Gamers Change Lives Podcast
Season 3, Episode 1 Worksheet
‘Leading a Strong Esports Team: Lessons from West Point’
Guest: Victor Castro – Director of Esports at Army West Point

Consider these questions to get more from the content in the podcast:

First, how well were you listening?

  1. What is the focus of the Gamers Change Lives Podcast in Season Three?
    1. Jobs
    2. Sources of funding
    3. Building an esports business
    4. How to improve your gaming skills

  2. What is Victor Castro's role at West Point?
    1. Director of Army West Point Esports
    2. Deputy Director of the West Point Simulation Center
    3. Both A and B
    4. None of the above

  3. How does the esports program at West Point prepare cadets for their military career?
    1. By providing them with a fun activity to do
    2. By teaching them leadership skills
    3. By teaching them how to play esports games
    4. None of the above

  4. How do cadets join the esports program at West Point?
    1. By being selected by the program
    2. By signing up for it
    3. By being recommended by their superiors
    4. None of the above

  5. What is NACE Starleague?
    1. A league for professional esports players
    2. A college esports league
    3. A league for military esports teams
    4. None of the above

  6. How does the West Point esports program keep players engaged and excited?
    1. By providing them with incentives
    2. By having a fun and competitive environment
    3. By giving them breaks during training
    4. None of the above

  7. Does the West Point esports program have staff and coaches?
    1. Yes
    2. No

  8. How is the West Point esports program funded?
    1. Through the military budget
    2. Through outside sponsors
    3. Both A and B
    4. None of the above

  9. What is the community that the West Point esports program is building around its program?
    1. A community of military esports fans
    2. A community of esports players and fans
    3. A community of West Point alumni
    4. None of the above

  10. What is the top achievement of the West Point esports program?
    1. Winning a national esports tournament
    2. Building a strong esports community
    3. Producing successful military leaders
    4. None of the above

Answers:

  1. Building an esports business
  2. Both A and B
  3. By teaching them leadership skills
  4. By signing up for it
  5. A college esports league
  6. By having a fun and competitive environment
  7. Yes
  8. Both A and B
  9. A community of esports players and fans
  10. Producing successful military leaders

 

Second, how does the program at West Point compare to your esports organization?

  1. Do any of the experiences that Victor describes in creating the esports team at West Point sound familiar to you in your experience in developing your esports team? Name the top 3.
  2. How important is building leadership within your esports team? How are you doing that?
  3. What does your training program look like when compared to that at West Point?
  4. How is your team recruitment different from that at West Point? Do you have it easier or harder?
  5. Are there potential sponsors that are a natural fit for your team as it is for Victor?
  6. Was there any surprise in learning more about the esports program at West Point?

If you would like, take your answers to these questions and post on the Facebook Group. Check out the answers of others and let them know what you have learned. The best teacher is someone who has been in your shoes.