October 5, 2023
The esports industry continues to grow year after year. It does not seem like this growth will stop anytime soon; this expansion of the industry brings growth in everything that surrounds it: there are more esports teams, more competitions and tournaments, more games, and more jobs. It has become a multidisciplinary industry in which not only players are needed. The sector has become highly professionalized, there are more and more trained profiles. People who come from other sectors are interested in the industry and seek to add to their career a place in esports. There are many more brands interested… it has become the form of entertainment par excellence.
Within these new professions, the position of the team coach is one of the first that comes to mind: that hidden eye behind the players, who must keep calm and think with a cool mind in the heat of competition. The team coach is, perhaps, as important as a player and sometimes even more so, since he prepares a game so that everything goes as planned and there are no mistakes and, if there are any, he is the one in charge of solving them afterward.
The coach works with the esports team to develop strategies based on the game’s current meta, analyze the weak points of their competitors, develop internal communication, and ensure success in tournaments and a path full of victories. We could say that the coach is the team’s guide.
Unlike a team manager, an esports team coach assumes a very focused position on the team itself with a clear goal in mind: to ensure the players’ success. This success will come not only from the constant practice and improvement of the players’ in-game performance but also from removing the headaches of everyday life, including physical problems and mental baggage, although this includes other professions such as team psychology (perhaps speaking already about high-level teams).
So, without further ado and with the help and advice from Dignitas Academy head coach Mervin-Angelo “Dayos” Lachica and Dignitas’ LCS head coach Ilias “Enatron” Theodorou, let’s review, with a summary, the top 5 responsibilities of an esports coach!
Team strategy development and analysis
A coach must be aware of how the current meta of the game in question works to develop solid strategies that fit his team’s strengths, and that can counteract the modus operandi of the enemy team.
It is necessary to transform statistics into strategy, a task closely linked to the Analyst, so it is required to observe and analyze the moves of the opposing teams, determine their strengths and weaknesses, and with all this information, develop a strategic plan aimed at achieving victory: which characters to choose, the best positioning for the current situation, which objects will offer the best advantages in specific setups, when to be aggressive and when to be more careful, … all this conglomerate of information will determine the gameplay of each game.
Scheduling the players’ training sessions
Each competitive game needs a different training, since comparing one video game with another is like comparing apples and pears, but the basis of an esports coach is not much different from a soccer coach or any physical sport. It is a matter of consistency and commitment and instilling these concepts in your players’ minds. It is necessary to develop a weekly training routine with the team: discuss theory, organize ‘scrims’ (games where two teams play against each other as a form of training), and play solo games. Once you reach a sustainable routine, you can see the best results from the training.
Improve team communication
Maintaining fluid communication and good team synergy are key factors for the correct performance of an esports team. Therefore, it is vital to solve internal conflicts between players, organize team-building activities to enhance communication between them, and have a very well-defined list of what calls will be made and when.
Communication is one of the most fundamental points of the correct functioning of a team. When communication fails, the result of a match-up can vary enormously even though the players are excellent individually.
Q: What can coaches do to help the players grow and stay sharp and tuned?
DAYOS: It depends on what you’re practicing for. There will be a long season in most cases, and you want to make sure performance peaks at the end. This can be accomplished in many ways, but it also depends on the mentality of your players. It can be playing more towards the end and pushing harder while saving energy at the start of the season. Or it can be taking a step back and focusing more on execution and maintaining form. As a coach, it’s up to you to decide which one will benefit your players.
In terms of regular growth, first, you want to recognize where a player’s strengths and weaknesses lie. Once you’ve done, it’s really important to give them smart goals. Generally, having more structured goals makes it easier to track tangible growth. After that, it’s all about upkeep and making sure they stay on track. Finally, you want to be really involved in their practice and make sure they’re using their time efficiently.
That usually means I watch their individual replays after practice focusing on the goals we established at the start of the week.
Maintain the positive mentality and focus of the team
The coach is also in charge of keeping the players motivated, showing them that it is possible to reverse the preliminary results if a play has gone wrong. Official tournaments bring a lot of pressure, and it is important to maintain a mentality focused on victory.
Coaches and team psychologists must also do what they can to resolve a player’s personal problems and counsel them on individual issues to remove their mental burden and ensure that they perform to their full potential.
Q: How do you deal with losses or bad performance that affects a player’s confidence? Do you use the same approach as with wins?
ENATRON: We have a routine that I like to follow regardless of the result. This way, the players are more prepared to lose or win and what to expect to follow after. But, of course, losing makes the room quieter, and as a coach, my job is to make sure that all of us can identify the issues, address them and work on them in the upcoming week. So a loss shouldn’t be a reason to shut down but to work harder.
