# The Creation and Management of an Esports Team
  
## From Player Recruitment to Long-Term Success

  

## Introduction

Starting an esports team is more than just picking a few skilled players and jumping into matches. It involves **clear vision**, **structured management**, **strategic recruitment**, and **ongoing evaluation**. Whether the goal is to enter local tournaments or climb to national and global leagues, team creation is a **process of planning, people, and purpose**.

This guide will walk you through:

* Recruiting and assessing players
* Defining team roles and building structure
* Managing your team with professionalism
* Setting goals and building a lasting vision
* Evaluating the strength and potential of your team
* External resources and examples from amateur and professional teams

  

## 1. Recruiting and Assessing Players

Finding the right players is one of the most important — and challenging — parts of starting a team.

### Recruitment Sources

| Source | Description |
| ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Online Ranked Play** | Scouting players in high ranks (e.g. Immortal in *Valorant*, Grand Champ in *Rocket League*) |
| **Scrims and Customs** | Invite-only practice matches to trial potential players |
| **Tournaments** | Watching individual performance in team environments |
| **Community Platforms** | Discord servers, Reddit, or websites like [Leetify](https://www.leetify.com) and [Start.gg](https://www.start.gg) |
| **Colleges/Universities** | University leagues like [The NUEL](https://nuel.gg) are great for spotting developing talent |

### Key Assessment Factors

When recruiting, consider:

* **Mechanical skill** (aim, movement, game sense)
* **Communication** style and clarity
* **Attitude** — are they coachable and positive?
* **Role flexibility** — can they adapt to other roles if needed?
* **Availability** for scrims, events, and reviews

> Tip: Use a **trial system** — let players try out over several sessions to see how they perform under pressure and with your team.

  

## 2. Team Management: Vision, Goals, and Operations

Once the team is forming, it needs **direction and structure** to succeed. This is where **management** becomes key.

### A. Define Your Team Vision and Ethos

* **What is your team’s mission?** (e.g. compete nationally, develop youth talent, grow a content brand)
* **What values will your team stand for?** (e.g. professionalism, resilience, fun, inclusivity)

**Example**:

* *Excel Esports*’ core values include *hunger, respect, resilience, and open-mindedness*.

> Write a **team mission statement** that defines your purpose.

  

### B. Goal Setting: Cycles, Seasons, and Long-Term

Successful teams work with **layered goals**:

| Type | Examples |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Short-Term Goals** | Win next tournament, improve comms, scrim 3x a week |
| **Season Goals** | Reach Top 4 in league, grow fanbase, polish strategy |
| **Long-Term Goals** | Get scouted by a professional org, establish a successful brand |

**Best Practice**:
Use **SMART goals** — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

**Example**:
“Improve win rate in scrims from 45% to 60% over the next 6 weeks.”

  

### C. Administrative & Financial Responsibilities

Even amateur teams need **organisation** behind the scenes:

| Task | Description |
| ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Scheduling** | Plan scrims, tournaments, reviews |
| **Budgeting** | Cover gear, entry fees, travel, branding |
| **Communication** | Keep the team informed via Discord/Notion |
| **Branding and Social Media** | Develop a public presence |
| **Sponsorship/Partnerships** | Approach brands for funding or product support |

**Tip**:
Use free tools like:

* [Notion](https://www.notion.so/) for planning
* [Trello](https://trello.com) for task management
* [Discord](https://discord.com) for team communication

  

## 3. Team Roles and Structure

### A. Core Roles Within an Esports Team

| Role | Responsibility |
| --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Players** | Compete in matches, follow strategy, train regularly |
| **Substitutes** | Fill in or rotate into playstyle-specific comps |
| **Coach** | Leads reviews, guides tactics, develops strategy |
| **Analyst** | Breaks down stats, opponent patterns, and in-game decisions |
| **Manager** | Handles scheduling, travel, communication, and press |
| **Content Lead** (optional) | Manages social media, streams, or fan engagement |

### B. Assigning Roles by Strengths

When assigning roles:

* Identify each player’s strengths (mechanics, leadership, flexibility)
* Ensure communication styles mesh well
* Consider emotional balance — avoid a team with only aggressive voices

> In high-functioning teams, **support roles** (like managers and coaches) are just as vital as the in-game players.

