On average, children aged between 11 and 18 spend three and a half hours per day on esports. And parents are increasingly inclined to believe that esports help develop skills that will be useful for their children in the future. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted this year in Great Britain.

Among the important skills developed through popular teenage activities include teamwork, problem-solving, technology interaction skills, confidence, communication with people, creativity, flexibility/adaptability, and leadership.

Cyber football is one of the directions in esports that has a promising future in Ukraine, as thousands of Ukrainians spend their leisure time playing electronic football simulators every day.

The Ukrainian Association of Electronic Football promotes cyber football at the national level by organizing competitions in two disciplines—FIFA and eFootball—and selecting the strongest players for the national teams. However, it is important that more gamers across the country feel the prospect of transitioning from amateur gaming to professional play.

What is cyber football—a hobby or a profession? Where do you start your journey in cyber football and how do you improve your skills? How can one become a successful cyber football player?

Cyber football player Andriy CIG_ST92 Shakalov shares his story with the Ukrainian Association of Electronic Football, where he became part of the Ukraine national team for FIFA at age 16.

First Steps in Cyber Football

— I started playing towards the end of 2019. Initially, I watched videos of European FIFA players. Later, I began participating in tournaments at anti-cafes and similar venues. It was only after my first serious tournament that I realized this is more than a hobby and that I could achieve more in cyber football.

At first, there were conflicts with my parents about it. But later, when my mom saw that I was making progress and something could come out of it, she became more supportive of my passion.

I am self-taught; I sought out tips and figured out how to play better and become more competitive on my own.

Improving Skills and Development in the Field

— In my opinion, cyber football allows you to improve your decision-making speed and quality in various situations. If you play as part of a team, mutual understanding is established, which is necessary under competitive conditions.

Motivation in cyber football should be sought with the thought that there are future opportunities to gain from it. A true cyber football player must have psychological resilience.

I spend three to five hours a day on cyber football. Prior to tournaments, this time is supplemented with special training formats.

I try to play more often against strong European players. I look for new working tactics and tips that may be imbalanced in critical situations during top matches.

You need to participate in high-level tournaments, starting from city-based, national ones, and ending with European ones. Only then will specialized organizations notice you and offer contracts and collaborations.

Perspectives of Cyber Football in Ukraine

— Recently, there has been a clear vision in Ukraine about how cyber football should develop to reach the next level. But the war has halted this process. In our country, there are around a dozen professional players who can show something at high levels. We communicate and share tips that may help us in important game situations.

I believe that if it weren't for the EUPL announced last summer, no football club in Ukraine would have worked with its own cyber football player as is already a long-standing practice in Europe. Considering the difficult times our country is going through and how cyber football is a casualty of this situation, this process is unlikely to develop soon.

But most importantly—believe in yourself and don't stop halfway on your path to realizing your dream, as time moves forward and competition in this field will only increase.