“ESPORTS SUSTAINABILITY” – Speakers for GEES 2019

The speakers include Charmaine Crooks and Dr. Janine Brandt.

IESF is excited to announce its speakers for the 4th Global Esports Executive Summit (GEES). GEES this year, hosted by Busan Metropolitan City, will be held under the theme “Esports Sustainability and Governance.”

Esports Sustainability is divided into two sub sectors, Health and Sustainability. Speakers for the respective sectors are as follows:

[HEALTH]

Presentation

 SUBJECT  - Esports : Mutually beneficial or equally detrimental? 

• SPEAKER - Janine Brandt, National Department of Health (Govn), Medical Doctor 

 Panel Discussion

 SUBJECT - How esports can support physical and mental well being 

• SPEAKERS - Colin Webster, IESF, President
                       - Tramayne Monaghan, Tencent, Chief Innovation Officer
                       - Janine Brandt, National Department of Health (Govn), Medical Doctor
                       - David Hedlund, St. John’s University, Associate Professor 

[SUSTAINABILITY]

 Presentation

 SUBJECT  - Win-win strategy and synergy creations between various esports stakeholders

• SPEAKER - Cheol Hag Kim, Korea e-Sports Association, Secretary General 

 Panel Discussion

 SUBJECT - Defining & Standardizing to reach a consensus for esports terminology 

• SPEAKERS - Cheol Hag Kim, Korea e-Sports Association, Secretary General
                       - SungChul Byun, THE MATCH LAB, CEO
                       - Magnus Jonsson, IESF, Board Member
                       - Koen Schobber, IESF Player’s Committee, Member
                       - Nicholas Khoo, SCOGA, Chairman 

 For more information on GEES 2019, please visit: https://gees.rsportz.com/

Also read: 

• Dr. Janine Brandt is off to Busan to address GEES.

• ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO CONNECT WITH ESPORTS
• Busan Metropolitan Government to cooperate actively in developing esports.
• GEES 2019 to be held in Busan, Korea, 29 to 31 August 2019
• IESF announces DOTA 2 as First Game Title for 11th Esports World Championship
• 2019 Esports World Championship: December 11 to 15, 2019
• Excitement abounds as GEES draws nearer.
• Dr. Janine Brandt steps forward to promote gender equality in gaming.

Coaching course shall be implemented by MSSA.

Johan van Breda (MSSA Vice-President) is the Board member in charge of producing the coaching regulations.

Much has been written on this blog about coaches and their importance to the growth of mind sports.

It is true, that in any sport, all coaches fall under a regulatory body in order to control quality of coaching. Thus, all National Federations in South Afirca have to regulate and administer coaches under their code to ensure that only the best can become coaches.

Becoming a coach, also requires adherence to several laws concerning the protection and welfare of children, so, not just anybody can set themselves up as a coach.

As such, Mind Sports South Africa is setting up its own coaching courses that will fall in line with the Regulations that have been passed.

All Registered Players that wish to have input into the coaching courses and/or requirets, should please contact mindsportscorrespondence as soon as possible.

MSSA's Regulations concerning coaches are as follows:

10.13 COACHES

10.13.1 An Executive Officer shall have the portfolio of ensuring the effective management of the Coaches Committee as an additional duty. Should a Coaches Committee not be elected, for whatever reason, such Executive Officer shall be deemed to be the Coaches Committee.

a. The Executive Officer charged with the Coaches portfolio shall chair the Coaches Committee

b. Rules pertaining to Standing Committees (Schedule 4 of the General Regulations) shall apply where otherwise not specified within Schedule 10.13.

c. Duties of the Coaches Committee are as follows:

i. To produce a list of all accredited Coaches.

ii. To ensure that all Coaches are properly trained and certified.

iii. To maintain records of all certified Coaches.

iv. To ensure that the byelaws apropos Coaches are enforced.

v. To liaise with international federations to which MSSA is affiliated apropos all Coaches matters.

vi. To send certified Coaches amendments to guidelines for Coaches.

d. Certification of Umpires

To be an accredited Coach, coaches must be certified in the following categories within 8 months of the courses becoming available::

i. Level I

ii. Level II

iii. Level III

e. Only Registered Players shall be allowed to complete the official certification course.

f. No Registered Player may coach without being accredited.

g. Certification lasts for three years after which the player must complete a refresher course.

h. Kit used by MSSA Coaches

i. Coaches shall wear the following:

I. Regional Team Coach - White polo shirt with the Badge being the double headed knight with the circle surround in red.

II. Provincial Team Coach - White polo shirt with the Badge being the double headed knight with the circle surround in black.