I ask the players usually to use the day off to think clearly about the problems of the games and then come after a day and talk about them and find solutions and set new goals as a team and individuals. So we promote the strengths and the weaknesses, and despite bad performances, our faith and trust in that “weak” player is always there for them to help them get over it and support him the best way possible inside the squad.
DAYOS: It depends on the player and how they take criticism. You often want to find the real reason they’re underperforming, and usually, it’s something outside of the game. Stress, personal issues, or discomfort. People don’t randomly play poorly for no reason. I’ve had success with reminding them that they are good and to begin a candid conversation about what’s going on.
For losses, I’m not a fan of speeches after a loss. Most of the time, just take a break and come back later in the day when the emotions are less high. Losses are usually good for development since the mistakes last in your mind that much longer.
Keep constantly updated
Perhaps you could consider this point to be included in the ‘Developing and analyzing team strategy’ section because I have commented on this very thing there, but, in my opinion, it deserves its own section as a separate responsibility.
A coach should know the game as much or more than a player; in fact, it is a common occurrence for a player to retire and go on to become a coach. If your goal is to achieve victories, one of the best ways to provide them is with an optimal tactic, which is only possible with extensive knowledge of the game. I mean EXTENSIVE: each unique character and its abilities, each item in the game and how to use it with the different characters, the existing bugs in the current patches, the maps, and how to use them in your favor,…
For example, League of Legends has more than 150 unique characters divided into different roles, more than 180 items in the store, five different lines with a different game mode, thousands of rune combinations, and updates every two weeks that bring changes to take into account. It is overwhelming information, but knowing how to use it to our advantage is how winning strategies are defined.
Q: What are the most important skills to have and develop as an esports coach? Is it necessary to be a pro-player?
DAYOS: It honestly depends on your position and what’s required of you. If you’re the strategic coach, it’s game knowledge and the ability to express that knowledge. If it’s head coach, it’s the ability to create a proper environment and manage other coaches and players. However, more often than not, there is NO clear distinction, and you’ll have to do the role of both and many more.
To me, the most important thing as an esports coach is to have the capability to do both. Have high game knowledge while at the same time being able to properly teach and manage players. Of course, being a pro-player means that you have the requisite expertise. However, it doesn’t mean that you’re capable of teaching or are even a good teacher. Usually, those skills develop with time and experience. But at the same time, pro players have a good understanding of other pros and, as a result, can connect with them. This, plus seeing how their coaches in the past have functioned, usually means that transition (with experience) comes more naturally.
ENATRON: Patience, a clear mind, creativity, problem solver, game knowledge. I think these are the most important ones. Being a pro in some cases helps because you had been in the shoes of your players, so you know how they feel and what they want to hear from you so you can cope with them. I don’t think every pro player should become a coach cause though their game knowledge is high, they might lack the rest of the attributes that make a good coach.
Conclusion
We were fortunate to have our guest coaches give us one final piece of advice for those who want to start their esports career as a coach.
Q: If I was a beginner with no experience and wanted to become an esports coach, what advice would you give me? Any tips on how to build a portfolio?
ENATRON: The number one advice usually give is to be patient and have a nice clear mind. Patience because esports personalities aren’t easy to deal with, and in some cases, as a coach, you need to swallow your own ego and clear mind to deal with and approach situations properly.
DAYOS: My main suggestion would be to just do it and begin coaching any level you’re comfortable with. Coaching esports, in general, is still something that’s really new and hasn’t been fully explored yet, but two things remain consistent across most if not all games. Game knowledge (the ability to simplify and understand the game at a high level) and the ability to coach (manage egos, create lesson plans, create a structured environment focused on learning, etc). Game knowledge is really easy to build. Just study the game. However, the interpersonal skills required to coach are something that develops with experience. The portfolio also comes with time and experience.
Q: What’s your coaching philosophy?
DAYOS: Enjoy the game. Enjoy the process of improving. Make sure the environment is conducive to learning.
ENATRON: My philosophy, in general, is to help each other find the right way. Honestly, players know more than coaches and what coaches can bring to the table is structure, problem-solving, and experience to handle different situations. I think the perfect relationship of coach/player is the player to suggest ways of play or communication, and the coach guides him accordingly while helping him integrate properly inside the team. If the player doesn’t have an opinion, the coach takes more of an initiative role and tries to find and create goals for the player to help him grow and set up his own esports playing style and esports persona.
In summary and in conclusion, although the role of a coach varies somewhat depending on the game, something they should all have in common is the ability to lead and resolve conflicts, excellent communication and teaching skills, and knowing how to analyze and structure information to their advantage. They are an essential part of the proper performance of a professional esports team, and, although it is a new job, it is here to stay.