Attitudes Are Contagious. Make Yours Worth Catching!

Firstly, let me give you a little background on myself. I have been playing this game since Beta, and I have over 3000 normal game wins, totaling about 6000+ League of Legends games. As of right now, I am in Diamond IV, and in Season 2 I was 2300. In nearly every single game I have said "Good Game" at the very end.

This isn't because I want to be honored, because honor isn't a testament to you being a good sport. Sometimes it is, but with any system there are flaws. All that counts is the impression you leave on people, because chances are you might not ever see them again if you are playing ranked and trying to climb the ladders.

Here are a few tips that have helped me over the years to prevent my Undying Rage:

- When asking for a buff, always say "May I have (Red or Blue) buff." People usually respond better to politeness.

- If you are playing AD offer to buy a ward for your support, try to coordinate with them.

- Never mention dying, always say "Nice try team" or "We can still win, everything will be okay." When people make mistakes, you should not acknowledge them because it might lead to more mistakes because they feel pressure.

- When your lane gets a kill by themself or avoids something or just does something awesome make sure they know someone saw it! This is the exact opposite of the dying one. People like to be acknowledged for a job well done. Example: Baron Steals, Dragon Steals, avoiding ganks and warding.

- Don't be afraid to talk with the other team. When you get outplayed in a lane, instead of saying "Wow, you got lucky." Try saying "Nice one, I didn't expect that." This can lead into a more respectful game.

- Never say Good Game until the nexus explodes. This is the most CRUCIAL one. Just because your team flubbed up once doesn't mean that it is the end of the world. Reassure your team that you can still win. Try to inspire confidence in them!

- Try not to sound too authoriative. Like "Can you" "You should" "Do this." Use phrases like " Could you possibly buy a vision ward for baron?" Ask it in more of a question and be their friend. It yeilds very good results.

- Always say Good Game at the end of a game. It shows you have respect for yourself in victory and defeat. It doesn't matter if there is a disconnect on either team, always say Good Game! Usually if there is a poor sport on the other team or a disconnect that kind of ruins it for everyone on the oppossing team I usually try to say "Good Game, Sorry for (Insert name here.) This acknowledges that you are aware of what has happened, but saying Good Game is a sign of proffessionalism.

- Never start the surrender, no matter how much you want to. Never ever do it. If you are the one who thinks you can carry the team, do not be afraid of saying "Guys, please do not surrender, we can do this!" Try to encourage and inspire!

The above tips are usually for chatting and for fellow teammates. But it is time to get a little intimate with yourself.  When you find yourself on tilt (When something goes bad, you think everything is going to go bad) you should try to lighten the mood. Here are a some things I do that have helped me keep my cool and retain my composure:

- If you are listening to music, sometimes you need to get serious and concentrate really hard. Turn off the music and try listening to the in-game sounds. You might find that you respond quicker to sounds rather than just looking at the screen.

- Smile. Even when everything seems hopeless, keep a smile. It makes you feel better as a person to just smile, I know sometimes it can be hard. It is encouraged that after a bad game you watch a funny video or look at some funny pictures just to lighten everything.

- If you are on any sort of voice communication with your teammates. Mute yourself if you find yourself complaining. Try not to complain at all, instead say things like "Well, better luck next time." It helps engage yourself in good practices so you do not come off as a someone who just complains.

- When you die in-game because of a mistake, try to ignore things that get on your nerves. Examples: "Wow, you just fed first blood noob" "GG, this (instert champion name here) sucks!". Instead of focusing on that, try to focus on what you could have done better. Find something to do with your hands that is better than fueling the flames.

- After every game, get up and walk around. Get the blood flowing. Go play with your animal, talk to your parent, talk to your significant other, do anything! Just make sure to get up and walk around and come back. Go outside and get a breath of fresh air. Then come back, take a deep breath, and try again

- Drink lots of water! You don't have to buy it, there is easy access to it, and it is healthy for you! You are supposed to drink half your weight in ounces each day. Not many people do, but that gives you a rough idea on how much water you are supposed to drink!

 

These are just some tips I have learned over the years. Never surrender and always try! Showing humility in victory and defeat is the first step in the right direction. Finding inspiration from what seems like nothing is a skill aquired and honed and is an attribute of not only a great leader, but a great person.