In the wake of its successful online summer camp last year, Cloud9 Esports is evolving its Training Grounds youth development initiative into a full-fledged afterschool program in partnership with tennis champion Serena Williams.

The premier esports organization launched Training Grounds to nurture the next generation of players in esports, an industry that is expected to grow to $3 billion in 2022, according to Goldman Sachs. A program for middle and high schools, Training Grounds emphasizes the values of teamwork, critical thinking, and sportsmanship within the context of competitive gaming. Training Grounds coaches deliver a curriculum centered on youth mentorship, growth, and excellence, while building a fun and inclusive gaming community among its players.

In the Training Grounds Champion’s Mindset course, Serena Williams personally details the practices and mindset shifts that drove her to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. The course also includes specific tips for coaching a Champion’s Mindset with young Esports players.

In collaboration with the Positive Coaching Alliance, an organization dedicated to creating a positive youth sports culture, Cloud9 is offering the “Champion’s Mindset” course free on its website for school coaches, parents, and educators to use as part of their youth development work.

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“Hard work, practice and dedication are so important when you’re working to become the best and make your dreams come true, whether that be in sport or something different. As an advisor on Cloud9, I am excited to team up on their Training Grounds program to help nurture these skills in students everywhere,” Serena Williams said.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Serena Williams, truly one of the greatest tennis champions of all time, to teach our coaches the best way to inspire and train aspiring young athletes. As we transition our Training Grounds program into schools, Serena’s ‘Champion’s Mindset’ course will be an essential coaching tool in developing young gamers that are goal-oriented, healthy, and resilient,” Samir Bolar, Executive Director at Training Grounds, said.