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How to Coach Esports?

Coaching Players vs Coaching Games

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Introduction

President of WISHEA

Helped establish one of the first state high school associations run by educators

Business Education Teacher

Entering my 9th year as a high school teacher.

2021-2022 NAECAD HS Coach of the Year

Recently named the National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors High School Coach of the Year.

  • Organized 3 LAN State Championships
  • 2 Virtual Championships
  • Attended Sixty-Six Games, Culver-Stockton Invitational, and High School Esports Invitational
  • Competed in GenCon, MarsCon, Wizards of the Coast, and many locals

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Don’t be afraid to start small.

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Coaching Players

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Before you even play a game……

  1. Define program expectations and code of conduct
    1. Communication
      1. Teacher to Player
      2. Player to Teacher
      3. Player to Player
    2. Eligibility
      • Grades
      • Attendance
      • Discipline
    3. Commitment
      • Practices / Scrimmages
      • VOD Review
      • Match Days

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In Game…..

  • Define Goals
    • Score X goals
    • Don’t lose a tower before X minutes
    • Survive until X time
  • Focus on soft skills
  • Behavior corrections and celebrations
  • Ask questions to guide them
    • What do we play around next?
    • What’s available for us to take?
    • What strategy do we try next?
  • If a team is silent, how do we know what’s going on?

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Post Game

  • Team Debrief
    • DO NOT ALLOW PLAYERS TO BLAME EACH OTHER
    • Use “WE” statements
    • Positives and areas for improvement
  • Use post game reflection surveys
    • One reflects on their performance
    • One reflects on all their teammates performances
    • One’s perception vs others perceptions

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Coaching Games

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You can’t expect to know them all….

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Pick a Genre to Focus on

  1. Fighting Game (FGC)
  2. First Person Shooter (FPS)
  3. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
  4. Trading Card Game (TCG)

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Learn the Lingo

  • Edgeguarding
  • Directional Input
  • Tech
  • Recovery
  • Spike
  • Wavedash
  • Tilt

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Learn character types

  • All-Rounder
  • Rushdown
  • Pressurer
  • Hit and Run
  • Zone-Breaker
  • Glass Cannon
  • Stage Control
  • Zoner
  • Bait and Punish

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Use Data tools

www.OP.gg

www.smite.guru

https://rocketleague.tracker.network/

https://tracker.gg/valorant/insights

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Scrimmages / Practices

  • This requires communication with an opponent
  • This is not just playing a game
  • “We want to practice _____”
    • Pistol rounds
    • Retaking A Site
    • 1 tank 2 support 2 DPS on Spider Islands
    • In game shot calling

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What does our week look like?

  • Monday
    • 2 hours of practice
    • In-house tournament (Smash)
  • Tuesday
    • 2 hours of practice (45mins draft strategy for SMITE)
    • Varsity Smash (1 hour comp, 30 minute reflection)
  • Wednesday
    • Open practice (Comps available for any team to practice)
    • Varsity SMITE (45 min warm up, 15 minute break, 45 min match, 15 min reflection)
  • Thursday
    • VOD Review for SMITE (45 minutes)
    • JV Smash (1 hour comp, 30 minute reflection)
  • Friday
    • Casual Gaming Club
    • Don’t forget to support fun and casual!