Esports, or competitive video gaming, has taken the world by storm. In 2024, this exciting industry continues to grow, with analysts projecting it to surpass $2 billion by the year’s end. Such success offers more opportunities than ever to aspiring players. If you’re passionate about gaming and dream of going pro, now is the perfect time to start that journey. This guide will show you how to join an esports team, build a reputation, advance your gaming career, and more. 

Let’s get started!

Joining an Esports Team: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Find Your Gaming Niche

Choose a Genre

Selecting a genre you enjoy is crucial for boosting your chances of success in esports. Young players often excel in first-person shooter (FPS) games due to their quick reaction times and high reflexes. If you wish to start an esports career at an older age, consider genres like MOBA, Real-Time Strategy, or Fighting Games, which leverage your cognitive skills more effectively. However, with passion and consistent practice, you can succeed in any game at any age.

Watch Esports Games to Know What to Expect

If you aspire to go pro in esports, consider watching top players. Observing the best in action helps you understand what to expect and provides a deeper insight into the competitive landscape.

Platforms like YouTube Gaming and Twitch allow you to follow and engage with top professionals for free. You can also tune in to broadcasts from major tournaments by visiting their websites for their live links. Facebook Gaming, Discord, and Steam are additional options that offer excellent opportunities to watch esports tournaments and learn from the experts.

Choose a Game and Platform

Now is the time to be specific and choose your preferred game. Opt for popular games as they offer more opportunities, but remember that the more popular the game, the more challenging it is to reach pro rank. Nonetheless, pick a game you genuinely enjoy and feel confident competing in.

Another crucial aspect when looking to join an esports team is selecting the right platform. Professional esports are played on PC, Mobile, and consoles (Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch). Note that some games are exclusive to specific platforms, such as Dota 2 (PC), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Mobile), and League of Legends (PC). Choose a game available on a familiar platform to ensure optimal performance.

2. Develop Your Gaming Skills

Practice On Your Game

Practice breeds perfection in anything you do, including esports. You’ll need to dedicate long hours to practice, just like top pros do, to stay competitive. Besides honing your gaming skills, training your mind, body, and reflexes is crucial to boost your chances of joining esports teams.

Starting without earning can make staying motivated and consistent with your training challenging. This is where having a training schedule becomes essential. A structured schedule helps you maintain the consistency needed to develop your skills and compete effectively.

Watch Esports Tournaments

In addition to your training, watching established esports professionals can help you gain invaluable skills such as map awareness, strategic thinking, and team coordination. Observing how they interact with their teammates can also teach you how to ensure optimal performance in a team setting. 

Some elite-level competitions you can follow include the League of Legends Championship, The International (DOTA 2), Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS), and the upcoming Esports World Cup. You can watch these tournaments’ live streams on Twitch, YouTube, or their respective esports web pages. 

Attend Training Programs

Attending an esports training program can significantly boost your chances of joining an esports team. These programs help develop both your physical and mental capacity to compete. Colleges such as the University of California Irvine, Maryville University, and Miami University offer comprehensive esports programs that cover performance training and management coaching.

Participate in Scrimmages or Other Amateur Tournaments 

Amateur tournaments are excellent for honing your competitive skills before turning pro. They also provide opportunities to build networks and, if you’re talented, catch the attention of esports teams. Scrimmages, on the other hand, are practice or informal game sessions. You can invite your in-game friends or players from your gaming community to participate in custom matches. 

Some websites where you can participate in scrimmages and amateur tournaments include Challonge, Battlefy, ESL Play, and Esports Charts.

Take an Esports Course

Enrolling in an esports course is one of the best tips for joining an esports team. These courses help you become the best version of yourself by improving your game mechanics, teamwork, and industry insights. Stratplays is a top site that offers such courses. 

At Stratplays, you get elite-level esports courses designed to develop your gaming skills and prepare you for the competitive scene. 

3. Build a Reputation in the Gaming Community

Network with Other Players

Join Discord servers, Facebook groups, and subreddits dedicated to your chosen game. These platforms allow you to meet like-minded individuals, network, and stay updated on the latest trends and opportunities in the esports community.

Become Popular Online

Don’t just join social media forums. Be active and engage with other users online. Creating and sharing content on platforms like Twitch and YouTube is essential to showcase your gameplay and personality. Use social media like Twitter and Instagram to connect with followers and build your brand. 

Engage regularly with your audience and collaborate with other gamers to expand your community. You’ll also need to remain consistent with your content schedule, which is critical to maintaining and growing your presence in esports.

4. Join an Esports Team

Use Esports Recruitment Platforms

If you’re new to the esports scene, using recruitment platforms like DreamTeam, Guilded, GamerLink, or ESEA is integral to joining esports teams. Visit their websites and create an account. You’ll typically need to provide details such as your username, email address, phone number, and your goals in esports. 

These platforms offer more than just team recruitment; they also allow you to interact with other stakeholders in the esports community, enhancing your networking and learning opportunities.

Attend Tryouts

Attend tryouts to seize opportunities for joining esports teams. Stay active online to ensure you don’t miss any tryouts near you, as they often become trending topics, especially when announced by professional esports teams. 

Participate in these tryouts and intensify your practice sessions to increase your chances of standing out and succeeding.

