
Want to get started in the world of esports coaching but don't know where to start? You've come to the right place!

In this article, we'll cover the most frequently asked questions from passionate gamers just like you who are looking to break into the business, including taking that first step, managing students and identifying the right time to start charging for your services.

## How do I get started as a video game coach with zero experience?

Start with coaching anyone who will let you — friends, family or random internet strangers. Depending on your game, there might be a specific subreddit or Discord community dedicated to coaching (especially for free).

For example, with League of Legends there's [/r/summonerschool](https://reddit.com/r/summonerschool). Start visiting the [new section](https://www.reddit.com/r/summonerschool/new) and giving thoughtful answers a few times per week. Offer to spend some time talking with the poster via Discord to go more in-depth or do a VOD review.

> **You can't improve as a coach if you don't practice giving lessons**

Remember, every interaction is a chance for you to improve your coaching ability! Your initial goal isn’t to give the perfect lesson, but to have enough lessons so that you can improve. Just like gaming, coaching itself needs practice, analysis and determination.

Take notes of the questions students regularly ask. What topics need to be explained multiple times in a session? Then, compare student results post-lesson to constantly refine your coaching.

## How do I manage students?

Once you start coaching, you'll need to keep track of your students, especially when you get repeat sessions. A student will lose confidence if you don't remember what happened in the last session!

**Make sure to keep notes about:**

- The student's goals
- Their current situation and skill level
- What you told them to work on

It’s also a great practice to send a summary of the lesson to the student afterwards. Something as simple as Google Sheets or Notion should work well enough, especially at the beginning.

However, if you’d like to use a tool built specifically for video gaming coaches, [sign up for Coachify](https://coachify.gg/auth/register?utm_content=article_start_coaching_esports)! We made it easy to organize all of your student notes and it's free to join.

## When can I start charging money for esports coaching?

You've been coaching people for free and have gotten pretty good at it. Now what? Look for signals that people find your service valuable. The clearest sign is when they ask to tip or pay you without any prompting. It’s also a good sign when people are coming to you for coaching, without being approached by you first.

The best way to find out if you've reached the next level is to simply ask. After answering a question in a subreddit, if the poster responds favorably, ask them if they'd be interested in doing a session with you for $10. You've shown value (and competence!) by giving them an answer for free and could provide additional value in return for a small amount of money. Sales can be uncomfortable for many people, but if you are providing something valuable, you deserve to be compensated!

Plus, if you're truly helping people, imagine how many more people you could help if you were able to spend time coaching instead of working at a different job? Most coaches just want to improve the world and people around them. You can have this motivation and still justify charging for your help! There's also no reason you can't still provide free coaching to those who can't afford it.

Now that you’re successfully coaching video games, learn how to [grow your business](https://coachify.gg/article/grow-your-esports-coaching-business)!
