Esports – Riley
Esports
How would you define Esports to someone with no prior exposure to Esports?
‘Esports is so much more than just playing games, although it helps if you do play games in your free time, so you know what you are talking about, but it’s much broader than that. It goes into the different subjects of Esports, like business, game design, fitness coaching, mental health, and being a player, are just some examples.
You don’t come to college, boot up the computer and play games all day, because that isn’t learning. You only get time to play games on the course during breaks, or if you have completed your work.’
What advice would you give to someone who would like to study Esports?
‘Don’t be silly with your coursework, it is important so make sure you give yourself enough time to complete the modules. The tutors are nice, very friendly and are always open for a chat if you need it’.
How was the trip to the National Esports Performance Campus?
Some of our Esports students and staff participated in a two-day skills bootcamp in partnership with the British Esports Federation at their National Esports Performance Campus (NEPC). Going head-to-head with Sunderland College. More than just a venue for playing games, the NEPC is a dynamic, cutting-edge ecosystem designed to foster the entire UK Esports industry.
‘The 5 of us who went, went because we play Valorant together as part of the college team, so we played against Sunderland College’s team. It was a really cool experience. It was nice for it to be somewhat local, and not too far away for us to access.’
Riley“Esports is so much more than just playing games… It goes into the different subjects of Esports, like business, game design, fitness coaching, mental health, and being a player, are just some examples.”
How did you get into the Esports team?
‘Sam asked me as a joke if I would want to come and play Valorant, so I went and played briefly with the members they had at that time. They asked me again to join, I said I would take some time to think about it, and then I ended up joining their team. For student champs, there was going to be the 5 of us. We had 3 months in the summer before college started back to start practising as a team before the student champs started in November. So, we came into college throughout the six weeks holidays to train and perform well as a team.’
Our Esports team maintains a rigorous practice schedule. Beyond the weekly ‘Student Champs‘ sessions held on campus every Wednesday, the players dedicate their own time on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to refine their strategy and strengthen team cohesion. This commitment was further bolstered by the recent boot camp at the training campus. Living and practicing together in a shared house setting significantly improved their communication and performance; the atmosphere remained high-energy, fostering a positive and collaborative team environment.
What have you taken away from the experience?
‘It gave us all real-life experience in the field, as it was possibly for a few of us the first time we stayed away properly away from family in a completely different city. It was nice to have a new experience’.
The boot camp highlighted various professional opportunities awaiting students after college. It provided a deep dive into the ‘pro-player’ lifestyle, focusing on essential habits like discipline, structured routines, and proper sleep. By addressing these core pillars, students gained a better understanding of how to maintain peak performance while avoiding burnout.