Apply Directly

Alternatively, you can apply directly to teams that have application openings. To do this, create a comprehensive gaming resume. Highlight your core skills, including your stats, achievements, and playstyle. You can also add your gaming channel, especially if you have a significant following. 

Remember, esports teams will only consider you if they understand your value. Clearly articulate how you can contribute to the team’s success and why you would be a valuable addition. 

Create Your Own Esports Team

What’s a better way to join an esports team than to create your own? However, it is more challenging than it seems. You’ll need to identify the game(s) you’ll compete in and establish clear goals and a vision for your team. Recruiting the right players will also be your responsibility.

As the leader, you’ll oversee branding and marketing, secure sponsorships, and manage compensation. Remember, successful teams like FaZe Clan and Team Liquid weren’t built in a day. Starting small with clear, streamlined goals is crucial for achieving long-term success. With dedication and persistence, you can build a competitive and recognized esports team.

Advancing Your Esports Career

1. Maintain Professionalism

When you join an esports team, you’ll work under coaches and senior players. Embrace your role and maintain a strong work ethic. Be diligent in your training and matches, consistently putting in the effort to improve. By doing so, you’ll surely become a key player in your team and contribute significantly to its success.

2. Earning Through Your Online Presence

Your online presence is a superb way to increase your reputation in the esports community. For example, Lee Sang-Hyeok (Faker), one of the greatest League of Legends players of all time, earns a significant portion of his income through streaming. 

A solid online presence will boost your earnings and popularity with fans, helping you build a dedicated following and increasing your overall influence in the esports world.

3. Securing Sponsorships

Sponsorships are one of the many ways to make money in esports. However, to land a great deal, you must have a robust online presence and a solid network in the gaming community. 

Research companies that align with your content when reaching out to potential sponsors. Create a professional proposal introducing you, highlighting your achievements, and explaining how the sponsorship would benefit the brand. Also, include your contact information. 

Follow up politely if you don’t hear back. Be persistent but respectful. This approach will help attract sponsors who are excited to work with you.

4. Winning Tournaments

The best esports players build their reputations by winning tournaments and earning their accompanying prize money. Therefore, it’s essential to practice diligently if you hope to achieve top placements. 

Winning tournaments will attract the biggest brands and enhance your team’s reputation, helping it soar. Consistent victories will establish you as a formidable player in the esports community and open up more opportunities for sponsorships and growth. 

Here are some tips on preparing for competitive events:

• Practice Regularly: Dedicate time each day to practice and refine your skills. Consistent practice helps you stay sharp and adapt to new strategies.
• Study the Competition: Watch recordings of other players and teams to understand their tactics. Knowing your competition can give you a strategic edge.
• Join Scrimmages: Participate in practice matches (scrims) with other competitive players. Scrimmages simulate tournament conditions and help improve your teamwork.
• Focus on Teamwork: If you’re part of a team, work on communication and coordination. Effective teamwork is often the key to winning tournaments.
• Stay Updated: Stay up to date with the latest updates and changes in your game. Understanding the current meta can give you an advantage.
• Physical and Mental Health: Take care of your physical and mental health. Ensure you get enough rest, eat well, and manage stress to perform your best during competitions.

5. Switch Teams if You Have To

It’s normal to start small when joining esports teams. However, as opportunities arise, you can move to better teams, provided you have an agreement with your current one. If you wish to switch teams, look for those with visions that align with yours and ensure they need someone with your play style. This alignment will help you continue growing and succeeding in the esports scene.

When evaluating a new team, consider their track record, goals, and play style compatibility with yours. Also, before making the transition, communicate openly with your current and prospective teams to ensure a smooth and professional move that respects all parties involved.

Staying Relevant on an Esports Team

Pro esports is competitive. The current players are talented, and many others are waiting for their chance. Therefore, you need to always be at your best to stay relevant. Here are some tips to help you stay relevant in an esports team and have a lengthy career.

1. Grasping Team Interactions

Sound communication skills are essential for being a top esports team player. Learn to communicate effectively with your teammates, motivate them, and console them during losses.

Also, be proactive, respectful, and willing to compromise for the team’s benefit. Remember to be likable and build meaningful relationships with your teammates. These qualities, combined with your gaming skills, will pave the way for your success in esports.

2. Continuously Enhancing Your Abilities

The rigorous training schedule of top players is a critical factor in their success. To reach this level, you must continually enhance your abilities to help your team. Analyzing your games will reveal what to improve and eliminate from your gameplay.

Additionally, accept constructive criticism and feedback from your teammates and fans. Hard work, dedication, and the desire to improve are essential attributes that will help you gain respect and make you likable to your teammates.

3. Contributing to Team Success Beyond Just Playing

Assume leadership roles in your team when you’re not gaming. As mentioned earlier, you can motivate and console your teammates when needed. You can also take up alternative roles, such as analyzing game data, managing social media, or assisting with team logistics. Remember, team glory equates to individual success.

Wrap Up

That’s all you need to know about how to join an esports team. First, select a suitable game and become proficient at it. Then, start entering amateur tournaments and scrimmages to build your skills and reputation.

Once you’re good enough, look for a suitable team or create one. Invest in your team’s success, and remember to build a solid online presence. If you aspire to join an esports team, now is the best time. Explore the numerous genres available and choose a game if you haven’t already. Start playing and slowly work your way up the progress ladder; the sky will be your starting point.