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Nine informational technology directors from across the county’s districts came to Dutchess recently for a demonstration of a fun activity that outkicks the competition.

Colin Strainge and Hilary Dee, of the Northeastern Regional Information Center, showed off the benefits of drone soccer, a team sport for students where they control drones to act as players that score goals with one drone soccer ball inside an enclosed tent.

“They’re not all trying to go through the goal; it’s called a striker that’s marked with painter’s tape on the bottom,” Dee explained. “That is the one that scores, so if your striker’s down that will stop game play.”

Schools can have drone soccer leagues where they participate in competitions. Model Schools Staff Specialist Lana Harwood hopes for BOCES to have a league, where they could collaborate with Dutchess Community College’s drone program.

Drone kits without an enclosure costs $4,994, while larger kits with a practice arena and 12 soccer balls costs $12,782. Dee said drone soccer is a very a hands-on activity that makes aerospace engineering accessible to students.

“After seeing the kids doing it, the more I believe in it,” Dee said. “We think this is really going to be important.”   

Harwood first learned about this activity at the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education conference in November and thought it would be beneficial for students to develop skills in science and technology and teamwork.

“You’re building those collaborative skills and the social interactions around something tech related,” Harwood said. “I think kids would love it.”

Harwood noted that drone soccer could also provide students with job skills as companies like Amazon have tested out drone deliveries.

“Drone piloting is going to be a huge job market for our students,” Harwood said. “Our students are innovative and this is a way to be creative.”

Arlington Microcomputer Network Support Specialist Debra Petriccione enjoyed the presentation and found that it can appeal to all ages. 

“I love that it could involve multiple grades and multiple curriculums,” Petriccione said. “I’d be all for it.”

Pine Plains’ Technology Director Rich Harlin found drone soccer to be engaging and he could easily see it be part of his district’s plan to introduce electronic sports.

“It’s an interesting mix,” Harlin said. “I can see where there are direct connections between e-sports and drone soccer.”