III. National Team Coach - White polo shirt with the Badge being the double headed knight with the circle surround in green.

1. Penalties 

a. Any player who coaches for payment without being properly accredited shall not be allowed to attend any MSSA events for a full calendar year.

b. A school that employs an unaccredited coach, or that allows an unaccredited coach train/coach at school level for payment without being properly accredited shall be liable for a fine of R2,000.00 and shall not be allowed to attend any MSSA events for a full calendar year.

Also read: 

• Coaches essential to the growth of eSports
• Conduct of elected officials.
• Effective coaching is the answer.
• Factors influencing women participating in sport
• Quotas out - transformation is in!
• Creating an esports textbook.
• IESF launches Global Esports R&D Centre for Further Esports Development

Nominations required by 31 August 2019 for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

Under MSSA president, Amanda Pakade, the scope of such awards were widened.

Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board Awards are the longest running awards for gaming in South Africa. The awards ttake into account all the various disciplines being, board gaming, esports, and wargaming.

It could even be argued that such awards are the longest running awards for rewarding such athletes in the world. Whereas the long running awards (like BAFTA) acknowledge the games themselves, MSSA's Management Board Awards acknowledge the contribution made by the very gamers/athletes themselves.

MSSA's Management Board Awards were initiated in 2009 to reward excellence not specifically provided for in MSSA's Constitution.

When reading through the names of those previously honoured, the reader is quickly reminded of MSSA's rich history. The names are not just names, these are the men and women who have made an incredible contribution to the various mind sports in South Africa.

Under the direction of MSSA president, Amanda Pakade, MSSA's highest legisative body, being the Annual General Meeting, agreed to widen the scope of such awards in December 2018.

Thus the awards are now more representative of MSSA's membership, of the work being done, and of society as a whole.

It should be noted by the reader that the catagories for Writer of the Year, Social Media Person of the Year, and Sponsor of the Year are open catagories and apply to anyone that has given their 'all' to the development of esports as a sport.

The awards now take into account the following categories:

• Mind Sports Person of the Year
• Board Gamer of the Year
• Esports Player of the Year
• Wargamer of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year
• Umpire of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Educator of the Year
• Writer of the Year
• Social Media Person of the Year
• Sponsor of the Year

MSSA's Management Board requests all members to make submissions by 31 August 2019.

The names of previous winners may be seen on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_Sports_South_Africa#Management_Board_Awards

Dr. Janine Brandt is off to Busan to address GEES.

Dr. Janine Brandt (Valhalla).

In April of this year (2019) Dr. Janine Brandt was co-opted onto MSSA's Board in order to hold the position of Womens' Desk.

Janine has already done more in such position than all her predecessors have ever done, and is a dynamic member of the team.

Thus it has come as no surprise to Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) to find out that Janine has been invited by International Esports Federation (IESF) to discuss, and talk on, health matters affecting esports athletes at its Global Esports Executive Summit - Busan.

Already stretched for time as a medical doctor, Janine throws herself into her passions which includes the issue of gender equality in the gaming industry and making more opportunities available for females, as well as promoting health, healthy living and the health benefits associated with gaming in fellow gamers.

In esports circles, Janine is known for her competitiveness in the popular title League of Legends.

Also read: 

• ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO CONNECT WITH ESPORTS
• Busan Metropolitan Government to cooperate actively in developing esports.
• GEES 2019 to be held in Busan, Korea, 29 to 31 August 2019
• IESF announces DOTA 2 as First Game Title for 11th Esports World Championship
• 2019 Esports World Championship: December 11 to 15, 2019
• Excitement abounds as GEES draws nearer.
• Dr. Janine Brandt steps forward to promote gender equality in gaming.

WADA SUSPENDS ACCREDITATION OF NEW DELHI LABORATORY

Montreal, 22 August 2019 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended the accreditation of the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi, India, for a period of up to six months.
 
This suspension has been imposed due to non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) as identified during a WADA site visit, including in relation to the laboratory’s isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) analytical method, as regulated by the relevant technical document (TD2016IRMS).
 
In May 2019, disciplinary proceedings were initiated by WADA’s Laboratory Expert Group (LabEG) and subsequently carried out by an independent Disciplinary Committee, which was mandated to make a recommendation to the Chair of the WADA Executive Committee regarding the status of the laboratory’s accreditation. This process is now complete.
 
