Thursday 28 January 2021

SA's official body continues to grow.

 

All affiliated clubs have the ability to affect every aspect of MSSA's administration.
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) was founded in 1985, and caters for a wide array of various mind sports. Such mind sports include the disciplines of Board Games, Card Games, Esports, and Wargames.

Since the founding of MSSA 220 clubs have affiliated. Some of the clubs have had the staying power and have been members right from the beginning, whereas others do not have the staying power. The lack of staying-power can often be ascribed to clubs not having the proper structures to enable hand-over from outgoing to incoming committees.

Where clubs are based on an individual, the club may not survive. It seems as though clubs without proper structures only seem to have a three to five year life expectancy.

Thus clubs based at established institutions seem to have a greater chance of surviving through the years and being able to deal with those unexpected events.

MSSA, with over 30 years under its belt, has seen many clubs, organisations, and operators come-and-go.

At MSSA's annual General Meeting held in December 2020, MSSA accepted no less than a further 8 clubs into full membership. 

Such clubs now all enjoy all the rights of full membership and  are now able to help steer MSSA and help all the disciplines (Board Games, Card Games, Esports, and Wargames) grow.

The clubs accepted into membership at MSSA's 37th National Convention held on 5 December 2020 are:

#NAME
1PES Society
2Hoerskool Zwartkops
3First in Battle (FiB)
4Curro Hazeldean High School
5Waterstone College
6Belgian Campus Gaming
7Katlehong Engineering School & Specialisation
8Grassroots Esports Academy

Also read:

Tuesday 26 January 2021

The various events held by Mind Sports South Africa.


Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), the oldest national federation for esports in the word in runs a plethora of events during each and every year. It is through such events that Registered Players qualify for the National Team selection process. It should be noted that MSSA first awarded Protea Colours (then Springbok Colours) for Wargames in 1995, for Board Gaming in 1997,and for Esports in 2005. It was entirely through MSSA's efforts that Wargames, Board Gaming, and Esports became accredited sports.

Volunteers stand at the core of MSSA, and without whom, nothing would get done or be achieved. MSSA is indeed blessed to have sterling volunteers who act as administrators, umpires, and technical officials. It is only due to the involvement of such volunteers MSSA is able to host so many activities.

All the volunteers are deeply appreciated, as well as the sponsors (EnerGHack, North West University, Partnermedia, Tuluntulu, and ZAG Academy) - well done! Without their dedication and commitment, MSSA would not have achieved what it has!

In 2019, MSSA held no fewer than 30 events. Even in 2020 with the devastating effects of COVID-19, MSSA was still able to hold 22 events under the most trying circumstances.

MSSA runs the following:

Type of eventLevelEligibility
Derby Championships
Face-to-Face (Shares the status of a Regional)The host club mist be a member, however, non members may participate
Online (Shares the status of a Regional)The host club mist be a member, however, non members may participate
School Championships
Regional face-to-faceAny gamer who attends a school
Provincial face-to-faceAny gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
Provincial OnlineAny gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
National face-to-faceAny gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
Inter-school online leagueSchools that are affiliated to the MSSA
Student Championships
Regional face-to-faceAny gamer who attends a tertiary level institution
Inter-university online leagueAny gamer who attends a tertiary level institution affiliated to the MSSA
Provincial face-to-faceAny gamer who attends a tertiary level institution affiliated to the MSSA
Senior Regional Championships
Inter-Regional Test MatchesOnly official teams that have been selected
Regional face-to-faceAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
Provincial Championships
Provincial face-to-faceAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
Provincial Online ChampionshipsAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
Provincial Online LeagueAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
National ChampionshipsNational face-to-faceAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
Test Matches
Inter-Regional - School, Student, SeniorOnly official teams that have been selected
Inter-Provincial - School, Student, SeniorOnly official teams that have been selected
Inter-National - School, Student, SeniorOnly official teams that have been selected
World ChampionshipsSchool, Student, SeniorOnly official teams that have been selected

Sleep Coaching gamers


Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is ever mindful of improving player welfare and performance. With such belief Mr. Barry Bridges operates as MSSA's online coach and wellness consultant. 

Barry Bridges (ZAG Academy) is a qualified sports scientist who holds international certifications in sleep science, sports performance, golf fitness, and FMS movement testing.  He is based in Cape Town, South Africa and has over 12 years of experience working with Golf fitness for professional golfers such as interprovincial, national and sunshine tour golfers. While Barry had focused extensively on the golf industry he also has experience in working as a coach for strength and conditioning (soccer), corporate wellness, sleep coaching, and esports performance.

Barry uses the following list of tools to assess novice and professional gamers when they undergo when I sleep training. 

Barry further believes that education is vitally important when approaching gamers on this topic Gamers need to understand the 'why' and 'how' of sleep and recovery. Once the basic information has been covered, then Barry will dig deep into proper analysis and find out their sleep needs.

Gathering the information from the gamer will be the first step to allowing to identify weak performance points and to provide the best solutions going forward.

