Monday, 30 August 2021

Nominations required by 31 August 2021 for MSSA's Management Board Awards.

It was under Ms. Amanda Pakade's leadership as President of MSSA that the scope of the MANCOM awards were widened.

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

It could even be argued that such awards are the longest running awards for rewarding such athletes in the world having started in 2009. 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 honored, 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 and even beyond South Africa's borders.

Under the direction of MSSA president, Amanda Pakade, MSSA's highest legislative 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 categories for Writer of the Year, Social Media Person of the Year, and Sponsor of the Year are open categories and apply to anyone that has given their 'all' to the development of boardgames, card games, esports, and wargames 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 2021.

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

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Monday, 23 August 2021

Policy for selecting the official 2021/2022 National Esports Squads.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) to adapt to the changed circumstances. The National Team Trials (NTT) in both 2021 and 2022 were held online to take into account, and comply with, all government regulations.

Of course it is not desirable, or even perfect, to hold NTT online, but MSSA had very little choice. 

Through hosting its NTT online, MSSA is not able to do as comprehensive selection as in the past, and will instead simply select the winners at MSSA's 2021 Ntional Team Trials

Where possible, MSSA shall select a seniore and junior squad for both males and females in all esports titles where possible.

MSSA’s Management Board shall be entitled to add to members of the Squad or National Team on the following conditions:

  1. The Team Manager and the Team Captain shall make written representation to the Management Board requesting such player to be added, and
  2. Only players that participated at the National Team Trials that were used to select such team may be added to the Team.
  3. MSSA shall attempt to maintain the squads at their original strength, if there are sufficient numbers of players who competed at the National Team Trials.
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Sunday, 22 August 2021

Get paid to train gamers.

Kingfisher's initiative will take South Africa's gaming to new heights.

In many aspects South Africa is well ahead of the curve in gaming, and in others woefully behind. 

South Africa has produced world champions in wargames, morabaraba, and checkers, as well as having produced sterling results in esports. However the results have been spasmodic at best and have largely relied on the efforts of interested volunteers and dedicated athletes who have put their own time, efforts, and resoures into the mix.

There is now a truly exciting development that will change the way in which trainers and athletes are prepared for high level competition.

Kingfisher Gaming is establishing South Africa's first, if not the first in the world, High Performance Centre (HPC) for gaming in which both trainers and athletes will be paid.

Salaries will be between R15,000.00 to R20,000.00 per month for trainers.

The job will entail the following:

  1. Learning the games we suggest backwards and forwards with all of the nuances.
  2. Being able to teach those games to our less experienced employees and ultimately elevate them to the level of trainers.
  3. Create YouTube channels around playing the games and teaching the games.


Kingfisher will provide:


  1. Any of the equipment necessary for streaming, playing and training.
  2. All of the space necessary.
  3. A great space to play and jam.


You should be a die hard gamer and be looking for the opportunity to make money playing games and being fully passionate about it.


The initiative will be start off with games similar to Hearthstone.


Please submit a CV of your gaming experience.

The application may be found on: https://kfmed.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=49

Applications must be submitted by the close of business on Friday, 27 August 2021.

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Saturday, 21 August 2021

Schools and universities should invest in esports.

 

Every year the national Protea Team has its roots in both the universities and schools.
It is well known that Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) had its roots in the Wits Wargames Club in 1982 when Gavin Munro, Dorian Love, and Colin Webster realised that there was a need for a national federation in order to give gaming greater accreditation.

MSSA has always remained true to its roots and has  always actively pursued growth at both school and university level.

Unfortunately, in South Africa, there is much more emphasis given to the sports of football, rugby, and cricket, and the mind sports are left largely as 'Cinderella' sports, even though it it is vital that athletes be trained on a mental level as well as a physical level if they want to succeed.

With the rising costs of maintaining vast fields for the outdoor physical sports, and even a dwindling interest in such sports, it is now more important than ever for schools and universities to re-consider their involvement in mind sports - especially esports.

Jonathan Yates, in his article "Ten Reasons Your Department Should Embrace eSports" identified 10 reasons why schools and universities should embrace esports within its sports departments.

In essence, the reasons according to Jonathan (put into South African terms) are:

  1. With the growth of esports, more-and-more educational institutions are getting involved.
  2. Esports has the ability to earn income as opposed to being a net expense to the institution.
  3. Smaller staffs are required to ensure the good-running of such a programme.
  4. There are lower maintenance costs as often existing venues can be utilised.
  5. Esports is perfect to promote gender and demographic equality. There is no reason an entire esports team cannot be female. 
  6. With most of the fans globally being in Asia, South African schools and universities could use esports to actively, and relatively cheaply, advertise into these areas. 
  7. Many learners and students will compete in both esports and other traditional sports.
  8. A sports department will embrace esports and develop the programme to draw new learners and students.
  9. An eports programme is an excellent way for synergistic relations with many academic departments that other sports simply cannot foster. Computer, math, engineering, and others can gain from working with an esports team. This engenders support for the sports department from a broader base in the rest of the educational institution.
  10. Esports allows sports departments to indulge in new revenue streams. As esports reflects the changing society this will become more important as the years progress.
Certainly, MSSA can attest to much of what Jonathan has written. Being the oldest, and longest, esports organisation in existence, MSSA has seen much otf the above to be true.

However, for any of the above to succeed it needs to have the total commitment of the sports department in order to create clear guidelines as  it would for any other sport.

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North West Online Provincial Championships - 28 August 2021

North West Provincial Championships have a reputation for promoting gender equity.

With Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) holding its 2021 National Team Trials (NTT) on 21 August 2021, MSSA's North West Online Provincial Championships affords all Registered Players the opportunity to prepare for MSSA's 2022 National Team Trials.

Early qualification for Trials allows the athlete to concentrate on training and perfecting new tactics and strategies.

Thus Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is continuing to run its online Provincial Championships in order to cater for  its community of member clubs and Registered Players.

MSSA's North West Online Provincial Championships which shall be held  on 28 August 2021.

MSSA's North West 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/PS 4/5184 v 4
CS GOPC165 v 5
PaladinsPC/PS 4/5125 v 5
Sport
FIFA '21PS 4/531 v 1
PES 2021PS 4/531 v 1
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
Fighting
Tekken 7PS 4/5161 v 1
Street Fighter VPS 4/5121 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 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.

    Colours:

    • Protea Colours: Only 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 Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
    • Provincial Colours: All 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: 28 August 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:

          • All games shall count for the National Ladder.

          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

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