Rethinking performance measurement in esports: How games shape coaching priorities for amateur player development

With the rising popularity of esports, the demand for effective performance assessment methods has become critical for coaching practices. Esports performance evaluation remains a complex task due to the unique demands of different games and the dynamic nature of the esports ecosystem. Additionally, the effectiveness of performance indicators in evaluating amateur players in the early stages of their careers remains unclear. To investigate this, we conduct expert interviews with head coaches of three distinct team games, Valorant, PUBG Mobile, and League of Legends, to uncover critical factors that coaches consider in evaluating amateur player performance. Our findings reveal fundamental challenges that question the validity of standardized indicators for performance measurement. Coaches highlighted that while quantitative metrics, such as in-game statistics, are commonly used in tracking player progress, they must be carefully contextualized within the unique demands of each game and the team dynamics. Moreover, coaches underscore that soft skills are as determinant as individual technical skills for fostering future career success in esports, particularly in team-based games where communication and stress management play a crucial role. These findings highlight the need for a more nuanced, coach-driven approach to performance assessment for amateur players. This exploratory study suggests that performance measurement frameworks need to account for context-dependent competencies and player career development in esports.