<h2>Thursday, January 5th – Seminar Esports performance and coaching: the ins and outs&nbsp;</h2>After a short introduction of the BESFs 5 Pillars and a general outline by Jos Verschueren, the director of postgraduate sports at the VUB and BESF commissioner for education and research, the seminar began by discussing various topics related to coaching and performance in the esports scene.<h3>Markus Moëckel about the working of the Esports Bund Deutschland (ESBD)&nbsp;</h3>Markus, the head of the German Esports Federation's academy, spoke about the creation and goals of the ESBD and its academy. As a sports scientist and sport psychological coach, Markus emphasized the crucial role that coaches play in esports at every level, from grassroots to the top 0.01%. However, he noted that there is still a lack of awareness and expectations for coaches in the field. In response to this gap, the ESBD established its academy to provide a curriculum for coaches at all levels. The aim of the ESBD academy is to increase awareness of the importance of coaching in esports and to have more educated coaches in the industry.&nbsp;<h3>Matthew Watson &amp; James ‘Torok’ Thomsen about the International Federation of Esports Coaches (IFoEC)&nbsp;</h3>Matthew Watson, director of Learning and Development at the International Federation of Esports Coaches (IFoEC) and James Thomsen, Coach and student of Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick performed a well-coordinated duet between the two, continuously altering between theory and practice. Matthew shared his concerns about the lack of focus on player development and the shift in motivation from intrinsic (playing for fun) to extrinsic (needing to win to keep one's job) in esports organizations. He also discussed the physical and emotional toll this shift can take on players, including the risk of burnout and depression. Parallel to this, Matthew's studies have proven that there is a lack of clear career paths for coaches, who often must focus on short-term goals in order to prove themselves worthy rather than on long-term development. James, a coach since the age of 16, corroborated many of Matthew's observations and provided personal insights from his own career. He also expressed a desire for more support in reaching the top levels of coaching in esports.&nbsp;<h3>Anton Van Gorp his findings as a Complexity CS:GO analyst and assistant Coach&nbsp;</h3>Following a short coffee break, Anton, the CS:GO analyst and assistant coach for Complexity, shared his expertise as a coach and analyst for the team. Anton highlighted the importance of team balance in achieving success, stating that the right combination of egos, roles, and personalities is necessary for a team to perform at its best. He emphasized that it is not always necessary to have the best players individually, but rather the right mix of players who can work together effectively. Continuing the theme of team balance, Anton emphasized the importance of team balance and the role of the coach in achieving it. A good coach should listen to and adapt to the needs of their players, rather than imposing a playstyle that does not fit the team. Anton noted that a coach who is willing to learn and adapt is crucial for success, while a bad coach might hinder it by forcing a mismatched playstyle.&nbsp;<h3>Matthias Dewilde on battling game addiction with gamechangers&nbsp;</h3>Matthias, the co-founder of GameChangers, an organization dedicated to addressing game addiction, started his presentation that began with a personal biography about his own experiences with gaming. As a young man, Matthias found himself increasingly isolated and consumed by games like FIFA and World of Warcraft, neglecting other hobbies and relationships. However, a power outage forced him to confront his own loneliness and lack of social skills, and he began working on himself and building relationships outside of gaming. This led him to start GameChangers, where he provides support and coaching to people struggling with similar issues, using a structured approach. Matthias also helps (re)connect parents with their children and help them navigate the world of online gaming.&nbsp;<h3>Rudy Heylen wrapping up esports in brief&nbsp;</h3>Rudy Heylen, a mental coach and owner of Heavy Mental, concluded the seminar with a summary of the presentations given by the other speakers. Rudy described coaches as having a presence in every aspect of the esports industry, like a centipede with many legs. He also emphasized the importance of coaches being open to concept of “not knowing” in order to handle situations effectively and help their players perform to their full potential. Rudy encouraged coaches to listen to their players and adapt to their needs rather than imposing their own ideas on the team. Overall, the third Esports seminar on performance and coaching, hosted by BESF, VUB, and EGO, was a success. Topics covered included the role of coaches in esports, the importance of team balance, and strategies for addressing game addiction. The seminar featured speakers who provided insights and expertise on these topics. Overall, the seminar offered valuable insights and discussion on key issues related to coaching and performance in the esports industry.

Learn about the crucial role of coaches in esports and the importance of team balance in achieving success at the Seminar on Esports Performance and Coaching. Hear from experts on the German Esports Federation's academy, the International Federation of Esports Coaches, and more.

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BESF and VUB to host third Esports seminar on performance and coaching 

After winning his first eFootball match against Djibouti (3-2, 3-2), Mikail 'FETIH1453ElTurco' Gonen defeated the Maldives (7-1, 5-1). He did well to beat Great Britain (2-0, 1-1, 3-1) in the round of 16, but lost unfortunately against the tournament favourites: Brazil. Then, Brazil won against Turkey and will play the tournament final against Iran tomorrow.&nbsp;In <a href="https://www.besf.be/teams/street-fighter">Street Fighter</a>, our Lotto Team representative Richard 'PiKaH' Donders won his first match against Libya but lost to Ghana.&nbsp;Congratulations to Mikail for joining the top 8! A great experience that will be remembered for a long time, see you at the next competition with the Belgian eSports federation!

