With the recent and expected growth of the gaming industry, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that more people are looking into the potential of an esports career. Many gamers have transformed their favorite hobby into a viable career, and it’s more than likely that people will follow suit.
If you’re interested in becoming an esports athlete, there are some considerations you need to take into account. It’s not a career path for everyone, and if you like casual gaming, it may not be suitable for you. Let’s explore how you can work to become an esports athlete.
Steps to Becoming an Esports Athlete
There’s some debate about whether or not professional gamers should be considered athletes. No matter where you find yourself in the discussion, it’s important that esports gamers have some type of recognition.
Suppose a gamer wants to travel to a tournament across the world? They’d need some type of visa to participate. But what if they aren’t considered a “real athlete?” These are some of the questions that arise when we don’t give esports athletes a proper definition.
While being a professional gamer takes time, dedication, motivation, and hours of practice, just like a sports athlete, some believe that because there’s limited physical activity, esports gamers should not be called “athletes.”
This debate will likely be ever-present, but we’re going to refer to professional gamers as esports athletes in this post. Below are six steps you can take to increase your chances of getting noticed by sponsors and potential esports teams.
1. Find Your Genre
Every gamer looking to break into the professional gaming industry needs to have a specific genre of games they’re interested in and decently good at. You’re likely thinking of that one game that you can’t seem to get enough of, and that may be your best bet. There are so many genres of video games out there that there’s certainly one you’re skilled in.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice
Whenever you’re developing a skill set, it will require hours of practice to perfect your craft. Esports athletes need to spend most of their time training to become skilled enough to compete with other professional gamers.
Try your best to hone your skills and improve upon them over time. Consider playing with other skilled players, so when competition time comes, you’re more than prepared to face off against your opponents.
3. Join an Esports Community Online
As mentioned above, the gaming community is becoming bigger and better every day. While individual talent is important, so is being an active gaming community member. This will help you foster relationships with other players and help you learn the ins and outs of the industry.
Consider joining message boards, forums, and other online groups to become invested in the gaming scene. This will help your long-term goal of becoming a professional gamer and keep you updated with gaming news.
4. Purchase the Best Gaming Equipment
To be the best, you’ve got to invest in the best equipment. There are pieces of gear that will contribute to your overall gaming experience and bring your gaming to the next level.
Headphones, a new PC for gaming, an ergonomic gaming chair, and a desk are some examples of the equipment you’ll need to succeed as an esports athlete. When you spend money on gaming equipment, know that you’re investing in a potential career. The goal is for any money paid to be worth it in the long run.
5. Participate in Local Esports Tournaments
Once you’ve spent time practicing, you’ve got the necessary equipment, and you’ve spent time learning about the gaming community, now is the time to participate in any local esports tournaments.
There are a handful of gaming platforms, such as Toornament.com or UMGgaming.com. Take some time to search through these sites to see what kinds of tournaments you think you’d be interested in.
Start small and aim to participate in local tournaments before going for the big tournaments. This will give you an idea of what to expect when participating in a contest, proper gaming etiquette, and help you work out any kinks.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Your mental and physical well-being needs to remain a priority during this journey. Some players report feeling the effects of burnout when playing for hours on end.
Make sure you’re getting in some type of physical activity daily, you’re eating nutritious meals, and you spend some time outside. This will help keep you focused, so you’re more likely to play well when you are playing your game.
Following these steps may not guarantee that you’ll instantly become an esports legend, but they will certainly help you get started.
The Journey of Becoming an Esports Athlete
Keep in mind that many professional esports athletes spend years climbing the ladder of success and making a viable career. It will take time, dedication, and grit to make it as an esports athlete. Consider following the steps above if you’re trying to pursue a career in esports.