The suspension, which took effect on 20 August 2019, prohibits the NDTL from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples. During the period of suspension, samples that have not yet been analyzed by the NDTL; samples currently undergoing a confirmation procedure; and any samples for which an Adverse Analytical Finding has been reported, must be securely transported to another WADA-accredited laboratory. This is in order to ensure continued high-quality sample analysis, which also helps preserve athletes’ confidence in this process and the wider anti-doping system.
 
Pursuant to Article 13.7 of the World Anti-Doping Code, the laboratory may appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days of receipt of notice.
 
During the period of suspension, the laboratory shall address all non-conformities identified by the LabEG or WADA in any request for corrective action or otherwise, as well as any additional non-conformities identified during any follow up WADA site visit during the suspension period. If the laboratory satisfies the LabEG in meeting these requirements, it may apply for reinstatement prior to the expiry of the six-month suspension period. Should the laboratory not address the non-conformities by the end of the six-month suspension period, WADA may extend the suspension of the laboratory’s accreditation for up to an additional six months.
 
In accordance with the ISL, WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards. This monitoring process is conducted in conjunction with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assessment by independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

Getting to the top.

MSSA president, Amanda Kwaza, has demonstrated time-after-time that she is a competant administrator.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is a non profit association that is run entirely by volunteers who are elected in by the member clubs.

While everybody aims at getting to the Board, which is a noteworthy ambition in itself, it should be remembered that in order to sit on the Board, Registered Players have to meet stipulated criteria.

One such criteria is to have served two terms as a Regional Director.

As all South Africans are aware, South Africa has 56 Regions. South Africa is divided into provinces, and below that into Regions (which may consist of one or more municipalities).

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) conforms to all such demarcations.

Thus MSSA holds Regional Championships in order to ensure it has an effective footprint.

Regional Directors only have a one-year term and are accountable directly to the Management Board.

The roles and duties of the Regional Directors are:

• To be a member of the Provincial Board of Control,
• To liaise with local government,
• To liaise with clubs within such region,
• To act as Tournament Director for MSSA's regional championships in such region, 
• To select such Regional Teams, and
• To manage such Regional Teams.

The term of office for a Regional Director is one year from the date of election at MSSA's Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Please note that only Registered Players may stand for the position in the region in which  they live.

If you want to be a Regional Director, ask your club to nominate you to the Management Board as soon as possible on mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

Also read:

• New criteria for being elected onto MSSA's Management Board.
• MSSA's Elected Office-Bearers for 2019.
• Huge revisions done to MSSA's Constitution and Regulations.
• More about regions in South Africa.

The process has begun to select the national squad for the Pro Evolutiion Soccer (PES) esports title.

An esports athlete readies himself for action.

With the news that International Esports Federation (IESF) has selected PES 2020 as an official title for IESF's 11th World Championships - Seoul, esports athletes country-wide are showing a renewed interest in the title.

In order to select the best possible player to represent South Africa, Mind sports South Africa (MSSA) has decided to hold a selection trial at a date and venue (as yet to be determined).
Since MSSA allows all athletes who have qualified for trials within genre to participate, such rule allows all athletes who have qualified for both the PES and FIFA esports titles to try out for the much coveted positions in the squad.

It is out of the squad, that the athlete who shall attend IESF's 11th World Championships - Busan shall be selected.

The trials shall, as the rules dictate, be held in the province in which the majority of qualifiers are resident.

It is therefore vitally important that all athletes who have qualified, check the lists to ensure that there are no misstatements or omissions.
Should an athlete wish to make him/herself eligible for selection, then such athlete must download and complete the relevant forms and then e-mail such to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

Senior players who have reached the age of majority may download their forms here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qfvim7AAsVuFU-cyqpDquVe0Q66RZJB8

Players, who are minors and have not yet reached the age of majority may download their forms here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qfvim7AAsVuFU-cyqpDquVe0Q66RZJB8

The athletes who have all qualified for the selection process for Pro Evolutiion Soccer (PES) esports title are as follows:

