Cybersport courses and schools – how to choose the right one? Understanding the example of the RANEPA

The desire to learn and improve is one of the reasons why humanity has reached the current level of technology development, and you and I can conduct discussions about eSports events online. Other people’s impeccable skills are always an inspiration to those around them. Someone is crazy about how Gordon Ramsay fries steaks, so he chose the profession of a cook, someone from childhood wanted to become an astronaut, having read a book about Gagarin, so he entered the flight school. It’s the same in esports.

Seeing how s1mple in a jump, kills an opponent on Cache in a match Team Liquid against Fnatic on the ESL One Cologne 2016, an ordinary viewer can decide once and for all: “I will link my destiny with CS: GO!”. Impressed by the success of the idol, many begin to search for a specialist who will teach them how to play the same way. Unfortunately, s1mple itself is not recruiting students yet, so other people have to pay money for new knowledge. And this is where the main problem arises: in the esports industry, it is not always clear where to purchase a quality service. Usually, when choosing a school or course, the main criterion is the expertise of teachers, but even big names in advertising campaigns do not guarantee the quality of education. Many professional players and streamers are bought as the “face” of a PR campaign, and they are indirectly related to direct training.

This is just a way to make money, not teach! Criticism of esports courses

The old-timers of the community most often speak out sharply negatively about e-sports schools and courses. This position has several good arguments. For example, it is simply impossible to teach a person who is not predisposed to playing Dota 2, LoL and any other e-sports discipline in a short time. And even with talented guys, difficulties can arise!

If every esports player after a specialized bachelor’s degree was ready to conquer The International, organizations would have installed desks in computer clubs long ago and retrained in professional universities. Perhaps, in the future, cybersportsmen will follow the same path as representatives of traditional sports, namely, they will undergo selection from childhood, but so far this is impossible. However, if you select motivated and talented guys even as preschoolers, train their gaming skills from an early age and temper them in youth leagues, then the results may be different. In the meantime, the selection takes place in a natural way: first you show the result “at home”, you achieve success in the ladder, and then you get into a professional team.

Esports schools and courses can help gamers develop different talents, but not skill in the game. However, a professional player is not only a machine for winning matches, but also a master of his craft, who knows how to communicate with the press, negotiate with an employer, do time management and many other things. The teacher can help you assess your social and play skills soberly, as well as suggest options for further development. Considering that many gamers in all seriousness think that their low rating is due to the fact that “the team does not drag”, and they play well, a correct look from the outside can sow a grain of common sense into the inner world of such a student.

However, not every buyer of an eSports course wants to become an eSports player. Many plan to simply learn how to play better or want to feel like a professional at least in the training format. Perhaps this is one of the best motivations for buying courses – to try yourself, get interesting knowledge and practical skills, but not count on a brilliant career and meeting with Faker at Worlds. This is also possible, but not guaranteed.

There are a lot of announcements about magical courses in Dota 2, CS: GO and League of Legends, after which your MMR or rank will soar to unprecedented heights. Many of them are aimed at “legal” boost: a person whose skills are much higher will play with you for money, notice mistakes or (in the worst case) just drag the customer on his hump of experience and skill up the ladder. The scheme is working, but ineffective: you will get the desired rank, but can you get to it again on your own when the assistant is not around? It depends only on your self-study skills, since a personal mentor is rarely interested in controlling the acquired knowledge and works only for the result calculated in points of the rating.

Academic courses, when teachers overwhelm you with theory and writing assignments, are not much better than playing duo with a skill mentor. Theoretical materials are the base that any Internet user can find on their own, and it often makes no sense to pay a rather high price for them. Checklists, guides and lectures – the information junk seems to come off the pages of beauty instagram, but, unlike manuals for applying foundation, it is difficult to fit e-sports information on a pack of A4 sheets. A universal textbook on Dota 2 (and other esports games) has not yet been invented.

Media personalities often criticize esports schools. Ironically, sometimes the negative evaporates at the moment when a major partner offers to record his own lecture package. In general, one thing can be said: no one will teach you the “esports profession”. A high-quality school will favorably differ in that it will give both theory and practice, as well as work out classical situations in the area of ​​interest to you.

Approach to training cybersport professions at the Institute of Industry Management (IOM), RANEPA

The leading cybersport instructors of the Institute of Industry Management (IOM), RANEPA, underwent cybersport training in the field. They boast a wide variety of backgrounds: commentator, manager, coach, organization owner and, perhaps most coveted, a professional player. Due to this, students can learn “how it really is in eSports”, with examples from real life, rather than theoretical materials. In this case, the set of lectures for which you will pay will be formed according to your level of preparation. After all, you hardly want to hear about the basic ward placement if you have already scored 8K MMR in support.

The promo page of the IOM RANEPA says: “We develop the competencies necessary for growth in the industry: from teamwork skills to physical training.” The standard advertising wording contains enough information for the suffering student. In any course from the institute, you will have to not only play and gain knowledge about the most imbeatable strata.

For example, potential esports players will gain knowledge on how to sign contracts and what physical exercise is necessary to prevent tunnel syndrome, a common and nightmarish disease for gamers. Managers will be told that water carrier skills are just the tip of the iceberg in this complex profession. Professionals who want to lead a team or an entire organization will have to develop business plans, solve financial and legal issues, and develop leadership qualities – nowhere without them. As an example, here’s what the brief information about the course “Esports Organization Manager” looks like.

The goal of the program of the Institute of Industry Management (IOM) of the RANEPA “Cybersportsman – Basic Level” is not for the listener to play at the level of a grandmaster immediately after graduation. According to Evelina Aliyeva, director of the IOM Education Management Center, the courses will allow you to get maximum information in a short time about all kinds of game moments specific to each discipline, develop the necessary personal qualities for communication in a team, as well as leadership skills to achieve high sports results.

Esports needs professionals

The esports industry developed rapidly, and initially self-taught people took the helm, many of whom were getting their profession in a hurry, going on academic leave to compete in the tournament. Many also defended their diplomas after gaining recognition in their field of activity. For the most part, due to this development path, esports now lacks real professionals: lawyers, financiers, even chefs who can cook healthy food in the rhythm of a bootcamp and not experience culture shock.

The main secret of “esports” education is that those who want to break into the industry need to get a specific profession or skill that is not directly related to esports. The manager must understand business, marketing and organization management. The subtleties and nuances that distinguish an e-sports team from an office team will come to you with experience as soon as you get into the “hell”.

Spoiler alert: It’s not just eSports. At the institute you are asked to “forget what you were taught at school”, but at work they say that “this is not a university for you – we do not work according to the training manual”. In most industries that are not related to basic science or, for example, space construction (you can give other examples yourself), you need basic knowledge, which over time will become overgrown with a.k.a. experience.

When choosing an esports course, make sure you know your strengths and weaknesses. The weak can be worked through, and the strong can be strengthened. Try to discuss specific learning points with your teacher. Returning to the course “Manager of an e-sports organization” from the IOM RANEPA: for example, if you are shy, focus on the fifth module and be most active during classes on this topic. And most importantly – remember: in e-sports, people only work for love.