The protector: How Summer Scott has helped coach an esports industry into taking care of itself

By Alexander Lee

As director of team operations at Counter Logic Gaming, Summer Scott has spent her career advocating for her players. But despite the wholesomeness of Scott’s work, she’s spent much of her tenure at CLG having to contend with fans who blame her for losses or otherwise make false assumptions about her role in the organization.

As esports grows up, organizations are realizing the importance of supporting their members throughout every stage of their careers — a culture shift that elevates the urgency of Scott’s player development work. Scott’s career has flourished accordingly. After joining CLG as a player development coordinator in 2017, she rapidly scaled the ladder at the org, reaching her current directorial role in January 2021. Though player development is not part of Scott’s current title, it has been a consistent throughline in her work, with player wellness at the top of her mind as she ties together the many moving parts that make up CLG.

Underrepresented but important

Scott’s work in CLG’s player development department focused largely on players’ mental health and what they could do to support it out-of-game, including organizing physical and psychological therapy, advocating on behalf of burnt-out players and otherwise supporting them as human beings.

I had someone in the trenches, in Summer, who was looking out for me, not only competitively, but also professionally.

Former CLG Super Smash Bros. player Kevin “PewPewU” Toy

“I was there to just take note of how all the pieces were working together, with that outside lens — how the coaching styles were blending with the players, how the players were learning, if it can be accelerated in any way — overall looking to tweak and tune the dials for all the people working there,” Scott said.

Player development is an important way for teams to support players as they transition away from active competition. When former CLG Super Smash Bros. player Kevin “PewPewU” Toy stepped back from competition in favor of an internal operations role in 2021, Scott was integral in helping him make the switch. “If there had not been a player development coach like Summer, I don’t think I would’ve been able to smoothly transition from professional player to staff,” Toy said. “I had someone in the trenches, in Summer, who was looking out for me, not only competitively, but also professionally. The role of a player development manager and head is not only to be invested in these players as competitors — it’s to be invested in their lives.”

Despite the clear value of player development for individuals like Toy, many esports orgs still underrate its importance; during her early days, Scott recalled getting axed by an organization so they could hire a live-in chef. As increasing numbers of players burn out or retire from competition, some teams are beginning to realize the importance of out-of-game support …read more

Source:: Digiday