#	Full name	Club	Where qualified
1	Katleho Mofokeng	NWU Vaal	Sedibeng 2018
2	Lesego Motlatsi	Fakkel School of Skills	S A Nationals 2018, Free State 2018,
3	Leone Loftus	Fakkel School of Skills	S A Nationals 2018, Free State 2018,
4	Denver Abdullah	North School	S A Nationals 2018
5	Raygen Abdullah	North School	S A Nationals 2018
6	Delmari van der Walt	JCS Academy	S A Nationals 2018
7	Unathi Nzimande	Empangeni High School	KwaZulu Natal 2018
8	Jodie-Ray Nelson	Empangeni High School	KwaZulu Natal 2018
9	Irfaan Sabat	Empangeni High School	KwaZulu Natal 2018
10	Henry Colin	Fakkel School of Skills	Free State 2018
11	Philip Ajayi	Hyde Park High	Online Schools 2019
12	Aiden Hodgkinson	JCS Academy	Free State 2018

Also read:

• Athletes wishing to be selected must now apply.
• PES 2020 selected as an Official Title For 11TH ESPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Events for July until December 2019
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Checkers.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for FIFA '19.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Hearthstone.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for International Draughts.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for League of Legends.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Morabaraba. 
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Russian Draughts.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Street Fighter V
• The process has begun to select the national squad for TEKKEN 7

Athletes wishing to be selected must now apply.

The South African Protea Esports Team at IESF's 10th World Championships - Kaohsuing.

With the National Team Manager (Johan van Breda) now having been selected for esports, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) may now begin to select its national squads.

South Africa's national esports teams, have, over the years represented South Africa well in international competition. The teams have chalked up some impressive victories, and have always demonstrated the best of sportsmanship.

The squads too provide a pool of players from which the National Protea Teams that will represent South Africa in its various disciplines shall be drawn.

The system of selecting squads is a useful method for enforcing training, as well as a player, wish continually monitoring the performance of those individuals who are so selected.

It is therefore vitally important that all athletes who have qualified, check the lists to ensure that there are no misstatements or omissions.

Should an athlete wish to make him/herself eligible for selection, then such athlete must download and complete the relevant forms and then e-mail such to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

Senior players who have reached the age of majority may download their forms here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qfvim7AAsVuFU-cyqpDquVe0Q66RZJB8

Players, who are minors and have not yet reached the age of majority may download their forms here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qfvim7AAsVuFU-cyqpDquVe0Q66RZJB8

Only forms need to be submitted by 15 September 2019 shall be considered.

Also read:

• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Events for July until December 2019
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Checkers.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for FIFA '19.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Hearthstone.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for International Draughts.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for League of Legends.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Morabaraba. 
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Russian Draughts.
• The process has begun to select the national squad for Street Fighter V
• The process has begun to select the national squad for TEKKEN 7

3rd Curacao Open Challenge World Cup - 11/11/2019 to 17/11/2019.

Arriving Day November 10th, 2019 

Playing Days November 11th, - November 17th, 2019 

Departure Day November 18th, 2019 

Program

Technical Details 

Game Rate – 1h20’ + 1 Per Move 

Open – 9 rounds, FMJD Swiss System On Solkoff Truncated 

Official FMJD Software Draughts Arbiter Pro Will Be Used 

Competition Fee 

U$67 / 60 Euro Per/Person 

Tournament choice: 

Depend on number of players: 

a. Separate tournament for women and separate for men. If not enough women.
b. One group with the following conditions: 

i. Women can win also prizes in open category (instead of this for women)

ii. Women are omitted when counting bonus point for World Cup (instead this who declared wish to be classify only in open category). 

Appendix A Prize money for World Cup 

*Open Cup Prize 5.000 Euro (Net) 

OPEN: PLACE AMOUNT WOMEN: PLACE AMOUNT 

1st Place 1000Euro 1st Place 500Euro

2nd Place 800 Euro 2nd Place 300Euro 

3rd Place 700Euro 3rd Place 200Euro 

4th Place 500Euro 

5th Place 400Euro 

6th Place 300Euro 

7th Place 200Euro 

8th Place 100Euro 

Hotel - Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort Garden

Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort Garden view room, up to 4 guests US$ 105.00 per room per night, excluding breakfast and excluding 7% room tax. Just apply for the Draughts Tournament and up on acceptance.  

Contact: Reservations at reservations@curacao-marriott.com and book your room with code CONFNOV2019

#Curacao #CuracaoMarriott

Application 

Deadline for registration and reservation 

• to be received before the 8th of November through FDK/FEDAKOR website 

• Apply by e-mail to Clifton Agata at: crajaqua@gmail.com/ president@fedakor.com or Danette Izijk at Danette.izijk@yahoo.com treasurer@fedakor.com 

Transport 

The organizer will organize shuttle from airport to hotel and vice versa. 

Deadline of subscription payment: 08th of November 2019

Registration Website: www.fedakor.com