British Esports Launches Coach Development Framework
The esports industry has just taken a monumental step towards professionalising coaching and safeguarding young players. In a recent webinar hosted by British Esports, Vice President Tom Dore and Head of Education Kalam Neale introduced the Coach Development Framework, a long-anticipated initiative designed to establish recognised coaching standards within esports and create safer, more supportive environments for all players.
“This is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” said Tom Dore. “We believe this will have a significant impact on the esports industry as it continues to grow and evolve.”
Why Now? Why This Matters.
With over 3 billion gamers globally, and up to 45 million in the UK alone, esports is no longer niche. The inclusion of esports in the upcoming Olympic Esports Games (2027) brings with it new expectations. Just like traditional sports, esports must now establish clear standards around coaching, safeguarding and talent development.
However, the current landscape is lacking.
“There are no recognised professional standards for esports coaching,” explained Dore. “And yet, coaches are the critical people in talent development, in setting the tone, and in safeguarding the players they work with.”
Both speakers highlighted alarming real-world examples of misconduct within esports, underlining the urgent need for industry-wide reform.
Both speakers highlighted alarming real-world examples of misconduct within esports, underlining the urgent need for industry-wide reform.
Kalam Neale added, “We wouldn’t dream of leaving our kids with unknown coaches in a park, yet in the digital world, a 50-year-old in New York can be coaching a 12-year-old in London over Discord, with no checks in place. That is an accident waiting to happen.”
The Coach Development Framework: A New Standard for Esports
Built over several years and drawing on best practice from organisations such as UK Coaching, the Chartered Institute for Physical Activity, and the International Council for Coaching Excellence, the Coach Development Framework consists of eight key strands:
- Understanding Yourself
- Understanding Coaching Practice
- Understanding Environments
- Understanding Players
- Skill Acquisition
- Game Psychology
- Player Development
- Game and Genre Knowledge
Crucially, this framework is not about teaching someone how to be a better League of Legends coach. Instead, it focuses on holistic coaching, developing the person as well as the player.
“Just because someone was a good player doesn’t mean they’ll make a good coach,” said Dore. “We want to change that perception and raise the bar.”
Two Initial Learning Programmes Now Live
British Esports has launched two initial e-learning programmes based on the framework:
- Duty to Care in Esports (Free to All)
This foundational course, available now for free, addresses seven core areas:
- Safeguarding
- Online Safety
- Child Rights
- Cyber Choices
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
- Mental Health
- Health & Wellbeing
Developed in partnership with NSPCC, NCA (National Crime Agency), and UKSFA, this programme provides essential knowledge for anyone working with young people in esports, from teachers and youth workers to parents and community organisers.
“This course is about building understanding,” said Neale. “It reflects what we already see in traditional sport, and now brings that critical guidance to the digital space.”
Upon completion, participants receive a digital certificate from British Esports.
Ntesports Managing Director Nik Turner has successfully completed the ‘Duty of Care’ in Esports course and believes it’s a valuable tool that others shouldn’t ignore.
“Any Educators involved in delivering esports to young learners should complete this course. But in addition to teachers and lecturers I also believe that all esports organisations, be those professional or grassroots should make it mandatory for all staff not just coaches, to work through the seven modules as a condition of employment.
The same could – and should be said for community groups or gaming lounge owners – basically anyone who is involved in esports and has responsibility for those taking part in esports through their organisation.
The seven modules are detailed and in depth and the course is free thanks to British Esports. Its a few hours well spent!”
2. Introduction to Esports Coaching
Building on the Duty to Care course (which must be completed first), this second module introduces fundamental coaching principles applied to esports.
The course is:
- Endorsed by UK Coaching
- Certified by First for Sport
- Approx. 3–4 hours of online learning
- Delivered via the British Esports online learning platform
Four key focus areas guide the content:
- Coach
- Environment
- Player
- Game
The course is designed for a broad audience, from aspiring coaches to teachers, youth leaders, and players looking to grow their leadership skills.
Neale explained, “It’s about encouraging reflection and helping coaches ask: ‘What kind of environment am I creating? Am I developing the whole player? What are their needs?’”
Upon completion, learners will receive a joint certificate from British Esports, UK Coaching, and First for Sport.
What’s Next for Coach Development?
While these two courses represent the foundation, British Esports has a long-term vision. Future plans include:
- Higher-level coaching diplomas (potentially run by academic institutions)
- Game-specific modules (in collaboration with publishers)
- Specialist training (e.g., nutrition, psychology, performance)
- A national database of accredited coaches, complete with DBS checks
Tom Dore emphasised the need for collaboration across the industry:
“We want to work with federations, publishers, pro teams, academics, everyone in the ecosystem, to build a scalable, robust coaching framework that avoids the mistakes traditional sport has made.”
How to Get Started
Both courses are now live and accessible via the British Esports website:
👉 britishesports.org
Through their online platform, learners can register, begin their e-learning, and receive certification, marking the first step on a new, professionalised pathway in esports coaching.
“This is just the beginning,” said Neale. “And it’s an exciting one. With the right tools, knowledge, and community, we can create safer, healthier, and more inspiring environments for every young person involved in esports.”
