Project

Coaching Network

Employment in Esports

Project description

Challenges in esports coaching in Finland hinder the development of both coaches and organizations. Information and resources related to the field are fragmented, which hampers the formation of common practices and the unification of the industry. Aspiring esports coaches also lack a clear career and educational path.

The goal of the coaching network is to enhance the employment readiness of aspiring professionals by providing a platform that offers both mentorship and networking support on the path toward professional esports coaching.

The project’s primary target group consists of individuals interested in pursuing esports coaching as a professional career. These individuals may include, for example, unemployed job seekers, students, self-employed persons, people with partial work ability, or career changers.

The project is coordinated by the School of Business at JAMK University of Applied Sciences. It is co-funded by the European Union, with the Economic Development Centre of Central Finland acting as the funding authority.

Project implementation time

1.6.2025–31.1.2027

Goals of the project

Promote the professionalization of esports coaching and create a platform that supports coaches in developing their skills and improving employment opportunities.
Connect esports coaches and coaching organizations and offer coaches more career opportunities
Support the professional growth and career development of esports coaches, while increasing the visibility of esports coaching
Encourage esports coaches to engage in peer mentoring and knowledge sharing.

The project’s activities are built around three core components:

A virtual networking and learning platform where esports coaches can share knowledge, participate in events, and receive support both during and outside of scheduled meetings. In practice, this is a Discord-based community server that will be integrated into the project’s website.
Workshops at major esports events focus on foundational coaching skills and career paths. These workshops also facilitate encounters between industry experts and aspiring coaches—field activities help reach professionals where they are already naturally present.
The Esports Coaching Days in Jyväskylä introduce a new event format that offers participants intensive learning experiences through expert talks and practical networking. The event will be held at the main campus of Jamk University of Applied Sciences, in the GamePit Pro environment dedicated to electronic sports.

Join the eVAVE networking and learning platform!

The eVAVE Discord server is a meeting place for everyone who wants to grow as a coach and promote the professionalization of esports coaching in Finland. On the platform, we share knowledge, challenge each other, discuss current topics, and build shared practices for a field that needs more collaboration. The server and the discussions are in Finnish, but welcome also the international participants to our community!

We want to encourage coaches to engage in open interaction and joint efforts—not just for personal benefit, but for the good of Finnish esports as a whole. Every conversation, question, and shared experience matters!

You can join the Discord server either through the widget below, by scanning the QR code with your phone, or by clicking the QR code to be redirected to the join page.