If you have a real love of gaming, and believe that you are good enough at a particular game to compete at a competitive level, you may well be interested in getting sponsorship and joining an esports team.
Being able to win a multi-million dollar prize would be the dream, but for many people simply having enough money via en esports sponsorship so that you can do gaming full time, is just as much of a dream.
But, I’m pleased to report, for some very talented and dedicated players, it can be done. And if you want to learn more about making your way to join an esports team, you’ve certainly come to the right place…
In this article, I’m going to kick things off by outlining different ways of getting into esports, before
Please feel free to scroll ahead to any section that jumps out at you. Here goes!
Different Ways Of Getting Into Esports
High School And College Esport Teams
Esports is not just for players in their 20s or over.
Players can compete at not only college level, but even high school level as well, thanks to organizations such as The High School Esports League, The High School Starleague, and Youth Esports of America.
The earlier that you start a sport or an esport, the more practice you can get and the better player you become. So the younger you are when you get into esports, the better.
College esports is quite a big phenomenon, and being able to prove that you can compete on that level will bode well for applying to join an esports league in due course at a later stage.
You can even use your gaming ability to help you get into college, since the number of colleges offering esports scholarships is growing like no tomorrow.
But, the good news is that you don’t have to wait until college before you can start competing in gaming. As I said earlier, the sooner you start competing, the better you will be.
And if your high school doesn’t have an esports team just yet, that’s no reason to be put off, because you can go ahead and start up your very own high school esports team, which leads us nicely onto the next section.
Starting Your Own Team
I won’t go into detail here, because the focus of this article is on how to join an existing team. But if there isn’t a specific team that you want to join, you can create your own.
To do this, you will need to pick one game to concentrate on. Then you will need to recruit potential local players. You can spread the word with posters and social media.
Once your team is put together, you can then focus on practicing and applying to join local tournaments.
Join An Existing Esports League
Joining a team that already exists may at first seem easier than starting your very own team. But, however much we might wish that were true, you have to be an outstanding player to join an existing esports league.
And in the next section, I’m going to explain how to do so.
How To Make Your Way To Join An Esports Team
Step 1. Choose One Game
You know what? A lot of gamers make the mistake of deciding that they’re bored with one game and then move onto another game. But that’s the worst thing you could do if you want to go into esports…
You need to choose one game and one game only, so that you can concentrate on practicing it so much that you become something of an expert. If you were to switch games on occasion, you will start to lose your edge on the game you’re best at.
As for choosing a game, that’s up to you. Some people like to go for the games with the highest prize money, but a far better strategy is to stick with the game you’re best at.
That said, playing a game that you really enjoy should give you all the motivation you need to keep your head in the game.
Step 2. Pick A Platform
These days, video games are available across multiple platforms. But in order to really learn the ins and outs of the controls, your best option is to pick just one platform and stick with it.
Whatever console you decide to use, it will need to have gameplay ready specs.
Step 3. Study Tactics And Techniques
I also recommend following live streams of seasoned players. Discover what tactics they use and when to use them. Then try them out for yourself, making adaptations when necessary.
You can learn all kinds of tips and tricks just by studying the techniques of those who excel in the field.
Step 4. Practice, Practice, Practice
Let me be clear, not only should you practice, practice, practice, but you should also practice, practice, practice. Practice is the key to developing your skill and talent. If you don’t eat, sleep, and breathe your game, you will not get there.
Step 5. Join An Amature Esports Team
With so many esports games being team based, you need to learn how to work as a team. And if you can’t get into professional esports right away, be happy with an amature team for the time being at least.
Step 6. Compete Online And In-Person
If you want to get some recognition for your talent, you have to compete in tournaments, whether they are online or in person. That’s a given. You just won’t get noticed until your name is on a leaderboard somewhere.
Step 7. Grow Your Online Presence
You need to showcase your skills, and the most effective way to do that is through online streaming platforms such as Twitch. You should also seek to grow your online presence on other social media platforms, and post frequently.
Wrap Up
So, there we have it. It may sound like there’s just a handle of steps involved, but trust me, it’s hard work. But if you can handle that, all power to you!
My name is Ashley Newby and I want to put integrity back into esports and get the hype surrounding them paramount once more. During my teenage years, I happened to stumble across a Street Fighter tournament online and I was hooked.
From that day, I have kept up with and watched many tournaments including Valorant, Super Smash Bros, and League of Legends. I even got to compete in my first one earlier this year!
