eSports Coach

Do you love to play video games? You may be aware that video games have become a major part of the entertainment industry and that professional gamers are becoming as recognizable as professional athletes, but have you ever thought about just how much strategy and mental preparation goes into high level gaming? That’s what eSports coaches specialize in, and they continue to adjust their techniques to ever-evolving gaming technology.

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Personal Connection

eSports coaches are a lot like professional sports coaches. They train their players both mentally and physically to put them into position to seize the moment. eSports coaches manage team chemistry and work to instill a team identity. Becoming an eSports coach is all about the strategy factor, along extensive knowledge of gaming as well as strong leadership skills:

Are you passionate about video games?
Do you love competition?
Are you a good leader?
Do you like to work towards a common goal as a member of a team?

Other Connections

Even if you don’t end up becoming an eSports coach, there are many different career paths that are involved in and are a part of the video game industry, including:

Providing commentary on eSports competitions or hosting them on stage with your charisma, knowledge, and personality as an eSports shoutcaster

Developing strategies, analyzing opponents in order to win as many matches – and tournaments – as possible while using your gaming knowledge to excel as an eSports player

Working alongside game designers and programmers to ensure a video game works flawlessly before they send the game out to the market as a video game tester

Designing and producing your own video games as a video game designer

Writing scripts and storylines for games to be built around as a video game writer

Working as a programmer and continuing to develop the software that game developers use as a software developer

STEM Connection

The experiential aspect of video games is changing with every passing year. Developers are constantly changing the video gaming norm. Naturally, the work of those in the gaming industry has to change accordingly. Here are just a few ways that new and emerging technologies are transforming eSports:

With emerging VR technology, eSports could become the future of sports:

While real sports are far from being dethroned, eSports have an advantage in that fans can emulate the featured activity from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, virtual reality has the potential to turn branches of eSports into competitions of physical prowess, effectively making eSports players into professional athletes. These advances bring on unprecedented responsibility for eSports coaches, who will have to implement new training to keep their players in top form.

Voice recognition and gesture control may form an all new gaming meta:

Soon it will be possible to translate the natural movements of your body to in-game functions. Furthermore, entire video games are being developed around voice control, potentially enabling people with physical disabilities to become professional gamers. One thing that professional gaming demands is the optimization of game mechanics. With new voice and gesture control technology being thrust upon the gaming scene, it will be interesting to see how coaches and gamers address these new control functions, and what kind of synthesized interactive experience the gaming meta looks like in the years to come.

Data analytics help coaches devise strategies:

Analytics are becoming a huge part of sports technology, it’s no surprise that they’re a big part of eSports strategization as well. Some games like League of Legends are dependent on data collection and analysis. Players can see how impactful or lacking their performances have been and coaches can analyze statistics and trends to position the team for success.

Full Immersion could turn professional gamers into modern day gladiators:

Full Immersion is the idea of embedding your consciousness into an artificial body. As it pertains to gaming, your senses, thoughts, and actions would have one-to-one consequences on your in-game character. In the future, an all new form of eSports coach may revolve around training players for their fully immersed competitions.

eSports can dominate the entertainment industry from afar:

As of 2020 eSports have an international following of nearly 150 million. They have been notably more successful in transcending international boundaries than professional sports. People from all over the world are watching eSport events happening everywhere else. Constant dynamic content is giving eSports a real edge in the entertainment industry. Look for eSports to trend upward in the years to come, and for eSports coaches to become recognizable as faces of their franchises.

Journeys to Becoming an eSports Coach

A career as in eSports may seem as easy as playing video games for money, but eSports competitions require a lot of mental and even physical preparation and the coach is responsible for ensuring that that happens. The path to working in eSports may seem like a faraway dream, but did you know that you can get started on that path even before high school?

Read about how one young man’s path from gamer to coach:

Alex “Aurice” Nguyen is a coach for Team Liquid, a competitive Overwatch eSports team. Aurice started playing video games in the 90’s when his dad got him a Playstation One. He was a hardcore gamer in high school. He and his friends would host LAN parties and gather all of their friends in one place to play games together. This is what attracted Aurice to the interpersonal and collaborative aspects of video games.

Aurice went on to become a med student and worked for a few years at a hospital as a personal trainer. Although he enjoyed this job, he knew that it wasn’t his passion. He contacted a local eSports team, Colorado Clutch, in search of an open position and realized early on that this was what he wanted to do. Now, Aurice is an indispensable part of Team Liquid and is realizing his passion as a coach.

It may seem like you need to be a world-class gamer in order to have a career as an eSports coach. While it certainly helps, you can get started with as little as the right mindset. Read about another person’s journey into eSports coaching:

Francois “The Coach” is a mental fitness coach for the Oserv Esport team. Francois started out training to be a police officer. He attributes much of his coaching skill to his experience at the police academy where team spirit and determination were foundational. Later, Francois turned to personal assistance and therapy where he helped people overcome addiction and other personal strife.

Francois has never been a gamer, but he possesses the necessary set of skills to excel as an eSports coach. Stress management and exercises in focus are his specialty. Francois recommends that aspiring eSports coaches work on their mental strength. Courses in psychology and human behavior could assist with this. Developed communication skills are also dire for prospects in this field. Above all else, Francois stresses the importance of listening and seeing the humanity in each and every person.

Read more about The Coach’s story here.

Articles, Videos, Podcasts of Interest

Read an article about the increasing relevance of coaching in esports:

Read about a young eSports coach making a huge impact in the budding professional gaming industry:

Watch this video about the unseen importance of coaches in eSports through the lense of one particularly influential League of Legends coach:

Fun Facts

Some fun trivia about eSports and professional gaming:

All champions deserve recognition:

There is an eSports hall of fame that honors legendary gamers and other figures who have made a difference in the industry.

eSports are quickly becoming professionalized franchises:

Professional athletes hold eSports with high regard. Former NBA player Rick Fox and NFL lineman Rodger Saffold both own their own eSports franchises.

Thriving in the face of a global pandemic:

eSports is a billion dollar industry and has partnerships with Doritos, Microsoft, Youtube and Coca-Cola to name a few. The industry continues to thrive and grow.

eSports players are making bank:

The USA, China, and South Korea are the world leaders in eSports earnings. In 2019, American gamers earned over 37 million dollars.

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