How Coaching Turned TSM Around
Riot·9/17/2014, 9:55:19 PM·1 votes·23,991 views
Team SoloMid (TSM) has come a long way this season. We recently looked at how the team went from having a rough start at the beginning of the year, all the way to winning the NA LCS in our recent article TSM: Long Way from the Bay. Amidst roster changes and new found success, one other factor seems to have helped TSM immensely this year: its hardworking and dedicated coaching staff. With the announcement that team coaches will officially be a part of the LCS in 2015, we caught up with TSM’s coach Choi "Locodoco" Yoon-sup for some insight into how coaching bolstered TSM and how he helped lead the fan favorite NA team to the top.
A coach's role varies tremendously whether his team is in or out of game, according to Locodoco. During an LCS match, coaches aren't able to speak to teams or offer any competitive insight. If they could, players would have much less to keep track in terms of map awareness and it would make their decision making much simpler. Instead, coaches dig every bit of valuable information out of each match they possibly can. Loco explains how during a game, TSM's coaches, "make sure we're getting the most out of practice and that the progression of the team is headed in the right direction."
A coach's job isn't over once a game finishes, either. As a leader for the players, Loco describes how his role on the team is being an authority figure and, "to keep everything in check." He points out how coaches help drive the team towards its goals, and allow players to focus on what's important.
"TSM used to be a team of mechanically gifted players with little to no direction," said Loco. "After I was brought on as a coach, the team had a clear direction on what we wanted to accomplish on the Rift. I also alleviated a lot of the real life worries that players had and allowed them to focus more on the game." All of those things, combined with the advice of analysts, helped propel TSM forward this season.
Many teams, including TSM, take the idea of coaching a step further and also hire an analyst who enables players to use their time more efficiently. Analysts spend time watching their own team and other teams play and dissect that information so their team can learn. With an analyst on board, someone can give players the important information they need about upcoming opponents, show them replays, and discuss competitive strategies, giving players more time to practice and methods for practicing effectively.
On TSM, analysts and coaches work together even though they both have defined priorities. An analyst's primary role is to provide information and be helpful, rather than to lead the team. TSM's analysts also do some video editing when needed and provide coaches and players with visual aids explaining certain concepts. As a coach, Loco ultimately gets the final say on competitive decisions, and it's his job to lead players and make the right choices for the team. Before bringing ideas to players, the coaches and analysts discuss things amongst themselves so they can be sure they're bringing quality advice to their players.
When it comes to Loco’s coaching approach, he leads by example. "My coaching style is pretty direct. I tell the players how I want something done and tell them how to do it." As one of the original members of TSM and a member of multiple international teams over the years, he intimately knows the competitive scene and how to instruct his players. "Recently, I found that it's better to explain the concept and walk them through it and try to have them arrive at the same conclusion, rather than just forcing it onto them."
As a coach, Loco is also responsible for setting a schedule for players and raising their efficiency of practice. With so much on the line, tensions can run high both within the squad and between the team and the coaching staff. Since every player needs something different from a coach, certain players respond to coaching better than others, explains Loco. " Players can have egos sometimes and try to deflect the criticism," he says. To help mitigate those situations, at times Loco will try and brute force his point. However, over time, he’s learned better ways to work with the team. Now, instead of trying to force ideas, he'll explain concepts in place of urging his players to agree with him.
The positive impact of having a coach is hard to argue with, especially when you can see the results TSM walked away with this season. Overall, coaching helped the most in a few areas, both in and out of game according to Loco. In-game, he believes TSM's pick and ban and vision control improved the most, thanks to coaching efforts. Out of game, the group's post-game feedback improved exponentially, allowing for better practice and team discussions.
Looking to the future, Loco believes having a good coach raises the efficiency of practice, and having a coach in general is essential. "Teams without good coaches will be left behind," he proclaims, and it's hard to argue based on the way we've seen TSM transform itself throughout the 2014 season. Going into Worlds, we'll just have to wait and see what Loco and the rest of TSM's coaching staff have up their sleeves.
Leading the Way
A coach's role varies tremendously whether his team is in or out of game, according to Locodoco. During an LCS match, coaches aren't able to speak to teams or offer any competitive insight. If they could, players would have much less to keep track in terms of map awareness and it would make their decision making much simpler. Instead, coaches dig every bit of valuable information out of each match they possibly can. Loco explains how during a game, TSM's coaches, "make sure we're getting the most out of practice and that the progression of the team is headed in the right direction."
A coach's job isn't over once a game finishes, either. As a leader for the players, Loco describes how his role on the team is being an authority figure and, "to keep everything in check." He points out how coaches help drive the team towards its goals, and allow players to focus on what's important.
"TSM used to be a team of mechanically gifted players with little to no direction," said Loco. "After I was brought on as a coach, the team had a clear direction on what we wanted to accomplish on the Rift. I also alleviated a lot of the real life worries that players had and allowed them to focus more on the game." All of those things, combined with the advice of analysts, helped propel TSM forward this season.
Educated Decisions
Many teams, including TSM, take the idea of coaching a step further and also hire an analyst who enables players to use their time more efficiently. Analysts spend time watching their own team and other teams play and dissect that information so their team can learn. With an analyst on board, someone can give players the important information they need about upcoming opponents, show them replays, and discuss competitive strategies, giving players more time to practice and methods for practicing effectively.
On TSM, analysts and coaches work together even though they both have defined priorities. An analyst's primary role is to provide information and be helpful, rather than to lead the team. TSM's analysts also do some video editing when needed and provide coaches and players with visual aids explaining certain concepts. As a coach, Loco ultimately gets the final say on competitive decisions, and it's his job to lead players and make the right choices for the team. Before bringing ideas to players, the coaches and analysts discuss things amongst themselves so they can be sure they're bringing quality advice to their players.
Constructive Criticism
When it comes to Loco’s coaching approach, he leads by example. "My coaching style is pretty direct. I tell the players how I want something done and tell them how to do it." As one of the original members of TSM and a member of multiple international teams over the years, he intimately knows the competitive scene and how to instruct his players. "Recently, I found that it's better to explain the concept and walk them through it and try to have them arrive at the same conclusion, rather than just forcing it onto them."
As a coach, Loco is also responsible for setting a schedule for players and raising their efficiency of practice. With so much on the line, tensions can run high both within the squad and between the team and the coaching staff. Since every player needs something different from a coach, certain players respond to coaching better than others, explains Loco. " Players can have egos sometimes and try to deflect the criticism," he says. To help mitigate those situations, at times Loco will try and brute force his point. However, over time, he’s learned better ways to work with the team. Now, instead of trying to force ideas, he'll explain concepts in place of urging his players to agree with him.
Reaping Rewards
The positive impact of having a coach is hard to argue with, especially when you can see the results TSM walked away with this season. Overall, coaching helped the most in a few areas, both in and out of game according to Loco. In-game, he believes TSM's pick and ban and vision control improved the most, thanks to coaching efforts. Out of game, the group's post-game feedback improved exponentially, allowing for better practice and team discussions.
Looking to the future, Loco believes having a good coach raises the efficiency of practice, and having a coach in general is essential. "Teams without good coaches will be left behind," he proclaims, and it's hard to argue based on the way we've seen TSM transform itself throughout the 2014 season. Going into Worlds, we'll just have to wait and see what Loco and the rest of TSM's coaching staff have up their sleeves.
_______
