When we hear about Esports, some people think playing video games is not a real sport. However, our student athletes would say otherwise.
Two Athletes Who Enjoy Esports
Sophomores Attalie Hord and Attillio Cavaiani joined Esports to flex their gaming skills and competitiveness. “I wanted to join Esports because I wanted to be a part of a close community, make friends, and play against other teams in a competitive environment,” Hord said. “My favorite video game at the moment, and the game that I play on the team for, is Overwatch,” she said. Attillio explained how organized Esports is, “Sports bring competitiveness and communication to games that can’t be found in normal matches or pick up games.” Cavaiani enjoys playing Overwatch as well, “I love Overwatch due to how complex and in-depth the gameplay is. Your teamwork has to be so much more competitive in Overwatch than in any other game.”
Both Hord and Cavaiani say being surrounded by their teammates and coaching staff has been outstanding. “My coach was able to teach me an incredible amount of things about the game, and a lot of it translated to real life and helped me outside of Esports,” Cavaiani said. He added that the decision-making skills he learned have become especially useful in the workplace. “My teammates created a fun and uplifting environment. Soon, practice stopped being practice, and days I looked forward to,” he said.
Hord says the coaching staff’s passion goes beyond the game itself, emphasizing team growth as both players and people. “They take the time out of their busy schedules and have detailed conversations with us about ways we can improve and the things we should continue doing. They are very knowledgeable about the game and teams. I like that my teammates are friendly people who are happy to provide helpful and honest feedback whenever asked,” she said.
What is Esports Culture
Esports is all about teamwork, competing, and being part of a shared community. Some people may not see Esports as a “real” sport because it isn’t physical like basketball, baseball, or volleyball. Even though these athletes sit at computers and play games, this doesn’t mean they lack skill or dedication. “Esports is more of a sport of the mind; it is very organized, strategic, and involves a huge amount of critical thinking,” Hord said. Cavaiani says there’s a difference between simply playing Overwatch alone vs with a team, “I think if people took the time to view games for their depth, they’d see that the hand-eye coordination and strategy behind the game is much closer to real sports than they think,” he says
Team Scheduled Practice
For those who don’t see Esports as a real sport, it’s easy to assume these athletes just show up and play games. According to Hord and Cavaiani, that’s far from the truth. “We play about four hours a week on average, whether it be a match for a tournament or a scrimmage,” Hord said. Cavaiani added how long their practice would be: “Our practice would run from 7-9 p.m., we would scrimmage against other colleges while our coach watched us play,” he said “During practices we play different team compositions to figure out what works best and when, we learn and maintain fundamentals of the game (Situational awareness, aim, ability usage, etc.),” Hord added.
Esports is far more than a group of students who enjoy video games; it’s a team guided by coaches who help their athletes improve their skills in communication, decision-making, and teamwork.
