Hiko will be coaching teenagers at IMG’s CS:GO bootcamp

One of the driving forces behind ELEAGUE is offering teenagers the chance to spend one week as a competitive gamer, learning from the best.

From July 30 to August 5, the talent agency behind Turner’s ELEAGUE will be hosting an esports bootcamp in Bradenton, Florida, at the company’s IMG training facility. Attendees from 12 to 18 years will be able to register to attend the bootcamp, where they will practice Counter-Strike: Global Offensive under the watchful gaze of some of North America’s most well-established names.

The facility itself has been used by professional CS:GO squads in the past, with FaZe Clan and compLexity Gaming having spent time there last year. It’s from these sessions that the one-week bootcamp draws part of its lesson plan from.

“The program has taken about a year to develop and due to FaZe and compLexity’s generous assistance, we have been able to identify key training techniques that can apply from beginner to pro,” wrote Lilia Russo, IMG’s director of esports strategy and engagement. The program IMG will be using at the upcoming bootcamp will, however, not be identical to that used by either team in the past.

Focusing on teaching the participants the intricacies of several maps, as well as in-game tactics, students will have Spencer “Hiko” Martin, Eric “adreN” Hoag, and former mousesports coach Aleksandar “kassad” Trifunović at their disposal. Known for their time competing on Team Liquid, Hiko and adreN are widely considered to be two of the most successful players from North America. During their tenure together, the players reached the semifinals of the 2016 MLG Columbus Valve Major, in one of the most unexpected tournament runs at a CS:GO Major.

Aside from the input from Hiko, adreN, and kassad, IMG has also assembled a team of established mental and physical coaches from the world of traditional sports—so the attendees will not only be coached inside the server, but outside as well.

The price of admission, however, is rather steep—with the lowest available price sitting at $1,999 without lodging (with lodging, the price rises to $2,749). When reached by Dot Esports, Russo said that, “Our goal is to pack this camp with value.” Before proceeding to mention the opportunity the bootcamp itself presents for the enthusiasts that do attend.

“The coaches are the world’s best and the program is built in a world class facility. This is an opportunity to feature everything that comes with it,” she said.

Any aspiring competitive gamer between the ages of 12 to 18 are free to sign up for IMG’s esports bootcamp via IMG Academy’s website.