The dream of almost every esports athlete is to one day compete on a professional team, but how are you supposed to get there? Getting scouted and recruited by teams can be a vital part of your career as an athlete but, at the same time, getting scouted is seemingly random. So, how can you get scouted? There are a couple of ways you can boost your profile and increase the chances of you getting scouted by a college, amateur, or even a professional team. Let’s go over some of these now:
Play as much as you can at a high level. If you’re highly ranked on your game’s ranked ladder, chances are you’ll run into professional players in your games. The more games you can play with top-level players, the more likely they are to remember you. Keep in mind, then, that if you’re trying to get scouted you need to not be toxic or problematic when playing with random strangers. You never know who your teammates are, so why risk alienating them over a video game? Besides, being a good person on the internet isn’t exactly difficult anyways.
Compete in and win tournaments. If you are a good player, you might get some interest from teams looking to scout raw talent. If you can show that you know how to be a good team member, though, your stock will significantly go up in the eyes of teams. Play in as many tournaments as you can while doing your best to be a good teammate and competitor. This will not only add impressive-looking results to your esports resume, but your exploits might garner you attention through audience discussion and highlight-reel moments.
Show your dedication and versatility. Teams usually aren’t just looking for talented players to pick up, they’re looking for players that can help them win in the immediate and distant future. If you’re a dedicated student of the game, show it. Stream or otherwise publish your VOD review sessions, constantly look for feedback from good players when you can, and do your best to endear yourself to not only your potential teammates but your potential coaches as well.
Use social media to increase your following. Esports teams aren’t just looking for talented and driven competitors, they’re looking for talented and driven competitors that people want to see. Use social media platforms to post highlights or other content you might make to generate a following. Even if you don’t manage to find a team, creating content can potentially lead to a fruitful career in content creation or some other public-facing field.
These are just a few of the ways you can get scouted, but they are the most common and perhaps the most important for you. Like with most other career fields, finding an opportunity to join a team is all about knowing the right people, so make sure you cast your networking net wide and remember that everything you do in gaming can lead to something new.
If you should get scouted, congratulations! Now comes a crucially important part of your esports career: signing the contract. For most amateur or collegiate teams, you won’t receive financial compensation for your work so the guidelines around those teams tend to be less strict than the rigid structures of professional contracts. Still, if you ever find yourself in a position where a team wants you to sign on the dotted line, here are a couple of things you should keep in mind.
The team is looking out for their own best interests. No matter what team representatives say to the contrary, an esports team will try to strike a deal with you that goes in their favor. That’s not to say that all esports teams will try to trick you, most good ones won’t. Still, make sure you remember that as good as a contract offer is for you, the team would only offer it if they thought they would benefit from it. If a team puts pressure on you to quickly sign a contract, stand your ground and say you’ll need to look at this with a contract advisor.
Get a lawyer or other contract expert representation. Contracts are serious business with major implications on your career, so you should make sure you get good advice throughout the negotiation process. You don’t necessarily need a lawyer, just someone who understands the legal business of contract negotiation.
Be as specific as possible in the contract. Contracts should be as specific as possible, with every detail fully explained and clarified. If you have any questions throughout the contract signing process, make sure to bring them up during the negotiation. In getting details fully explained in the legally-binding language, you can prevent confusion and anguish if the contract gets terminated early.
Stand up for yourself in the contract. Don’t let a team include clauses in your contract that are disrespectful to you or otherwise impede your well-being and career opportunities. Some examples of organizations doing this come from teams including clauses where, if you leave the team, you can’t compete in that game for X amount of time or anything that requires you to purchase the necessities of your job. Remember, while it might be your dream to compete in esports, it’s still a job. Treat it as such and maintain a level of professionalism while understanding your value as well as you can, and you should be fine. After all, they want you as much as you want them.