Saturday 30 October 2021

Selecting esports titles to be played in MSSA Provincial and National Championships.

 

Selecting esports titles is always an emotive issue.

All esports athletes have strong likes and dislikes, gamers always want their favourites to be given preferential treatment.

In order to make the process more objective and reduce the influence of any one member club and/or individual, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has a policy in place in order to ensure that there is a due process as well as a fair system in place in order to ensure that the correct titles are selected.

However, it should be noted that MSSA currently only selects 10 titles to be played at Provincial and National Championships.

Priority is given to the esports titles that are played at IESF's World Championships in order to assist MSSA deliver a national team.

Even though only 10 titles are so selected, that does not mean that the other titles cannot be held at MSSA events.

However, it should be noted that any approved title may be played at an official MSSA Regional Championships. In fact, it is at such Regional Championships that the popularity of various esports titles is tested in order to evaluate whether such titles should, in future, be included in MSSA's Provincial and National Championships.

The full rules on how titles are selected are as follows:

Schedule 3: SELECTION OF TITLES FOR PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
  1. The periods (titles) selected shall be decided upon by the Annual General Meeting.
  2. Not more than ten (10) titles shall be selected every year from nominations received.
  3. The titles played at the most recent IESF World Championships shall automatically be selected.
  4. The remaining titles may then be selected.
  5. Should IESF introduce new titles into its World Championships which have not been selected by MSSA, then the least popular game in its genre (excluding titles that are being played at IESF’s World Championships) shall immediately fall away in favour of the new title.
  6. The popularity of a period (title) shall be based on attendance at MSSA events.
  7. Should IESF introduce new titles into its World Championships which have not been selected by MSSA, and no MSSA event have been held in such period (title) then the Board of Control shall decide which period (title) falls away in such genre (excluding titles that are being played at IESF’s World Championships).
  8. Should IESF introduce new titles into its World Championships which have not been selected by MSSA, and there are no other periods (titles) within its genre, then the least popular game (excluding titles that are being played at IESF’s World Championships) shall immediately fall away in favour of the new title.
  9. For any period to be nominated, such period (title) shall have been played at any two Regional Events at which there were at least three teams per event.
Also read:

Reminder: Nominations required by 1 November 2021.

Amanda Kwaza (MSSA President) will oversee major changes  to MSSA's Board with the possibility of 11 new Board members being voted in.

Only Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) runs accredited, and official, regional, provincial, and national championships and leagues.

Any event not accredited by MSSA is essentially a flawed event as not only does it not have any accreditation, but it is not able to ensure the metal and physical health of the participants.
Thus serving on Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board is not for the faint-hearted as there are many tough, and some unpopular, decisions to be made on a continuous basis.

It is during these times when Board members have to stand up and be counted, times when you know that it is the right decision, albeit not a popular one. It all comes down to ethics.

Even bearing all the above in mind, the work is done gleefully by a core of volunteers who seek no reward other than seeing the various disciplines and games grow, and watch the athletes attain their full potential.

Every club may nominate athletes for the Board, and since retiring officers are not automatically made eligible for re-election, even retiring officers need to be nominated by a member club in good standing, if the following criteria are met:

  • A member club has nominated the Registered Player on the prescribed form, and
  • The Nomination Form has been submitted to MSSA on or before 1 November 2021, and
  • Letter of Undertaking has been submitted by the nominee, and
  • The Registered Player is fully-paid-up for the 2021/2022 year as at the date of nomination, and
  • The club nominating the Registered Player has paid its affiliation fees for the 2021/2022 season on or before 1 November 2021.

However it should be noted that only athletes who meet the following criteria may be elected on to the Management Board:

  • Have served a full term on the Management Board, or
  • Have served a full term as Provincial Director (2 year terms), or
  • Have served two full terms as Regional Director (1 year term), or
  • Have served two full terms on a Board of Control (1 year term), or
  • Have earned at least ten (10) Protea caps, or
  • Have served three years on the club committee of which they are currently a member.
To stand for the position of president, the nominee shall have served a full term on the Board.

All elections are done on a staggered basis, so, although the Management Board consists of 16 members, only 11 positions may be contested at the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM). The system of doing the elections on a staggered basis allows MSSA to have a greater degree of stability as the entire Management Board is not able to be elected at any one time which preserves MSSA's continuity and knowledge base.

The positions available on MSSA's Management Board are all 3 year terms and are:
  • President
  • Four Executive Officers
  • Disabled Gamers' Representative
  • Computer Gaming Representitive
  • Disabled Gamers’ Representative
  • Card Gaming Representative
  • Board Gaming Representative
  • Wargaming Representative
Also read:

Wednesday 13 October 2021

MSSA advises of its affiliation and registration fees for the 2021/2022 season.

 

Mind Sports South Africa's Management Board increases all MSSA registration and affiliation fees by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) every year. The CPI applicable to the increases for the 2021/2022 season amount to 3.2%.

Thus registration and affiliation fees for the 2020/2021 season shall increase by the CPI (all sectors) of 4.6%, and as per MSSA's Constitution, all such fees are due and payable on the 1st of November of each year.

Please note that if your club has an SLA for an event after the year-end (31 October 2021), such club must pay its affiliation fees and pay its registration fees for all its committee members by no later than 7 November 2021. Should such club fail to do so, such SLA shall be vitiated.

In order for any player to stand for any office, all such person's fees must be paid at the same time that such person is nominated.

Current Board Members are required to have their club membership fees and their own registration fees paid by 7 November 2021 - failing which, such Board Members are immediately suspended until such fees are paid.

Please note that other members that do not remit payment by 1 February 2022 shall have their affiliation terminated and their members shall not be allowed to participate in Mind Sport South Africa's events or team selection.

Members may only participate in a MSSA meeting if such member is fully-paid-up at the time of such meeting.

The fees for the 2021/2022 gaming year (1 November 2021 to 31 October 2022) are:

Affiliation fees per club per annumR111.00 per annum
Registration fees:Registered with MSSA R118.00 per player
Players who are members of school clubsR10.00 per player

Please note that Registration Fees may be waived by the Management Board should a player have reached the age of majority and is unemployed, or if the player is a minor and his/her parents are unemployed.

Please note that the voting strength that any member has at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in December is based on the paid-up membership of such member at the date of the AGM.

Registration forms for players may be found on https://docs.google.com/document/d/12sS0BkXNT2rjVROicwYHOEhJcPj0WXtG/edit

Please remember that all Registered Players must complete a Registration Form and submit it to their club to which they are affiliated.

Also read:

Monday 11 October 2021

Northern Cape Online Provincial Championships - 16 October 2021


W
ith Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) already having held its 2021 National Team Trials (NTT) on 21 August 2021, MSSA's Northern Cape OnlineOnline 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 Northern Cape OnlineOnline Provincial Championships shall be held  on 16 October 2021.

MSSA's Northern Cape OnlineOnline Provincial Championships offers all Registered Players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the 2022 national squad and for the 2022 Protea Team.


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

It should be noted that any Registered Player from anywhere in South Africa may compete in this championship.


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:

    • PREMIERMedals 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: 16 October 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

          Also read: