Esports have exploded in popularity and represent a new field of high-performance study for psychology. It has become a multi-billion-dollar industry with passionate fans and fierce competition.(Hattingh, Van den Berg, & Bevan-Dye, 2024).  But beneath the flashy lights and roaring crowds, esports teams face many challenges that can hinder their success.

Here are some of the most critical issues confronting these organizations:

·         Building and Maintaining Cohesion: 

Esports are often team-based endeavors demanding seamless coordination and communication. However, fostering strong cohesion between players – both in terms of task cohesion (focusing on shared goals) and social cohesion (building strong bonds) – can be tricky. Swettenham, L., & Whitehead, A. (2022). Geographical separation, cultural differences, and personality clashes can all disrupt team dynamics, leading to frustration, communication breakdowns, and ultimately, losses (Tang, 2018).

·         Leadership: 

Cohesion is bound by strong leadership.  Every successful team needs a leader who can inspire, motivate, and guide players towards victory. In the fast-paced environment of esports, a weak or conflicting leadership style can create confusion and hinder performance. Esports teams need leaders who can foster a positive team environment, make strategic decisions under pressure, and ensure players are utilizing their strengths effectively (Macedo, & Falcão, 2020).

·         Player Talent Management: 

Esports is a young and dynamic field, with player performance constantly evolving. Teams need to develop strategies for identifying and nurturing talent and dealing with the inevitable decline in player skill over time. Esports organizations must decide whether to invest in developing fresh talent or recruit established players, all while navigating complex contractual issues and ensuring a healthy team environment (Gisbert-Pérez, García-Naveira, Martí-Vilar, & Acebes-Sánchez, 2024).

·         Sustainability and Financial Pressures: 

Despite the booming industry, many esports teams struggle financially. Securing sponsorships, managing budgets, and finding sustainable revenue streams remain major challenges. These financial pressures can lead to unstable rosters, difficulty attracting top talent, and a focus on short-term gains at the expense of long-term development (Nyström, et al.,  2022).

·         Maintaining Player Well-being: 

The intense dedication and pressure to perform can take a toll on player health. Teams need to address issues like burnout, fatigue, and stress management to ensure players maintain optimal physical and mental well-being. Esports organizations are increasingly investing in sports psychology and player wellness programs to support their athletes (Poulus, Sargeant, Zarate, Griffiths,  & Stavropoulos, 2024; Smith, Sharpe,  Arumuham, & Birch, 2022,).

Looking forward: These are just some of esports teams' most important issues. By addressing these challenges and fostering strong team dynamics, organizations can build a foundation for sustained success, captivating audiences and propelling esports even further into the mainstream.

References

Gisbert-Pérez, J., García-Naveira, A., Martí-Vilar, M., & Acebes-Sánchez, J. (2024). Key structure and processes in esports teams: a systematic review. Current Psychology, 1-20.

Hattingh, W., Van den Berg, L., & Bevan-Dye, A. (2024). The “why” behind generation Y amateur gamers' ongoing eSports gameplay intentions. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 25(1), 67-87. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJSMS-04-2023-0064/full/html

Macedo, T., & Falcão, T. (2020). Like a pro: Communication, camaraderie and group cohesion in the Amazonian esports scenario. Entertainment Computing, 34, 100354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2020.100354

Nyström, A. G., Mccauley, B., Macey, J., Scholz, T. M., Besombes, N., Cestino, J., ... & Törhönen, M. (2022). Current issues of sustainability in esports. International Journal of Esports. https://hal.science/hal-03731255

Poulus, D. R., Sargeant, J., Zarate, D., Griffiths, M. D., & Stavropoulos, V. (2024). Burnout, resilience, and coping among esports players: A network analysis approach. Computers in human behavior, 153, 108139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108139

Smith, M., Sharpe, B., Arumuham, A., & Birch, P. (2022, March). Examining the predictors of mental ill health in esport competitors. Healthcare, 10(4), p. 626.  MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10040626

Swettenham, L., & Whitehead, A. (2022). Working in esports: Developing team cohesion. Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology, 6(1), 36-44. https://doi.org/10.1123/cssep.2021-0023

Tang, W. (2018). Understanding esports from the perspective of team dynamics. The Sport Journal, 21, 1- https://thesportjournal.org/article/understanding-esports-from-the-perspective-of-team-dynamics/