Job Opportunities in Esports: A Closer Look
My name is Rnglol, and I’ve been working as a coach and analyst in the Challenger Series and LCS for around 3 years. Today, I want to discuss the different job opportunities available in esports and the requirements for these roles.
Distinguishing Between Manager, Coach, and Analyst
There seems to be some confusion regarding the responsibilities and skill sets of support staff in esports. While there may be some overlap between these roles, it ultimately depends on the team and their delegation of tasks.
This diagram visually represents the roles:
Managers take care of team and business matters. Coaches focus on understanding the team, improving their behavior in and out of the game, setting strategy, and now controlling the draft phase in LCS. Analysts have a deep understanding of the game and provide coaches with information to improve the team. They can also help set strategies through scouting and theory crafting.
An Open Letter to Organizations
Lately, I have noticed a growing interest in the recruitment of analysts and coaches from both teams and the community. However, the requirements set by some teams are concerning. I feel disappointed not for myself, but for those who aspire to work in these roles. While it’s great that teams are publicly offering these job opportunities, we still have a long way to go in properly conveying the right message to people.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these requirements:
Age Restriction
Many organizations prefer to hire coaches who are older than the players, as they are seen as more mature authority figures. While age doesn’t always equate to maturity, I understand the reasoning behind this requirement. In most sports, the head coach is typically over 30, around the age when players start to retire.
However, age should not be a barrier for analysts. The role of an analyst is completely different and not limited by age.
ELO Requirement
Some teams expect coaches and analysts to have a certain skill level in soloQ. This expectation is puzzling because the role of a coach or analyst doesn’t revolve around playing the game. Spending excessive time in soloQ hinders their ability to watch VODs, improve game knowledge, and stay updated on meta shifts and strategies. Setting skill level expectations in soloQ is unreasonable considering the workload these roles already demand.
Previous Experience
While experience can be beneficial for coaching roles, it shouldn’t be the sole criterion for hiring analysts. Analysts can come from diverse backgrounds such as content creation, writing, or shout casting. Their game analysis skills should be the main focus rather than solely their experience with challenger teams.
Maturity and Quality of Work
Maturity overlaps with the age restriction requirement. As for the quality of work, it’s crucial to be able to articulate opinions and analysis effectively. This requirement is necessary, but it should be demonstrated through examples of work. Content creators or shout casters, for instance, can easily provide examples of their analysis work. It’s important to distinguish between play-by-play commentary and in-depth analysis.
Suggestions for the Future
When posting job opportunities, it’s essential to include:
– A clear description of the responsibilities and authority you will have as a coach or analyst.
– The number of hours you will work. Zero-hour contracts should be avoided.
– Information about payment. All staff, regardless of experience, should receive compensation considering the prize pools in CS and LCS.
– Job security. Will you be contracted? If so, for how long?
It’s crucial for organizations to prioritize support staff and provide clarity on their roles and expectations. Managers should not be mistaken for coaches, and all teams should have access to support staff.
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