MSSA amends rules for hosting Regional Championships.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) always listens to the requests of its member clubs.

Thus MSSA has amended the regulations, at the General Meeting held on 27 May 2017, for the hosting of official Regional Championships in order to make it even easier for member clubs to host such Regional Championships.

It is hoped that the Regional Championships will be expanded to each and every region in the country, as the championships will undoubtedly help:

1. Strengthen clubs that are in each region,
2. Encourage clubs to grow in regions that as yet do not have member clubs, and
3. Allow a greater base of players to participate in official MSSA championships without having to travel vast distances.

However, the MSSA is aware that many of the clubs do not have the financial resources and 'know-how' to host a full provincial championship. Thus the Regional championships are designed to be much smaller affairs. 

Host clubs may host only the period that such club has an active interest in promoting. Thus there could be a Regional event held for each period within a Region at a different time – as long as the host clubs within the Region have met with all the criteria for such.

As an example, a member club like St John's may very well host the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Regional Championships, while the Old Edwardian Wargames Club hosts the CoJ Ancients Regional Championships, while Wits University hosts the CoJ Regional Championships for Board games and Starcraft II, and Northcliff High School hosts the CoJ Regional Championships for CounterStrike: GO and DotA 2.

This way the MSSA will create a larger pool of people able to host championships which will also do much to help the growth of LANs as well as financially bolster the member clubs as the net profit from these events will be kept by the host clubs.

Regional Championships thus remain the basis of grass-root development. With 56 regions in South Africa, should there be a Regional Championship in each and every region, more gamers will be able to qualify for National team Trials and be exposed to all MSSA's disciplines (board games, card games, esports, robotics, and wargames).

Content from all Regional Championships shall also be screened on MSSA's TV Channel on Tuluntulu.

The amended rules are:

10.12.3 HOSTING OF REGIONAL EVENTS

1. Members within a region may offer to host, through a bid, any such championship at least 30 days prior to the event.
2. The decision to which club the hosting of such event is awarded shall be made by the Management Board.
3. The host club shall sign an SLA.
4. The date, venue, games to be played, cost, times, and so forth, of a Regional Championship shall be advertised by MSSA at least 21 days prior to the event.
5. The Management Board may decide to host such championship itself. Should such decision be made and bids have been received, the Management Board shall advise all members of the reasons therefore.
6. Every effort shall be made by the host to hold such championship in a venue that is easily accessible to both Players and members of the public.
7. A Regional Championship may be played to any periods currently offered at a Provincial Championship or approved of by the Management Board.
8. The different periods may be held at separate times and venues from other periods.
9. Only Regional Championship for each period shall be held in any one season.
10. Only players who are fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in such event.
11. The host club acknowledges that the event/s is/are wholly owned by the MSSA and all rules are complied with.
12. The host club shall set the entrance fee. Such fee shall be included in the bid.
13. The host club shall supply suitable and qualified umpires.
14. The host club shall purchase the medals from MSSA. MSSA shall price the medals at cost + 20% and postage.
15. The host club shall be responsible for the venue and all other costs relating thereto.
16. The club shall keep the net profit for the event.
17. The club must submit all results to MSSA within 48 hours.
18. The club must send a statement of account to MSSA within 30 days to the VP in charge of events.
19. No results may be posted on any site until MSSA has announced the results.
20. The MANCOM shall invite the player who finished in first place to attend the National Team Trials if the event has met with all the criteria.
21. The results may be vitiated by the VP in charge of umpiring if any of the above are not complied with.