Esports coaches are highly underrated in India – Vedang “Vedzz” Chavan

In an interview with The Gaming Reporter, Vedang ‘Vedzz’ Chavan, an experienced esports coach discussed the role of an esports coach, need of psychologists and burnout.

Vedang is the head coach for an esports organization called Blitzkrieg XP. He is the winner of Nvidia iCAFE attack 2020 and has been titled as ‘The Ultimate Gamer in the house’ by Intel. He has also worked as a performance analyst for Megastars.

The Gaming Reporter – What is the role of an esports coach outside of the game environment?

Vedang Chavan – The coach of an Esports team is primed with various responsibilities outside of the game environment. Ensuring that the player’s do not feel burned out and get regular recreation from various extracurricular activities. Getting to know the player’s nature in and out in order to understand how to deal with the player in tough situations and maintain an energy that always keeps the morale high.

TGR – Many players feel pressure to perform on big stages and in big arenas, some even receive threats from the community after winning /losing matches, this can have a bad effect on a player’s mental health. Considering that, how important are esports psychologists for an esports organization?

VC – The importance of an esports psychologist has been highlighted in the international esports scenario. Many CS: GO and Dota 2 teams adopted the concept of an esports psychologist and saw massive changes in performance. The greatest weapon of esports athletes is their mind, which makes complex decisions in a short span of time. Mentally, the players need to be completely stress free before stepping into the game. Time management, guidance on personal problems, recreational activities for mental well being are additional duties of an esports psychologist.

TGR – On an average, how much time daily does an esports team spend in the server practicing strats?

VC – A esports team spends around 10-12 hours in daily practice which includes training modes, TDMs, practice games (scrims) and classic matches for synergy building. However, playing too many games can also have detrimental effect on players and exhaust the team, which is why we at BlitzkriegXP, follow the norm of ‘Play quality games over quantity games’. We also dedicate a lot of time to introspection and gameplay strategies.

TGR – Importance of Theory Crafting?

VC – Theory Crafting is very important in multiplayer competitive games where the players have to follow certain defined principles in order to win. When a theory is devised it helps players stay on the same page throughout the game and improvise under tricky situations because after all winning the game is all about teamplay. Moreover, adhering to the game theory also avoids conflicting opinions between players during the course of the game.

TGR – With esports becoming more and more competitive everyday, what steps do players have to take outside the game to ensure good performance in-game?

VC – The players spend a lot of time in front of the screen, hence ensuring that they get optimum breaks and indulge in some physical activity is a must. A clear and fresh mindset is key to perform in the game. A fitness routines along with a balanced sleep schedule also helps keep the body and mind active.

TGR – What kind of diet routine esports athletes have to follow?

VC – Diet also plays a crucial role amongst esports athletes as they have to be mentally and physically fit to concentrate in the game. Eating the right food at the right time is important and we always make sure no meal goes skipped despite the athlete’s tight practise schedules. Esports athletes are exposed to screens which causes excess strain to their eyes and hence a nutrient diet also helps maintain overall health.

TGR – How does the role of a coach change from genre to genre of esports titles?

VC –  There are various types of multiplayer games amongst different genres for example Battle Royale games (like PUBG, Fortnite, COD Warzone), MOBA games (like League of Legends, DOTA 2, Paladins, Overwatch) FPS games (like Counter Strike, Call of duty, Battlefields), etc. All the genres have different competitive aspects of the game right from strategy to practice schedules. Hence the role of a coach changes from genre to genre of esports titles.

TGR – Are esports coaches underestimated? What are your thoughts on esports coaching in the Indian scene?

VC – Esports coaches in the Indian ecosystem are highly underrated. In the current PUBG mobile pro scene, less than 50% teams operate without a coach. Those who have gone down the route of hiring pro coaches have seen quantifiable performance improvement while those who did not, are still stuck at a dead end. A coach instills a competitive yet healthy spirit within the team and is essential for the overall growth of one.

TGR – How different is it working with a newer, younger lineup as compared to working with a seasoned lineup?

VC – A seasoned lineup takes less time to adjust to the coach’s ways. A rookie lineup takes more time to adopt and adapt to the flow of information and strategies coming from the coach. However, a younger lineup is more flexible and can be experimented with, which in turn helps the coach understand the strengths and weaknesses of the players. More often than not, the coach ends up finding ways around a seasoned lineup’s play style, whereas with a new one, the coach can shape things from ground up. 

TGR – What measures are taken to ensure that players don’t experience burnouts?

VC – Physical fitness, recreational trips, family time, vacations, treks, day breaks, balanced schedule, no overloading of game time, proper facilities, healthy relation with the coach are all essential in order to understand when the player is burned out and what is causing it. Burnout is defined as a physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. The topic has become a conversation point in recent years in the overall sports industry, and esports is no different. Recreational activities are organised in the bootcamp which are not related to the game. We at BXP, make sure our athletes get 1 free day after practising throughout the week. 12 hours of training includes regular breaks where players can freshen up before they put their head into the game.