# Best Practices in High-Performing Esports Teams
  
## Commonalities Between Amateur and Professional Structures

  

## Introduction

Behind every high-performing professional esports team lies **structure**, **strategy**, and **support** — but many of these best practices are also found in **amateur teams**. Whether competing in a grassroots tournament or a global league like the *League of Legends World Championship*, teams share **common approaches** to building rosters, training effectively, and managing careers.

This article explores the **links between amateur and pro teams** by covering:

* Team structures: rosters, leagues, and talent pathways
* The player market and recruitment
* Coaching, mentoring, and work-life balance
* The growing focus on mental health and psychology
* Real-world examples and external links for learners to research

  
## 1. Team Rosters: Roles and Structure

Whether amateur or professional, a typical esports roster includes:

| Role | Description |
| ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Core Players** | The starting lineup for competitive play |
| **Substitutes** | Backup players trained to fill in or specialise in certain strategies |
| **Captain or IGL (In-Game Leader)** | Leads calls, strategy adjustments, and morale |
| **Coach/Analyst** | Supports with strategy, opponent research, and reviews |

In professional organisations, teams may also have:

* **Psychologists**
* **Performance analysts**
* **Social media managers**
* **Fitness and nutrition coaches**

### Similarities with Amateur Teams

Many amateur teams also appoint roles like team captains, scrim leaders, or draft coaches to help simulate a professional setup — especially in collegiate or academy circuits.

**Example**:
[UKEL (UK Esports League)](https://www.ukel.gg/) amateur LoL teams often mirror pro structures, including roster lock-ins, analysts, and reserves.

  

## 2. League Structures: Pathways from Amateur to Pro

Esports leagues are tiered, offering progression opportunities from amateur levels to top-tier professional circuits.

### Example League Structures:

| Tier | Description | Example |
| ---------- | ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Tier 1** | Premier global competitions | *LoL Worlds*, *Valorant Champions*, *Dota 2 The International* |
| **Tier 2** | Regional leagues or qualifiers | *LoL ERL (Europe)*, *Challengers (Valorant)* |
| **Tier 3** | Amateur/semi-pro circuits | *UKEL*, *NUEL (UK universities)*, *Open Qualifiers* |

**Common Practices:**

* **Promotion and relegation** in lower tiers
* **Franchise models** in top-tier leagues (*LCS*, *OWL*)
* **Transfer windows** and roster lock deadlines

### Amateur–Pro Connection:

Amateur leagues now directly **feed into pro systems**, allowing players to move up through performance.

**Example**:
The *Valorant Champions Tour* allows open qualifiers, meaning amateur teams can reach pro-level tournaments.

  

## 3. Player Market and Talent Pathways

### The Player Market:

Just like football, esports has a dynamic player market where:

* Players sign **contracts** with organisations
* Teams **buy out** contracts from others
* Scouts and analysts monitor **upcoming talent**

### Common Pathways from Amateur to Pro:

* Standout performance in **ladder (ranked) play**
* Dominating **semi-pro/amateur leagues**
* Participating in **scouting events** or **tryouts**
* Showcasing gameplay via **streaming or content creation**

**Example**:
*TenZ* (Valorant) was first discovered through ranked matchmaking and later signed to Cloud9, eventually becoming a world champion.

  

## 4. Sub-Teams: Sister and Academy Structures

### What Are Sub-Teams?

Professional organisations often run **multiple rosters** under the same brand:

| Type | Description |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Sister Team** | A secondary team for developing different strategies or entering other leagues |
| **Academy Team** | A junior team designed to groom future main roster players |
| **Content Team** | Separate players focused on branding, streaming, and influencer work |

### Benefits of Sub-Teams:

* Develop young talent
* Prepare substitutes for main roster call-ups
* Test new tactics with less pressure
* Engage broader audiences

**Example**:

* *Team Liquid* runs **TL Academy** in *LoL NA Academy*
* *Fnatic Rising* is the academy team for *Fnatic* in the UK ERL circuit

**Further Reading**:
[Fnatic Rising’s approach to UK talent](https://www.fnatic.com/articles/fnatic-rising-european-talent-league-of-legends)

  

## 5. Training: From Amateur to Pro

### Key Components of Team Training

| Element | Amateur Teams | Professional Teams |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Scrims** | Against local teams or online friends | Scheduled matches vs other pro teams |
| **VOD Reviews** | Self-recorded or Twitch replays | Coach-led, with performance analytics |
| **Aim/Mechanic Training** | Aim trainers like Aim Lab or KovaaK’s | Integrated into daily training plans |
| **Strategy Practice** | Loose in customs | Map prep, utility drills, draft rehearsals |
| **Schedule** | Flexible | 6–10 hour structured days with off-days |

### Professional Standards

Pro teams often follow **sports science-inspired schedules**:

* **Warm-ups and cooldowns**
* Mental reset routines
* Balanced rest periods to avoid burnout

  
## 6. Psychology and Mental Performance

### Why It Matters:

Esports requires **focus, emotional control, and team harmony**. Mental skills often separate average teams from high-performing ones.

