“On The Shoulders of Giants”. Our tagline speaks to the power of mentorship and the community’s role in lifting up its next generation of talent. Season 1 successfully established a new competitive platform, but it was also a valuable learning experience, especially for our mentorship program. Based on community feedback, we’ve gone back to the drawing board. Season 2 introduces a revamped and more structured program that is designed to empower mentors while ensuring a positive and impactful experience for everyone involved.
Structured Development Program
Conquer The Climb’s core mission is player development. Season 2 introduces a more structured educational framework with the goal of guiding the learning experience. For mentors, this means two key things:
- Onboarding Workshop: All selected mentors will need to attend the Mentor Workshop. This workshop will be hosted between the end of the registration period and before the Assignment Show. This session will cover coaching best practices, conflict resolution strategies, and emphasise the educational goals of the project to ensure that you are fully prepared for your role.
- Curriculum: We’re removing the guesswork. Each mentor will receive a fundamentals checklist, which is a baseline of concepts and skills that should be covered with the team. While it’s not a requirement to follow, it does provide mentors a clear path of progression with the ability to track and monitor progress of their team.
Support System
A key takeaway from Season 1 was the need for a more proactive administrative support. Feedback highlighted the challenges of a reactive administration and the absence of a formal process for checking in on teams and mentors.
To address this, we’ve moved from a reactive model to a proactive one by implementing new systems to provide support and ensure accountability. A formal weekly check-in process has been established, wherein an administrator will connect with each mentor and team captain to monitor progress and identify [potential] issues before they escalate. Alongside this we have a better system for engaging with reports and resolution of mentor-team disputes. This allows us to investigate and intervene decisively when needed, providing a safety net that protects both you and the players.
Clearer Responsibilities
We want our mentors to succeed, and that starts with clear and practical expectations. Your core responsibilities, as outlined in the Season 2 Code of Conduct and Rulebooks are:
- Provide guidance, coaching, and strategic support to your assigned team.
- Commit to a minimum of one hour per week with your team.
- Proactively manage and resolve conflicts to foster a positive team environment.
- Prepare your team during the Icebreaker Phase and throughout the duration of the tournament.
- Serve as one of the primary points of contact between your team and the admins.
- Manage and teach in-game duties, such as inviting players to lobbies and submitting results.
- Monitor players skill ratings to ensure they remain within the tournament’s eligibility requirements.
Communication
All official communication between mentors and teams will take place in designated channels on the CTC Team server. These channels will be admin-visible, and are designed to include scheduling, strategic discussions, and feedback. This policy is in response to feedback from Season 1, where private channels of communication can sometimes led to unresolved conflicts. Centralising the communication provides a safety net and ensure that admins can offer support before issues escalate, protecting both players and mentors by creating a clear record of interactions.
Beyond the Game
While our project’s focus is on in-game improvement, we also have much broader objectives. This project is an opportunity for mentor growth and community building. You are helping to shape a more supportive and development-focussed esports ecosystem. You are investing in players and gaining valuable coaching experience yourself. The value of this initiative is felt across entire esports communities.
Ready to begin?
Our revamped mentorship program for Season 2 is built upon the lessons of our inaugural season. It is designed to provide you with the structure, support, and clarity to make a real difference. We are committed to giving you the tools to be an effective leader and ensuring your time with us is rewarding.
Are you ready to help build the next generation of talent? Are you ready to become a giant on whose shoulders our players can stand? Sign up as a mentor today!