Why do I need a framework?

Having a framework when creating an initiative is essential for several reasons:

• Providing clarity of purpose: A framework helps to define the purpose and direction of your initiative, ensuring everyone involved understands the goals and objectives.
• Ensuring clear communication: A framework provides a common language and structure for communication, reducing confusion and misinterpretation among team members and stakeholders – and facilitating their engagement.
• Streamlining efforts: A framework guides the initiative’s development, ensuring that efforts are focused on the most important aspects, reducing waste and inefficiencies.
• Evaluating progress: A framework provides a structured approach to evaluating progress, enabling the initiative’s effectiveness to be measured and adjusted as needed.
• Allowing for resource allocation: A framework helps to allocate resources effectively, ensuring that the right people, budget, and time are dedicated to the initiative.

In the following step, we will provide you with specific guidance to create your esports initiative framework.

The must have elements of your grassroots esports framework

To create a successful grassroots esports framework, you need to focus on the following essential elements:

Takeaways – main lessons

🎮 A framework is crucial when creating an initiative as it provides a structured approach to planning, execution, and evaluation, ensuring a clear direction, effective communication, and successful outcomes.

🎮 While there are some other key elements, we believe “Community Building” + “Game-Agnostic Approach” are key elements of your framework. By focusing on these essential elements, you can create a successful grassroots esports framework that is engaging, inclusive, and sustainable.

🎮 Form a team with a variety of skills and distribute tasks. Set up your team like you set up a business team. An example of a team can be a project leader, marketing/ communications specialist, finance administrator and coach/ trainer.

🎮 You don’t need game knowledge to host an esports initiative. Don’t be afraid to set up your initiative without too much game knowledge.

Homework before moving to next step

People, places, and practices are key factors when developing grassroots esports initiatives. 

People refer to who is engaging in the activity and what are the motivations for participating. 

• TASK 1: Identify who the target group is for your initiative (i.e. who do we want to attract to the activities?). Can you list what their motivation is for participating? 

Places refer to where the activity takes place and to what kind of culture exists in the local area. Every local area is influenced by the surroundings, the facilities available and the people who live there. 

• TASK 2: Consider how the local culture is shaped by geography and resources

Practices refer to the approach of organising the activity and the participatory dynamics and culture in action. 

• TASK 3: Imagine your future grassroots esports initiative. What is the role of any participants involved in practices?

Ressources to go further and Topic material

Name of the material	Why it matters / What you will find
Esports funding guide to find sponsors and generate revenues 🔗	WHY – If you who want to know the best ways to seek funding or get sponsors on board. WHAT – A list of tips and suggestion produced by the British Esports Association in collaboration with Claire Arnott Consulting.