The "Grinding Culture": Why We Can Do Better
"Anecdotal evidence suggests that current approaches to training [in esports] may be suboptimal in terms of performance and, concerningly, linked to negative consequences for player health and well-being." [1] But is this really the case? Are the established training practices—the "grinding culture"—ineffective or even harmful to players?
• “I Just Do What the Schedule Tells Me” highlights that training approaches lack a rational (structure, lectures, workshops).
• Professional players use different training tools such as VODs of better players, 1v1/2v2 games, or scrims, but seek very little feedback from coaching staff.
• Current training approaches (spamming games and playing scrims) are ineffective, because it doesn't allow for deliberate, focused, and goal orientated training.
• Players noted that such training environments had negative health impacts, and more focus should be put on self-care (e.g., sleep, and nutrition) and better training approaches (less games, more breaks).
• Motivation changed over time. Climbing together with friends was motivating and fun, when they started playing. Later, having the highest rank has become their sole motivation.
⚙️ Grind, Grind, Grind!
Esports is a relatively new phenomenon and it's unknown how good training practices look like. One training approach that seems to dominate is the "Grinding Culture"—"playing as many games as possible as frequently as possible." [1] However, this approach may seem to have negative consequences. For instance, "Doublelift"—one of the most well-known League of Legends players—quit LoL, as grinding games caused him feelings of burnout. While this is a striking case, it's just anecdotal evidence. We don't know if this is an outlier or part of a larger pattern.
"In order to... aid understanding of the (in)effectiveness of current training practices in esports, our study sought to... examine the experiences and perceptions of training..." [1]
To investigate this, researchers interviewed 10 professional and semiprofessional League of Legends players. The players were, for instance, asked about their experience of training in LoL, and if they could describe when training went well for them.
🗓️ “I Just Do What the Schedule Tells Me”
First, the researcher comprised information on the players' training schedule. Typically, players start their day with two solo queue matches (warm-up), followed by team practice of four to five "scrimmage" (scrim) games (deliberate team practice). To finish their day, they, again, play one or two solo queue games.
"I just do what the schedule tells me... I would say it’s just passed down between all the teams." [1]
One of the players stated that there is a lack of rational when it comes to training—"there was never any sit-down workshops. There was never any lectures, there was never any classroom sessions where we were like let’s approach this in a structured way.” [1] Another player indicated that deviations from this structure exist, but are rare. Some teams would set specific goals for their scrim games in order to improve in specific areas e.g., playing around Herald.
It was also evident that training typically included personal and team game reviews, one-on-one coaching, coaching by position (e.g., mid lane), or using 1v1/2v2s, practice tools (Riot Games' sandbox), or ARAM (an alternative game mode). Depending on the goal, the players used different tools. For instance, for learning specific match ups: 1v1s, for champion specific damage: solo queue, and to have fun, relax, but stay warm: ARAMs.
Most players said they should engage in training outside the team, such as watching high-profile players to learn from them. As lots of great players stream their matches on platforms like Twitch, it is easy to learn. Interestingly, players sought very little support and feedback from the coaching staff.
🐌 Professional Players' Training Experiences
"it’s weird because everyone, every comp team scrims... four times a week, five times a week five games, but scrims aren’t really like a good way to improve. It’s like... football, you don’t go and play like a 90minute football game training, like you practice on like shooting, or like drills, or even like tactics or something like that." [1]
Second, as this example shows, the researchers found that many players felt like that scrims (or team-based training in its current form) is ineffective. It doesn't let them isolate or deliberately practice on specific areas.
Another aspect of the training experiences players had were the emotional and physical tolls, due to their training conditions, constraints, and training volume. "The perceived need to play a high volume of games per day and take few rest days led to more serious health issues in a few players." [1]
"[I’ve] been finding myself like in a really bad place mentally, when I... spam the game... I tend to play worse for every game, you know, because you cannot keep up the focus for like eight hours plus... I’ve been telling myself when I feel tired, like there is no excuse... I’m telling myself in my head that I’m not good enough." [1]
Within these training environments, the players mentioned that there may be more effective approaching. Many of them said it would be better to deliberately train and focus on two to three matches a day instead of spamming games. Also, having a goal in mind for team-practice was thought to be a good idea to make training more effective. Lastly, circumstances and more self-care should improve too. For instance, poor lifestyle management (fatigue, nutrition, and exercise) negatively impacted performance.
"I think... have good slept, sleep schedule... good breakfast. Before you play, do some exercises or maybe meditate... for 10 minutes. Then you just like play some solo queue games, I would always say what’s probably the best for most people’s play like three games then take a break for like 30 minutes, and then you can move on to, to play more." [1]
🙁 It's Not Fun to Climb the Ranks
Third, the researcher noted that motivation and the approach to the game changed over time. When they started, playing was fun, especially when climbing the ladder with friends. However, later it became more about having a high rank.
"Well, the litmus test for every league player is the rank, they, everyone looks at the rank and just goes, “Is it higher? Is it lower?” That’s the, you know, very results-based way of saying we are improving in terms of consistency..." [1]
Lastly, it's interestingly to point out that the players' feelings on coaches were mixed. Some said that it was a "big resource" and helped to improve them and the team climate, whereas others said that "there's a lot of like posers... [who] like to talk but don't really like to put in the effort." [1]
I hope you found this episode insightful and helpful. 'till next Sunday,
Christian 🙂