Here below are a few sleep tricks to help all gamers build sleep quality:
  • Make sure to get regular sleep wake up times this will help promote sleepiness the night leading up to sleep.
  • Get outside first thing in the morning and add some movement. The body needs sunlight and movement to reset our body clocks to prepare us for work. It is suggested that gamers have 15-30min of sunlight exposure in the morning, and add a walk or a early morning run and some stretching.
  • Eat on a regular basis. Meal timing is important for the stomach and sleep. When you eat on regular times you will be able to perform on a daily basis. I suggest aiming for a big breakfast, Medium lunch and a light dinner. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and supper like a peasant!

Anyone wishing to contact Barry Bridges can do so on WhatsApp: +27 (0) 83 651 4170.

Also read:

Monday 25 January 2021

Want better health?

 


According to Kellie Mugwana, Ozone Spa Bath purifies water, even borehole water. It is known that borehole water is not good to drink because of its high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) count (TDS is what tells us if the water is fit to drink and how oxygenated it is. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in water are some organic and inorganic materials, which include minerals and ions that are dissolved in a particular quantity in water. When water passes through stones, pipes or different surfaces, the particles are absorbed into the water. TDS in water can come from different sources such as minerals in chemicals used for treating water, runoff from the road salts and chemicals or fertilizers from the farms.Safe and healthy drinking water must have a TDS count of 100 and less, but borehole water may have a count as high as 220 and above which makes it NOT HEALTHY!. It effectively does to your body what it does to the inside of the kettle).

Ozone Spa Bath also has the ability to purify the air and produces supercharged oxygen in order to give you the optimum amounts needed for peak performance.

Increased oxygenation is the process in which an increase in blood flow supplies muscles and other cells within the body with an increase in oxygen. Oxygen is carried within the blood and transported to all areas of the body. Oxygen has many uses within the body including energy source, circulation, respiration, cellular exchange and many more. An increase in oxygenation can increase muscular energy, reduce muscular fatigue and keep muscles strong and healthy.

Increased oxygenation can have many benefits. The most common benefits of increased oxygenation include:

  • Maximised Performance
  • Maintainance of healthy muscles
  • Reduced delayed onset muscle soreness

Ozone Spa Bath is also a Massage Spa and may be used like a jacuzzi.

If you are interested in this wonderful and exciting product that leads to better health, contact:

Kellie Mugwana

065 960 7207 (WhatsApp and Telegram)



Advertorial

Western Cape Online Provincial Championships - 27 February 2021

Registered Players at MSSA's last Western Cape LAN Championships in pre COVID days. 

With sporting events still under heavy Regulations as imposed by the South African Government, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is continuing to run its online Provincial Championships.

The first one of the year is MSSA's 
Western Cape Online Provincial Championships which shall be held  on 27 February 2021.

MSSA's Western Cape  LAN Provincial Championships has thus not been replaced by this event, and if possible to be held, shall be held on 20 & 22 March 2021.

MSSA's Western Cape Online Provincial Championships, offers all Registered Players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad and for the Protea Team.


In order to participate, Registered Players must be fully-paid-up. 


Obviously Registered Players may participate from the comfort of their own home while being safe from the ravages of COVID-19.


Game titles to be played are:


Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Online only)PC/console184 v 4
CS GOPC165 v 5
PaladinsPC/console125 v 5
Sport
FIFA '21Console31 v 1
PES 2021Console31 v 1
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
Fighting
Tekken 7Console161 v 1
Street Fighter VConsole121 v 1
CardHearthStoneVarious71 v 1

Tournament Structure:

As per the MSSA's rules, being:
  • If less than six teams, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
  • If 6 to 10 teams enter the championship there shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
  • If 11 or more teams enter the championship there shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System

Eligibility:

  • In order to participate, Registered Players must be fully-paid-up. 

    Entries:

    Medals:


    Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend. 


          MALE:

    • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
    • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognised University.
    • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognised school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.     
         FEMALE:
    • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
    • UNDER 24Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognised University.
    • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognised school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.

    Colours:

    • Protea ColoursOnly Players that are selected to represent South Africa in International Championships may earn National Colours if the Protea Colours Board's criteria are met.
    • National ColoursAll Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
    • Provincial ColoursAll Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a Provincial Championship, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn Provincial Colours.

          General:

          • The championship shall be played on: 27 February 2021.
          • The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round.
          • The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship. 
          • The championship shall be used for the awarding of provincial colours;
          • The championship shall be used for the awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Premier, Under 24, and School categories;
          • The championship shall be used for the ability to qualify for National Team Squad.
          • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

          Umpires:

          • Umpires may only be contacted over Skype on the day of competition. Any communication not on the Skype channel shall not be entered into.

          Ladder:

          • For games to count for the National Ladder, teams must advise the Umpires before the start of each match.

          Shout casting:

          • MSSA shall decide who may shout-cast the games.
          • Anybody wishing to be appointed as a Shout-Caster must apply in writing to
          • mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

          Also read: