As esports becomes a recognised part of school life, teachers and parents naturally ask, "What does an esports coach actually do?" To help answer this, it can be useful to think about an esports coach like a rugby coach — just in a different playing field.
While a rugby coach builds a team around skills, tactics, teamwork, and communication, an esports coach does exactly the same — except the players are connected digitally, not physically, and the "playing field" is a competitive video game.
Let's break it down.
What an Esports Coach Does
1. Building Teamwork and Communication - Just like in rugby, teamwork is everything. An esports coach ensures students communicate clearly, share strategies, and work together under pressure. In competitive gaming, quick decisions, role clarity and trust between players are just as critical as they are on a sports field.
2. Organising Training and Matches - An esports coach sets practice sessions and organises friendly scrims (games) to build experience. They help players refine their skills, learn game-specific tactics and develop winning strategies.
3. Creating a Positive, Inclusive Environment - Good sportsmanship is essential. Coaches teach students how to win gracefully, handle losses respectfully and maintain a supportive team culture. Encouraging positive behaviour online is a big part of the role.
4. Monitoring and Mentoring - Beyond gameplay, an esports coach also looks after students' well-being, screen time balance and mental health. They guide players not just in competition, but also in resilience, discipline and leadership.
How it Works: Playing from Home, Coaching Online
In the Ireland Esports Schools Series, many players will compete from home but still form part of their school’s team. Here’s how it will work:
Digital Connection via Discord: The team will gather in a closed, secure Discord server — a private online communication space managed by the school’s esports coach (which we can help create).
Live Coaching: During practice and matches, the coach will be online in the server, observing gameplay, giving feedback and coordinating strategies - just like a rugby coach would shout advice (without having to shout!) from the sidelines.
Parent Inclusion: To build trust and transparency, schools can even invite parents to listen in during training sessions or matches! This helps parents understand the environment and feel reassured about how esports is being managed.
"Think of it like a digital locker room — the team might be in different places, but they’re all connected, working toward a common goal."
Why Esports Coaching is Exciting and Rewarding
Watching students grow: Coaches see students develop communication skills, confidence and strategic thinking.
Team achievements: Just like any sports team, victories and improvements are celebrated together.
Career opportunities: Students inspired by their esports experiences may pursue careers in gaming, technology and digital media.
Inclusive team culture: Esports teams often bring together students who may not participate in traditional sports, giving more young people the chance to thrive through competition and collaboration.
Final Thoughts: Coaching the Next Generation of Digital Athletes
Esports coaching might be a new experience, but the values it builds are very familiar: teamwork, leadership, resilience and fair play.
With the right structure and support, esports offers students a safe, engaging and highly rewarding way to compete, just like traditional sports have done for generations.
If you’re a teacher considering becoming your school's esports coach, or a parent curious about how it all works, we’d love to welcome you into the community!
For more information please check out our FAQs for teachers and our FAQs for parents. If these don’t answer your question feel free to email us at [email protected].
