Valorant has become increasingly popular since its release in 2020. With its rise in the esports community, it has gained a mass of players from all skill levels. Coaching has become very popular, not only in a professional gaming setting, but to all players.

Chase “Ryūjin” Russell is a Valorant coach with Cloud9 Training Grounds, and has given us some insight on the insides of coaching. He sat down with us to give us his perspectives on the game itself as well as the coaching scene around it.

How long have you been playing Valorant? What rank are you/ peak rank?

Ryūjin: I've been playing Valorant since the closed beta! So probably a little over 2 years now? As for my rank, I've consistently been Immortal since Episode 1 Act 3, with my peak being #8 in the nation! Although it was only held briefly, it was still a cool achievement of mine!

When did you first become a coach? How did you get into it?

Ryūjin: I first started coaching in January of 2021! COVID was still on the rise at this time, and finding work was difficult. Originally, I was just job hunting and trying to find something within my field of skills to do! I saw that Cloud9 was hiring for Cloud9 Training Grounds, and I figured I would give it a shot! I was confident with my in-game skills, and I also had mentored students before, so it seemed like a job for me! So I decided to try and use my skills that I had acquired, and I applied for Cloud9 Training Grounds! It's been the best decision I have made in the last couple of years!

Originally I decided to coach for the money. I was desperate to find a job, and I was looking everywhere I could for a spot within the esports scene. After a long time of coaching however, it's become a passion of mine! There's no better feeling than seeing your clients improve, and it's so rewarding when they express their gratitude and appreciation for your help!

Why do you think coaching is important?

Ryūjin: Coaching is a useful tool for any sport! Whether it's learning to play an instrument, or a set play in a soccer game, coaches are there to lend a helping hand to both improve the individual and the overall team! I think coaching is important because it allows for an outside perspective to help grow the players involved. When playing a sport, our mind is limited only to how well we think we're doing. Coaches give professional insight into how well you actually are doing and can point out the strengths and weaknesses that you can improve on to increase your overall performance.

When should someone seek coaching?

Ryūjin: I think the best time to seek coaching is when you're feeling stuck, or at a plateau of skill. This is the best time to look for outside help, as getting out of the mud can be devastatingly hard when done alone! However, getting coaching at any time can definitely help you reach new heights, regardless of if you're stuck or not!

Why do you think coaches are more likely to pick higher rank clients?

Ryūjin: Many coaches are more likely to pick higher ranked clients for a variety of reasons. For one, coaching higher level clients allows you to focus more on their macro play. This can include team communication, team coordination, and strategy creation. Giving guidance in these areas can take a lot less time than working on micro play, where many lower ranked clients tend to need help. In addition to this, many higher ranked clients have an overall better understanding of the game (sometimes, not always), which can make explaining concepts to them a lot easier.

Do you think coaches are necessary to improve, especially if you are at a 'plateau' in your skill level?

Ryūjin: I wouldn't say coaches are a necessity, but they can definitely help improve your skills and help you get out of a plateau. Coaching is especially effective when you're in a stuck spot in skill, as a coach can help point out mistakes and places of error that you may never have noticed before. Breaking bad habits can be especially hard, and even harder if you don't know that they exist! Coaching can help undermine these habits and help get you back on the road towards a higher skill level.

Do you ever see a pattern in the people you coach?

Ryūjin: Of course! Generally, people in a lower skill level are lacking in micro skills, or skills that pertain to the individual. These can include aiming skills, movement skills, utility usage, and positioning. These players lack a lot of the core mechanical skills in the game, and correcting them can take time as a lot of them improve with muscle memory.

When it comes to higher level players, the most prominent problems I notice come with macro skills, such as [executing] strategies or plays on the fly. Many of these players are extremely confident in their aim and utility usage, but fall short when it comes to coordinating with a team.

What advice would you give someone who wants to be coached?

Ryūjin: The best advice I could give to someone looking for coaching is to come with a goal in mind. What are you looking to get out of this coaching session? What skills do you feel you're lacking? Asking these questions before you get coaching can vastly help when choosing a coach, as many coaches specialize in different topics. Some may be better with micro skills like aim and utility usage, while others may focus on macro skills like team comms and strategy. Looking at the reviews of a coach can really help when making a choice as well, as some coaches may not be as skilled or versed as others.

As a final note, one of the largest misconceptions of coaches is that you have to be a high rank to be a good coach. While being a high rank may show a lot of value in their individual skill, it doesn't guarantee that person is a good teacher or coach. One of the best coaches I've ever met is named Joe Chee (@JoeJoeChee). He has such a fantastic comprehension of how the game works, and an even better understanding on how to identify the strengths and weaknesses you never knew you had! He's been in Platinum since I've met him, mainly due to the lack of time he has to play ranked. Regardless, he has taught me so much, and it's been an absolute pleasure to work alongside him and learn from him! Definitely one of the best coaches I've ever met!

Do you prefer live coaching or VOD review?

Ryūjin: I don't personally prefer one over the other, as they both have their purposes. VOD review can help identify problems that you can work towards fixing in a static environment. Live coaching allows for us to tackle problems as they come up and bring questions to the actions the client performs live. Both are very good, and they each can help in the long run!

If you could give any piece(s) of advice to anyone, what would it be?

Ryūjin: Don't ever give up! You might go on a huge losing streak, and it may feel really hopeless, but you have to keep your head up and keep pushing forward! This can be applied to anything in your life! The moment you give up and stop trying, is the moment that you accept defeat and mediocrity!

We’d like to thank Chase for taking the time to share his thoughts with us. You can find him on Twitter and Twitch to keep up to date with his career and daily life.