Version1 turns to Adamas for performance and mental health support

Minnesota-based esports organization Version1 has partnered with start-up Adamas Esports for performance and mental coaching.

The basics: Adamas Esports is becoming a prominent player in the realm of esports performance.

• Like a number of other organizations, Version1 will lean on Adamas Esports for support in the realm of performance.
• Its teams across Call of Duty, Rocket League, and VALORANT will be granted access to services such as boot camps, coach mentoring, tournament support, and mental skills training.
• "I’d argue that the mental pressures and stresses on an esports athlete can be higher than a traditional sport athlete," said Adamas coach Jerrad Guenther. "This is a results-driven industry, and being able to handle and navigate those pressures is a must-learn skill."

The wider story: Esports has some key differences from traditional sports.

• While companies such as Adamas aim to improve visibility and development in esports performance, it's still a relatively untapped market.
• There's not a lot of literature on the key stressors that esports competitors face when practicing, competing, and gaming for fun. The hard work coming from companies such as Adamas, Gscience, and Statespace is imperative for the optimization and protection of competitors in the future.
• There's a stigma around ageing in esports, with some people believing there's a short shelf life for professional gamers. Plenty of work is still to be done around understanding performance in esports and using that knowledge to increase longevity and mitigate risks of repetitive strain injuries.