Esports Coach​/Analyst

To become an esports coach or analyst, you’ll need a combination of expertise, experience, and passion for the game.

Like traditional sports, a coach will help the team train against other teams (aka ‘scrim’) in order to improve.

Coaches work closely with the players, to motivate them, identify their strengths and weaknesses and make sure they are playing at their best. They will develop strategies and analyse opponents in order to win as many matches – and tournaments – as possible.

A coach is responsible for every aspect relating to performance within a team. This includes, but is not limited to, growth of individual skill of the players, team cohesion, in-game strategy, motivational responsibilities and discipline.

There are several coaching roles which include head coach, draft coach, strategic coach and sports psychologist. It is very common for one coach to do multiple roles within a team based on the large variation of coaching structures within esports teams. These roles can differ greatly depending on the team you’re in.

Will “Frozen Dawn” Burgess, a UK League of Legends coach who has worked with Schalke 04 Esports, says: “As well as teaching the players certain aspects of the game, particularly macro-based decision making, coaches may also be required to resolve conflicts between players and motivate the players to improve.”

Coaches may also be required to record videos of matches, watch them back, keep up to date with the game in question, make notes and arrange scrims.

You will need an excellent understanding of the rules and intricacies a particular game, and usually be required to be able to play the game at a reasonable level yourself. You’ll need to keep up to date with game changes and the meta (how pros are playing the game in a certain way), analyse other top-level matches to get ideas, identify the strengths and weaknesses of your players, and come up with strategies.

Coaches and analysts may be required to analyse opponents, come up with reports, communicate with and use data effectively with players.

Some coaches are expected to assist the manager or owner in the recruitment of players, helping with venues, monitoring the health of players and more.

Frozen Dawn explains: “There are no set qualifications required for such a job. I myself have an Mres in Philosophy.

“Essentially, to get involved one needs to have the skillset for the role – which includes people management, deep knowledge about the game and communication and teaching skills.

“They then to prove to themselves and others that they have this skillset and that their skillset is better than someone else’s. In order to get involved, typically one has to prove themselves to a lower-tier team in the league as they eventually climb to higher-end teams and leagues.”

As is the case with other esports roles, competition can be fierce in this area, so getting experience is key.

There are many amateur-level esports organisations in the UK that will be looking for decent coaches and analysts. While they might not be able to offer a salary, offering to volunteer part time for them throughout a season can be extremely valuable in terms of getting experience.

Will “Frozen Dawn” Burgess offers his top tips:

• My first bit of advice would be to make sure you understand what you are doing and WHY you are doing it. Understand what motivates you, how hard are you willing to try, how much time and effort and for how long will you keep pushing. Making sure you know these will help clarify your situation for you and will prevent backash if it all goes wrong.
• Secondly, I would suggest focusing very much on clear goals and objectives. Not only as a coaching mechanism, but primarily for yourself. Start with a main overarching goal and then figure out how to achieve it and based smaller, easier goals from this.
• I would advise being entirely self-critical and reflective. Consistently look back at your day/week and reflect on what you achieved, what you didn’t, what you did well and what you could have done better.
• Make sure you have a…