Better coaching needed to prevent burnout among video gaming pros

Date:
April 13, 2022
Source:
University of Waterloo
Summary:
Early research into the growing electronic sports (esports)
industry highlights a need for better coaching to prevent burnout
among professional players.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Early research into the growing electronic sports (esports) industry
highlights a need for better coaching to prevent burnout among
professional players.


==========================================================================
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo,
identified several areas, including player fatigue, mental stress and
peak performance conditions, that require in-depth research to improve
coaching and player performance.

"They burn out because they spend long hours sitting at desks playing and training," said Bader Sabtan, a systems design engineering PhD student
who led the study. "It results in all kinds of problems, from mental
health issues to back and wrist injuries." In a survey of professional
League of Legends teams, it was found there are virtually no standardized coaching approaches or techniques to guide young players.

Instead, players work to remain competitive in the constantly changing
team battle video game, one of several with lucrative fan followings
around the world, by practicing 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week.

Professional esports fill stadiums with spectators as players, who
average just 18 to 20 years of age, compete at computers while their
games are shown on giant screens. One championship event in 2018 drew
almost 100 million online viewers.

The researchers focused on League of Legends, which has 47 pro teams
in North America, Europe, Korea and China. Players can earn more than
$400,000 a year, but rarely have careers that last beyond three or
four years.

Coaches who participated in the study unanimously agreed that methods
must be developed to make practice more efficient and strategic to reduce
the demands on players.

"I was surprised to learn even top professional coaches don't have
systematic training methods," said Shi Cao, a systems design engineering professor and a member of the Games Institute at Waterloo. "Nothing is supported by scientific evidence or research.

"Just as physiology and kinesiology research supports traditional sports, cognitive psychology and human factors engineering can support mental
work like esports," said Cao, an esports fan and recreational player.

Sabtan can personally relate to the relentless demands on the best
players. A few years ago, he was in the top one per cent of League of
Legends players and spent up to 50 hours a week practicing to stay there.

"Right now, there is no other option," Sabtan said. "The required
sharpness, game knowledge and reaction speed are only achieved by
practicing and repetition, so they just play the game. They don't
have social lives. They don't have girlfriends or boyfriends. It's unsustainable."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Waterloo. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Bader Sabtan, Shi Cao, Naomi Paul. Current practice and challenges
in
coaching Esports players: An interview study with league of legends
professional team coaches. Entertainment Computing, 2022; 42:
100481 DOI: 10.1016/j.entcom.2022.100481 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220413091000.htm

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