Answering more questions about MSSA

As usual there is a lot of hearsay doing the rounds generated by a few gamers who have somewhat ulterior motives as well as sometimes being quite malicious.

There is more than one gamer who pretends to be in the 'know' who claims to be in contact with MSSA, and then spouts the biggest load of rubbish.

Nevertheless, there are gamers who have very real queries. Such queries are always answered and MSSA feels that such queries, and answers should be made public. Replies such an e-mail written by a conscientious gamer are as follows:

1. How long it will take to create a club?
   It will take as long as those establishing the club need to agree with consensus on the constitution and to elect their office-bearers at the inaugural General Meeting, and write up the minutes of such meeting. This may be a lot faster, or slower, than most realise as it is only dependent on the purpose and dedication of those involved.
   
2. How long it will take to become affiliated?
   The Management Board may grant membership until ratified by a General Meeting. The Management Board normally meets once a month, but in exceptional cases will meet more often. Especially where it is critical that membership is given to include new members so that they will be included in events, the Management Board will schedule additional ad hoc meetings. However, all gamers should note that 5 days notice must be given for a Management Board Meeting which means that their is a cut-off for new memberships before any MWEB sponsored MSSA championship.
   
   
3. May a team attend National Championships without attending a provincial championships?
   This often creates confusion. S A National Championships are played in December of every year. The 2015 edition shall be played on 12 & 13 December 2015 at HTS Witbank .
   
   National Team Trials are different to the S A National Championships and are used to select the teams that then officially represent South Africa.
   
   Any affiliated team may enter the S A National Championships.
   
   Only players that qualify to enter into Team Trials may do so. To enter Trials, a player has to finish 1st in a Regional Championships, or finish in the top 3 or top 20% (whichever is greater) of a Provincial or National Championships. The current National team automatically has entry into National Team Trials.
   
4. Would it be possible to qualify with a reserve then replace him with another player for National Trials?
   No. Players are invited to Trials not teams. However, that is why the MSSA holds both LAN and on-line championships in order to give everyone a chance of qualifying. Also because teams have a year over which to qualify, a team can pick which events that it wants to attend. So, if Trials are held this year on 28 April 2015, then all MSSA events between 29 April 2014 and 28 April 2015 count towards qualifying for Trials.