Challenges in Becoming an Esports Coach
Becoming an esports coach involves much more than just coaching sessions, it brings a series of challenges related to self-motivation, time management and personal balance that could be quite difficult to navigate. Coaches not only need to take care of their students but also stay updated about their game, constantly research, expand their skills, take care of themselves, and more!
The hardest challenge I faced when transitioning to a full-time coach was mastering the organization required to fulfill multiple tasks. A big portion of my day goes into activities I never anticipated to be a part of coaching. Let’s dive into what a typical day looks like for me and how I manage to stay organized!
Time Management: Schedule and Time Zones
As an esports coach, every English-speaking gamer worldwide becomes a potential customer. Over the years, I’ve worked with people from more than 40 countries, which means many completely different time zones. Such as students from Oceania and Asia, 11-13 hours ahead of my time zone.
Regardless of whom you work with, integrate that work within your personal schedule, e.g. do not coach during your late hours. Take care of yourself first; choose your available times and stick to them.
Here are some tools every coach must use:
- Digital Calendar (such as Google Calendar or Calendly)
- Time zone converter
- Discord Timestamp Converter (universal timestamps that show a time on each person local time)
Punctuality and professionalism are priorities, make sure to be well rested as well as feeling energetic when starting your sessions.
Students & Feedback
Keeping your students motivated while providing useful feedback is amongst the most important goals for a coach. Coaches spend a big chunk of their days just chatting (answering questions, keeping up with students) and writing down feedback (lesson/session report cards, uploading recordings). I recommend that coaches use Coachify for improving their organization in handling students and enhancing the session feedback. Make sure to always stay in touch with and encourage your students!
Every coach should create a community for students to interact, discuss the game, learn together and have a good time. Remain active in your community by providing insights and interacting with your students.
Staying updated
Coaches may not need to play every day, but staying updated with their game is crucial. Constantly read about the meta, research new strategies, and stay informed about the latest trends.
Self-care
While being a full-time coach is a dream job for many, don't forget about your health. Keep a good sleeping schedule, eat well and exercise daily. Long hours on the computer without movement can lead to health problems, so remember to take breaks, stretch every hour, and prioritize your well-being.
Want to connect with Coutu? Find him on Discord https://discord.gg/v5muDnEswW and Coachify https://coachify.gg/@coutu
