The origins

DGI is a national umbrella organization for more than 6,600 local sports associations and clubs in Denmark. Because of the explosive growth of esports in recent years, DGI decided to establish an esports department – DGI Esport – in 2017. DGI Esport supports the development of esports in Denmark and works to educate the public on the benefits and potential of esports.  DGI Esport is founded on the belief that esport has the power to create a strong sense of community and to motivate new target groups to join a club or association.

Kronjyllands Esport & Tech Club is an association focused on social interaction, friendships, and aiming to be a sanctuary for everyone with a passion for gaming, regardless of age. The association hosts several regular activities, including weekly esports training sessions, weekly tech club meetings, and a wide range of additional activities. Their main focus builds on several aspects: improving gaming skills, teaching social competencies, promoting health and physical activity, encouraging respectful communication, and, of course, having fun!

Pilot case study

In this video, Mads Didriksen, Esport manager at DGI, generously provides a lightning presentation of youth training at the Kronjyllands Esport & Tech Club in Denmark. Enjoy the ride through the tips and tricks on how to create an inclusive environment for the kids.

Takeaways and main lessons

To be able to run a club with weekly training sessions in esports, we’ve collected a few valuable takeaway from the fortnite-session with Kronjylland Esport & Tech club

• Clear structure and a sense of community is vital

During the fortnite session at the club, we spoke with the trainer about the typical structure at the training sessions.

The kids really enjoyed that parts of every training was similar. They always meet in the hall next to the gamingroom and do small exercises during the training – and they always end the session with a chat and some highfives before they head home. Especially the talks after the session was highly appreciated by the kids.

There was a “club-feeling” surrounding the team – and this would never be reached, if they didn’t take the time away from the pc’s.

• The right profile for coaching a grassroots esports team in the club

Some types of teams require a coach with strong gaming skills and a very focused approach to training. The coach must be able to plan structured training sessions, strategically and tactically coach the players, develop their mental skills, work purposefully on team collaboration, and achieve results.

Other teams, on the other hand, need a coach profile that focuses on the players’ well-being, helps with equipment and technical issues, and is good at initiating fun exercises and activities. This type of coach is not necessarily a highly skilled gamer but is excellent at creating a positive training environment and enjoyable experiences for a wide range of players at different levels.

Our visit at the club showed, that gaming skills are not necessary to create a positive environment at the fortnite session. When needed, the coach could get plenty of help from the players attending the training session.

• The coach as a rolemodel

It is important that the coach is aware that he or she serves as a role model for the players. Coaches and players spend a lot of time together, so it is essential that the coach is prepared to take his/her responsibility as a role model seriously. Therefore, it is required that coaches support and adhere to the club’s rules and guidelines. For example, if your club does not allow chips and energy drinks and enforces this rule with the members, it is not acceptable for the coach to rush out during every break to drink an energy drink. Ensure that the coach knows the club’s rules and policies and understands their role and responsibilities.

At our meeting with the club, the coach took part in every physical activity. This encouraged the kids to do the same – even though the activities did not directly relate to the Fortnite training itself. By actively participating, the coach demonstrated the importance of staying active and healthy, reinforcing the club’s values beyond just gaming. This involvement not only set a positive example but also fostered a sense of unity and motivation among the players, showing that their well-being and development are prioritized in all aspects of their training.