On Saturday, September 5, the Norwegian Esports Federation and the Grassroots Esports Alliance brought together coaches and other key figures from the esports community for a national coaches’ conference at Sentralen in Oslo.
With about 20 participants, the event served as an important gathering place for a community that is usually scattered across different clubs, game titles, and various parts of the country.
The goal of the gathering was not only to provide professional development, but also to create an opportunity to share experiences and discuss how we can work together to develop the role of coaches in Norwegian esports.
A key part of the day focused on recent research on coaches in grassroots esports. Among other things, the research shows how the role of a coach often extends far beyond purely game-related aspects—and can involve everything from fostering a positive environment and team culture to communication, health, and looking out for young players.
This also served as a natural starting point for the discussions among the participants.
What does an esports coach really need to succeed? What responsibilities should the coach have? And how can clubs and associations ensure that coaches themselves receive the support and expertise they need?
Through discussions and group work, the participants were able to share their own experiences, challenges, and examples from their daily club activities.
The gathering is part of a broader effort to develop a more comprehensive coaching program in Norwegian esports.
The Norwegian Esports Federation is working on new coaching training programs, among other things, and also aims to establish platforms where coaches can learn from one another even between courses.
An important next step will therefore be to further develop a national network of coaches, featuring an open digital meeting place and opportunities for additional professional development sessions.
A smaller coordination group will also be established, consisting of coaches who wish to actively contribute to the development of the network and its future activities. More information on how to express interest in this will be available soon.
In Norwegian esports, coaches play a crucial role in the work carried out at the club level. At the same time, many coaches have limited opportunities to meet others in the same role.
The gathering clearly demonstrated the value of creating such meeting places. The engagement in the room, the discussions, and the experiences that were shared provide a solid foundation for future work.
The goal is for this not to be a one-time event, but rather the beginning of a more lasting community of coaches in Norwegian esports.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this a very successful gathering!