Between-Rounds Verbal Communication in Expert and Nonexpert Esports Team Players

This study aimed to examine the dynamics of verbal communication between game rounds in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, focusing on how communication patterns differ between expert and nonexpert teams after winning and losing rounds. Approximately 1,052 statements were derived from eight matches (four expert and four nonexpert teams) and categorized into six content types and sequential patterns to analyze strategic planning, feedback exchange, and team dynamics. The results revealed that expert teams communicated 34.63% more frequently, utilizing a higher number of statements than their nonexpert counterparts. Expert teams predominantly used emotional/motivational, factual, and action-oriented statements, while maintaining a significantly faster communication pace, with a 29.39% higher word count per second. Despite these differences, no significant variation was found in the distribution of speakers, indicating a similar level of shared responsibility across both groups. Sequential analysis showed that expert players transitioned strategically between different types of communication, such as uncertainty-to-acknowledgment and action-to-action sequences, whereas nonexpert players exhibited a higher prevalence of nontask and emotional statement sequences. The findings emphasize the importance of frequent-, concise-, and action-oriented communication, combined with emotional support and balanced participation, in fostering team shared mental models and effective team coordination.