  

## 4. Evaluating the Strength of Your Team

Regular evaluation is essential to improve and stay competitive.

### A. Criteria for Team Strength

| Metric | How to Measure |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Performance Data** | Win/loss ratio, kill/death ratio, objective stats |
| **Team Communication** | Clarity, response speed, positivity under pressure |
| **Adaptability** | Can players adjust during a match or between rounds? |
| **Synergy** | Does the team “feel right” together? |
| **Mindset** | Mental toughness, post-loss feedback, attitude under stress |

**Tools You Can Use**:

* [Leetify](https://leetify.com) (for CS2)
* [Blitz.gg](https://blitz.gg) (for LoL, Valorant)
* [Tracker.gg](https://tracker.gg) (for multiple titles)

  

### B. VOD Reviews and Self-Reflection

**VOD Reviews**:

* Record and analyse team scrims
* Look for communication gaps, poor positioning, or missed timings
* Let every player lead part of the review — promotes accountability

**Team Self-Reviews**:

* After events, fill out feedback forms (use Google Forms or Notion)
* Rate team morale, communication, performance, goals

  

## Real-World Examples of Team Creation & Management

### 1. **100 Thieves (Valorant & LoL)**

* Started as a lifestyle/content brand
* Developed into a Tier 1 competitive organisation
* Focuses heavily on **vision**, **culture**, and **professional structure**

[100 Thieves website](https://www.100thieves.com)

  

### 2. **Fnatic TQ (Fnatic’s Spanish Academy Team)**

* Created to scout and nurture talent in the Spanish scene
* Functions with its own coach, analyst, and staff separate from main roster
* Promotes upward movement to the main team

[Fnatic TQ Info](https://fnatic.com)

  

### 3. **The NUEL (UK University Teams)**

* Many UK university teams have formed full rosters with managers, coaches, and social media officers
* Teams such as Warwick Esports have gained recognition beyond student leagues

[NUEL website](https://nuel.gg)

  

## Fun Facts

* Some of the best pros (like *ZywOo* in CS2 or *Caps* in LoL) were first scouted from **amateur Discord tournaments**.
* **Rocket League** players often form and disband teams rapidly, leading to “super teams” from tryouts.
* Most top-tier esports players train for **over 6 hours per day**, with additional hours for reviews or solo queue.
* The *Overwatch League* mandates that all franchises have an **academy team**, mirroring professional football’s youth systems.

  

## Suggested Classroom Activities

1. **Create Your Own Esports Team**

* Assign players, coach, manager roles
* Choose a game and enter a mock tournament
* Present your mission, branding, and training plan

2. **Run a Tryout**

* Set up custom games and scrims to trial classmates
* Use performance metrics and teamwork observations

3. **Team Evaluation Forms**

* Weekly forms for player self-reflection
* Use to track development, morale, and teamwork

  

## Useful Links

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

* **Leetify (Player Stats Tool)**
[https://www.leetify.com](https://www.leetify.com)

* **Start.gg (Tournament Platform)**
[https://www.start.gg](https://www.start.gg)

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

* **Notion (Team Planner)**
[https://www.notion.so](https://www.notion.so)

* **Valorant Coaching Network (for amateurs)**
[https://discord.gg/valorantcoaching](https://discord.gg/valorantcoaching)

  

## Final Thoughts

Creating an esports team from the ground up is an exciting but complex process. By taking inspiration from professional best practices — and combining them with grassroots enthusiasm — learners can build teams that are structured, supportive, and successful.

To recap, a great esports team is:

**Carefully recruited**, not just built from friends
**Managed with clear goals and responsibilities**
**Evaluated regularly** with data, discussion, and feedback
**Supported by defined roles** and a positive team culture
**Planning for the future** — not just the next game