallyCry.
As we transition to the new platform, we appreciate your patience through any growing pains. Our commitment remains the same: providing Michigan schools with a fun, competitive, and educational esports experience.
Our immediate focus is getting every school set up with its school page and teams. Throughout August, we'll continue sharing resources and updates on match days, scrimmages, platform features, and more to help you prepare for the season.
Game Titles Available
Through RallyCry/USAEL, MHSEL is excited to offer 19 total game titles!
- 10 High School State Leagues
- 3 Middle School State Leagues
- 13 Regional/National competition opportunities across both high school and middle school
We're also continuing to build our Unified Esports opportunities. While Unified leagues will not be ready for fall competition, we are actively working toward additional Unified experiences this school year.
Resources: Check out our game titles/leagues and Fall 2026 weekly schedule.
Informational Sessions
MHSEL Information Forum
Thursday, August 13 @ 3 PM ET
Join MHSEL staff, members of the Advisory Board, and our new platform partner for a 30-minute informational session covering the upcoming season, MHSEL's structural changes, the transition to USAEL/RallyCry, and what coaches can expect moving forward.
We'll conclude with a live Q&A to answer your questions.
Platform Onboarding Session
Tuesday, August 25 @ 3 PM ET OR Wednesday August 26 @ 7 PM ET
Join us for a guided walkthrough of our new esports platform site! Coaches will get a first look with MHSEL & RallyCry staff at the new features, learn where to find key resources, and see how the updated platform makes managing and participating in this season as efficient as ever.
We know change can bring questions, and we're here to help every step of the way. Thank you for your continued support of MHSEL and for providing incredible opportunities for your students.
We can't wait to see everyone back online for another exciting season!
Best,
The MHSEL Team
MHSEL is hosted by Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals and Michigan Student Leadership in partnership with USAEL & RallyCry.