A great experience that will be remembered for a long time, see you at the next competition with the Belgian eSports federation!  

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Mikail Gonen in the eFootball top 8 at the GEG 2022

The eLions, Belgium's elite Esports basketball team, put on a valiant effort in the second eFIBA European Qualifier but came up just short of advancing to the next round.&nbsp;<h2 style="text-align:justify;">The eLions are Determined to Bounce Back in Future Qualifiers</h2>It was a nerve-wracking day for the eLions as they competed in the second eFIBA Season European Qualifier. Placed in Group B, the team faced off against some tough competition in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, and Lithuania.Despite winning against Cyprus (68-38) and Lithuania (60-49), the eLions were unable to secure a spot in the next round, losing close matches to Portugal (62-58) and Germany (47-74) and falling to Spain (52-70). The tension in the air was tangible as each game came down to the wire, leaving the fate of the eLions in their own hands.Players Bryan Badjie, Julien Leitner, Emrecan Orhan, Bilal Raddouh, and Shawn Vervaeke all put in strong performances for the eLions, but it wasn't enough to advance. Despite the loss, the team remains determined to improve and come back stronger in future competitions.<h2 style="text-align:justify;">FIBA and BESF, a calculated 3-pointer!&nbsp;</h2>The partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Belgian Esports Federation (BESF) started two years ago with back-and-forth meetings between Mark Bogaerts and Samy Bessi. The meetings seemed successful as the eFIBA European Qualifier was hosted by the Belgian Esports Federation (BESF) at the Gare Maritime Base Camp in Brussels. The event was live-streamed on Twitch and had over 100 live viewers in attendance at the base camp, adding to the already high-pressure atmosphere.&nbsp;Currently, a captain has been chosen by the BESF to form the team, but the federation is optimistic that as the number of NBA2K fans in Belgium increases, it will be able to host a Belgian Cup in the future as a way to discover and nurture local talent.The successful event marks a big step forward for the FIBA in the world of Esports, and the eLions will be sure to be back to compete again in future tournaments.

The eLions, Belgium's elite Esports basketball team, put on a valiant effort in the second eFIBA European Qualifier but came up just short of advancing to the next round. 

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eLions Roar in Close Defeat during the eFIBA European Qualifier.

The Belgian eSports Federation (BeSF) and the Lotto national team players have arrived at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti where the Global Esports Games 2022 will take place. Richard 'PiKaH' Donders will compete in <a href="/teams/street-fighter">Street Fighter</a> while our new representative, Mikail 'FETIH1453ElTurco' Gonen, will compete in <a href="/teams/eFootball">eFootball</a>.&nbsp;Our eFootball representative, Jon 'Milan7Jon' Bruno, was unfortunately unable to join the tournament due to a broken wrist. We wish him a speedy recovery.&nbsp;The first stages of the festivities start today: PiKaH will face the island of Guam under the Belgian tricolour flag and Mikail Gonen will face Djibouti in a BO3 format.&nbsp;Let's wish the best to our Lotto National Team!

he Belgian eSports Federation (BeSF) and the Lotto National Team players have arrived at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti.

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The Belgian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for the Global Esports Games 2022!

The Global Esports Games 2022 will be held from 15 to 17 December in the megalopolis of Istanbul!&nbsp;Istanbul 2022 Global Esports Games will welcome athletes from all over the world, proudly representing their home nations and territories to compete at the highest level.&nbsp;Players from the national <a href="/teams/street-fighter">Street Fighter</a> and <a href="/teams/eFootball">eFootball</a> scene will fly to Istanbul to claim the title that is at stake.&nbsp;Let's wish the best to our Lotto National Team players : Richard Donders aka PiKaH and Jon Bruno aka Milan7Jon!

The Global Esports Games 2022 will be held from 15 to 17 December in the megalopolis of Istanbul

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The Global Esports Games 2022 will be held in Istanbul 

The CS:GO national team and the representatives of the Belgian Esports Federation were honourably received in the island city of Bali. 31 nations including Belgium were represented in this world-class competition.&nbsp;Belgium was in the qualifying group E with Germany, the Czech Republic and Montenegro. Belgium finished second in the group with two wins and one loss.&nbsp;Then came the play-offs: the first opponent, Mongolia, defeated our national team and went on to reach the quarter-finals with Germany.&nbsp;The Belgian team left with a wealth of experience that will help them in future competitions!

31 nations including Belgium were represented in this world-class competition.  

BESF and VUB to host third Esports seminar on performance and coaching

BESF and VUB to host third Esports seminar on performance and coaching

Mikail Gonen in the eFootball top 8 at the GEG 2022

Mikail Gonen in the eFootball top 8 at the GEG 2022

eLions Roar in Close Defeat du...

BESF and VUB to host third Esp...

Mikail Gonen in the eFootball ...

The Belgian delegation has arr...

The Global Esports Games 2022 ...

Belgian CS:GO team reaches the...

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