New Era for Brazilian Esports Psychologists
As Riot Games announced changes to the League of Legends championship structure, I found myself interviewing with an US esports organization eager to adapt to the shifting competitive landscape. During the HR interview, the representative highlighted the demands of the upcoming split, emphasizing the challenges of integrating new international players, managing cultural diversity, and the intensified pressure of competing under an unfamiliar format.
This is a new era for esports psychologists: Learn English and get ready to make an impact!
I may not get the position, as there are other details that could prevent the process from moving forward, but the fact that the international scene is already looking to Brazil for staff positions—that’s already a reality.
Below is the full transcript of the interview, generated by IA.
Interview Transcript: US Esport Organization and Luciana Nunes. October 2024
Can you tell us a bit about your background in sports psychology and what drew you to work with esports, specifically a game like League of Legends?
I’m Luciana Nunes, a sports psychologist, master of science at NSU, USA. I started my career about twenty years ago in traditional sports, but after the Rio 2016 Olympics, I transitioned into esports. Since then, I’ve built experience in esports, beginning with Counter-Strike and then League of Legends, Valorant, FreeFire.
What unique challenges do you think esports players face, especially in a high-pressure game like League of Legends?
Here in Brazil, one major challenge is having a multicultural lineup. We often have Korean and Brazilian players, and neither group typically has English as their first language, making communication a real difficulty. Additionally, there are different perspectives on the game—Koreans and Brazilians often see it differently. Now that Riot is adjusting the format, potentially shifting beyond just CBLOL, we might see North American or Canadian players joining as well. This shift could make communication even more challenging, which means we’ll need to address not only mental training but also effective team communication.
How would you approach building trust and cohesion among players with such diverse backgrounds and communication styles?
Great question. I think building trust starts with getting to know each other. In my experience with paiNGaming and LOUD, where we had Korean players and a Korean coach, we didn’t fully explore each other's cultures and perspectives on the game. Looking back, if we had done this at the beginning of the split, it might have led to better understanding and communication. For me, trust and confidence come when the lineup feels unified and everyone is on the same page. I regret not prioritizing that early on. It wasn’t exactly a mistake, but I wish I’d pushed harder to make the start of the split more about connecting and learning about each other.
What kind of mental training techniques do you think would be most effective for League of Legends players facing high-pressure situations?
Well, it really depends on each player. Some players benefit from breathing exercises, which is a very effective technique. Visualization can also work well, but it varies based on the individual. I usually work one-on-one with players to find out which technique suits them best. For example, Korean players often prefer to focus on practice, dedicating countless hours to gameplay. However, this approach exclusively doesn’t always work in Brazil when they’re teaming up with Brazilian players. So, understanding the cultural differences is essential. In the end, getting to know each player individually is crucial to finding the right mental training approach.
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In a fast-paced game like League of Legends, how would you help players handle in-game setbacks, like losing a major objective or making a costly mistake?
Again, it depends on the mental training tailored for each player… but usually we have...We need to understand the signs that players show during high-pressure games. For example, some players might go silent and stop communicating, while others may show signs of frustration or even communicate in a toxic way. Observing these behaviors helps us recognize when the team is starting to tilt. Once we identify these signs, we can work on strategies to manage them.
How would you support a player who’s struggling with self-confidence, especially after a few bad games or losses?
Players often get down on themselves after losses, but if they can learn to view defeat as an opportunity to improve, they can shift their mindset. My approach is to look back with the player and explore what happened—asking questions like, 'What do you think went wrong?' or 'Why did you make that particular move?' This reflection helps them gain a new perspective on losses, turning them into opportunities for growth. The goal is to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, where each setback is a stepping stone for improvement.
What strategies do you use to help players prepare mentally before high-stakes matches?
Right before high-stakes matches, I believe there's no need to do anything drastically different. Mental training is built up little by little every day, so by game time, players should already feel prepared. Just before the match, I gather everyone together, usually in a circle, and encourage anyone who wants to say something to speak. If no one does, then I’ll step in. This moment helps reinforce all the work we've done, reminding them of both their strengths and past challenges, so they’re prepared if similar situations arise. I also like to let the natural leader of the group, often the one who's most positive and outgoing, set the tone. We might even do a quick chant or battle cry to boost the team spirit. During long matches like best-of-five or best-of-three, there’s also room to adjust and refocus between games, which is really helpful.
How would you approach supporting a player who's dealing with burnout from the intense practice schedules common in esports?
Burnout is becoming more common in esports. In traditional sports, burnout often appeared as physical overtraining, but in esports, it’s largely mental. It’s essential to carefully observe behavioral changes and really know your players to identify signs of burnout. Once burnout is recognized, it’s important to address it seriously, as it’s now considered a work-related condition. This can mean stepping back, having a conversation with the player, slowing down, or easing up on their schedule.
How do you balance a player’s motivation to win with the need to maintain their mental health and prevent overtraining?
Yes, that's a great question because everyone focuses on the motivation to win. However, I don’t work with the motivation to win. Instead, I focus on motivating players to improve every day, every game, and every championship. This approach builds a solid foundation. Winning then becomes a natural consequence of their performance. Players can only play freely and enter a flow state when they aren’t fixated on winning or losing. So, that’s my main focus in this area.
After the interview, I felt incredibly honored to be recognized for my work. It’s truly rewarding to see U.S. organizations looking to Brazilian professionals as references for esports roles, a sign of how much our expertise is valued internationally. I’m grateful for the chance to share my insights and to represent Brazil in this exciting, upcoming field.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this interview and gain insight into my journey as a sports psychologist in esports. I appreciate your interest and hope this gives you a clearer picture of the dedication and passion as an esport psychologist.?
Best rgds,
Esport Psychologist