You spend a lot of time thinking about your team. The roles, the positions, the strategies. How everything fits together inside the game. And all of that matters.

But here is the thing: most esports coaches are not actually coaching a team. They are coaching a roster.

And that difference is bigger than it sounds.

Because a roster is just what players do in the game. A team is those players behind the screen. And if you do not understand that, you will never get the best out of them.

That is what the next two pillars of coaching are really about.

Let’s get into it.

Pillar 3: Giving Individual Attention

Here is the thing most esports coaches get wrong about teamwork.

Everyone talks about it. Teamwork, communication, collective performance. And all of that matters.

But a team is not a single unit. It is a group of individuals. And if you do not understand the individuals, you cannot build a strong team underneath them.

There is a saying you have probably heard: there is no "I" in team.

But in reality, a team is made up of multiple "I's". And if you ignore those, the team will never function at the level it is capable of.

Giving individual attention means seeing players not just as roles, but as people. It means understanding their personality, their habits, their motivations, and even what is happening in their life outside the game.

Because all of that affects how they show up during practice and in competition.

This does not require a complex system.

It starts with things that sound almost too simple to mention:

• Knowing your players' names and how to say them correctly

• Understanding their preferences and what they care about

• Checking in with them regularly, not just when something is wrong

• Asking about their life outside the game occasionally

Most esports coaches do not do these things consistently. And that is exactly where the connection starts to break down.

Over time, these small actions build something that no tactic or framework can replace.

Trust.

And once trust is there, coaching becomes easier. Players listen more. Feedback lands better. Communication opens up naturally.

There is also a difference between thinking you know your players and actually knowing them.

A lot of coaches assume what players need. They watch the gameplay, identify the problem, and walk in with the solution.

But real individual attention comes from understanding what each player actually struggles with, from their perspective, not yours.

That is where tools like performance profiles become useful. They help you break down a player's strengths and weaknesses in a structured way, so both you and the player are aligned on what actually needs to develop.

One principle worth sitting with before we move on:

You have two eyes, two ears, and one mouth. Use them in that order.

The best esports coaches observe and listen first. Then they speak. Not the other way around.

And once that individual trust is built, you are ready for the hardest pillar of all.

Pillar 4: Transferring Control

This is where a lot of esports coaches get genuinely uncomfortable.

Because it requires letting go.

Most coaches are used to being the answer. Do this. Don't do that. Play it this way. And that feels productive. It feels like coaching.

But here is the problem. The more solutions you give, the more dependent players become on you. And dependency creates a ceiling.

If your players can only perform when you are guiding them, they will struggle the moment they are on their own in a match. Which is, of course, most of the time.

Transferring control shifts responsibility from you to the player. And that shift is what actually builds independent thinkers.

How to actually do it.

The first step is asking better questions instead of giving answers.

• What do you think is happening here?

• Why did that situation play out the way it did?

• What could you do differently next time?

These questions force players to think. And when players think, they start understanding the game at a level that your explanations alone will never reach.

Another tool that most esports coaches underuse is silence.

When a player is thinking, the instinct is to fill the space. To add more context, clarify the question, or just keep talking. But silence gives players room to process, reflect, and organize their own thoughts.

It feels uncomfortable. But it is one of the most powerful things you can do.

Giving players ownership through choices.

Another way to transfer control is by offering options instead of solutions.

Instead of saying "we are running this strategy," you present two or three approaches that you genuinely support, and let the team decide together.

This creates ownership. And when players feel ownership over a decision, they commit to it differently than when they are just following instructions.

Two things to keep in mind here:

• Only offer options you actually agree with

• Adjust the complexity of the choices based on where your players currently are

And when players do make decisions, your role shifts again.

Now it becomes reinforcement.

When a player makes a good call, highlight it specifically. When they take responsibility for something, acknowledge it. This builds the confidence they need to keep thinking independently instead of waiting for you to tell them what to do.

Over time, players become less reliant on you and more capable of solving problems on their own. In practice and in competition.

That is the goal.

What This Actually Looks Like When Both Pillars Work Together

Most esports coaches want control. That is natural. It feels like impact.

But great coaches build players who can perform without needing it.

Giving individual attention builds trust. Transferring control builds independence.

And when you combine both, you do not just create better players.

You create smarter ones.

Are you looking to master esports coaching and grow your career? Then check out the Esports Coach Revolution Course, which is a unique chance to get where you want to be as an esports coach.

Want to learn together with other like-minded esports coaches? Click here to join the Next Level Esports Discord and just send a message in general chat or a DM, and we will help you move you to your next level.

See you there, coach!