Research on esports coaching

The number of training facilities dedicated to electronic sports is increasing, but research data on the benefits of local coaching for goal-oriented players is either unavailable or still quite incomplete. In traditional sports, it has been shown that supervised local training develops the trainee more than self-directed (remote) training. More research data on the performance development of individual players or teams is also needed to enable development work in the field.

The study will recruit 24 actively playing Counter-Strike participants, who will be reached through ENCE Academy and other partners. Counter-Strike is a tactical, team-based shooting game that is one of the most played competitive esports games in the world. As in many other team games, the technical and tactical cooperation within team roles and the planning of strategy as a team enable effective and successful gameplay.

It is of paramount importance for ENCE Academy to be involved in developing the Finnish esports coaching culture and its operational models, so it was natural for them to participate in this timely and necessary research.

- Eemeli Ikonen, Program Director of ENCE Academy

During the two-month training period, the development of both individual players' personal gaming skills and the performance of the team playing together will be monitored. The local coaching group participating in the study will train at the GamePit Pro gaming facility, designed for esports and coaching activities, located on Jamk's main campus, with the coach physically present. The remote coaching group will train under the same coach via remote connection, with the team's goal-oriented training taking place, for example, from home computers. The training period will follow the coaching methodology of internationally successful e-sports teams (e.g., ENCE Academy).

Comments from the Jamk research team

Player well-being in a key position

"Comprehensive well-being enables effective goal-oriented training, so it is important that the player is aware of and takes into account factors outside the game."

- Perttu Leppä, researcher responsible for the coaching sections of the study

Research promotes Central Finland's esports expertise

"This is once again an excellent initiative of top expertise from Central Finland and cooperation in the e-sports field, which also supports the development of the e-sports competence center in Central Finland."

- Tuomas Rauhansalo, Project Manager of the project

Game Technologies and Esports

We bring together expertise development related to game technologies and esports. Our goal is to become the globally most recognized and esteemed university utilizing game technologies and esports through national and international RDI activities.