### Common Psychological Focus Areas:

| Skill | Benefit |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| **Focus and mindfulness** | Sharper decision-making, fewer misplays |
| **Stress management** | Better under pressure (clutch moments) |
| **Emotional regulation** | Less tilt, more positivity |
| **Team cohesion** | Better comms, less conflict |

**Example**:
At *The International 2021*, *Team Spirit* brought in a sports psychologist to help players handle pressure — they went on to win the tournament.

### Best Practices for Mental Health in Teams:

* Daily check-ins
* Journaling performance and thoughts
* Structured cooldown sessions after losses

  

## 7. Coaching and Mentoring

### Coaching Roles

| Role | Responsibilities |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Strategic Coach** | Designs tactics, drafts, and compositions |
| **Analyst** | Breaks down VODs, opponent patterns |
| **Performance Coach** | Focuses on habits, mindset, and preparation |
| **Manager** | Organises scrims, travel, and public relations |

### Mentoring Practices

* Pro players mentor rising stars in academy teams
* Coaches hold **1-to-1 check-ins** for feedback
* Senior players help younger teammates settle in

**Example**:
*T1’s Faker* is not just a player — he acts as a mentor for junior players across the T1 academy pipeline.

  

## 8. Balancing Work and Life

### The Challenge:

Esports players face:

* Long hours
* Online abuse
* Pressure from fans and sponsors

### Best Practices for Balance:

| Practice | Description |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Scheduled Breaks** | Time away from screens to reset focus |
| **Social Media Filters** | Using managers or tools to reduce toxicity exposure |
| **Fitness and Diet** | Physical health supports mental performance |
| **Offline Team Bonding** | Reduces tension and builds trust |

**Example**:
*Team Vitality* incorporates **gym training and nutrition sessions** into its daily schedule to support players physically and mentally.

  

## 9. Dealing with Fans and the Press

### Media Responsibilities of Pro Players:

| Area | Responsibility |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Post-match Interviews** | Speak clearly, respectfully, and honestly |
| **Livestreams** | Maintain professionalism and positive brand image |
| **Fan Interaction** | Encourage support, avoid arguments |
| **Media Training** | Provided by organisations to avoid controversies |

### Similarities in Amateur Scene:

* University teams manage social media pages
* Content creators learn to manage Twitch and YouTube communities
* Tournaments may require post-game interviews or team write-ups

**Tips for Players**:

* Stay neutral when responding to criticism
* Avoid "flaming" or toxic language publicly
* Think about long-term reputation

  

## Real-Life Examples of Best Practice in Teams

### 1. **G2 Esports**

* Multiple sub-teams (Valorant, CS2, LoL, Rocket League)
* Strong content strategy with pro-level humour and personality
* Integrated team fitness and psychology training

[Explore G2’s team structure](https://g2esports.com)

  

### 2. **Fnatic**

* UK-founded team with deep academy pipeline
* Emphasises mental health, self-discipline, and growth mindset
* Involved in youth development via *British Esports*

[Fnatic Academy info](https://www.fnatic.com/academy)

  

### 3. **Excel Esports**

* Based in London with teams in LoL and Valorant
* Open about team losses and rebuilding
* Offers insights into work-life balance and media exposure

[Excel's approach to wellbeing](https://excelesports.com)

  

### 4. **Team Liquid**

* Diverse global rosters
* Full-scale facilities including gyms, chefs, and psychology staff
* Strong performance tracking and content branding

[Team Liquid Training Facility](https://www.teamliquid.com/about/facility)

  

## Fun Facts

* Some top teams **spend more time reviewing VODs than actually playing**.
* *League of Legends* organisations may have **entire scouting departments** dedicated to watching solo queue footage from Korean servers.
* *Valorant’s* top teams use **eye tracking software** to improve focus and aim.
* *Team OG* in *Dota 2* famously won The International twice with **a full roster of underdogs and former amateur players**.

  

## Suggested Activities for Learners

* Compare an amateur team (e.g. UKEL or NUEL roster) with a professional team in the same game. What do they share in structure?
* Create a “best practice” plan for your team — include coaching roles, scheduling, comms rules, and training plans.
* Interview a local competitive or university team and ask how they manage training, media, and teamwork.

  

## Useful Links

* **British Esports – Team Structure Resources**
[https://britishesports.org](https://britishesports.org)

* **UKEL – Amateur League of Legends**
[https://ukel.gg](https://ukel.gg)

* **NUEL – UK University Esports**
[https://nuel.gg](https://nuel.gg)

* **G2 Esports Staff & Facilities**
[https://g2esports.com](https://g2esports.com)

* **Team Vitality Performance Model**
[https://vitality.gg](https://vitality.gg)

  

## Final Thoughts

The gap between **amateur and professional esports teams** is shrinking — and that’s a good thing. More organisations are adopting the **training techniques**, **structural best practices**, and **support systems** once reserved for the elite.

To prepare for future careers in esports — whether as a player, coach, or analyst — learners should:

Study team structures
Learn how to manage media and fans
Practice healthy routines
Understand the role of psychology in performance