Monday, 12 December 2022

Armand van der Colf elected onto IESF's Athletes' Commission.

Armand is a formidable athlete and a respected coach making him the perfect choice to serve on IESF's Athletes' Commission.

IESF originally launched its Athletes' Commission in the Hilton Hotel in Shanghai in 2016, the Athletes' Commission was instrumental in ensuring the rights and interests of athletes were always taken into account at IESF's Board.

From 2016 to 2020, South Africa was represented on the Commission, and now, with the election of Armand van der Colf, South Africa is once again represented on the Commission.

Being elected onto the Athletes' Commission is a great achievement for the the young Tuks University student. Not only is Armand able to bring the concerns of athletes directly to IESF's Board, but he is able to see the very inner workings of IESF and gain a clearer understanding of international championships.

Those elected onto IESF's Athletes' Commission are:

Europe:

Alejandro Alguacil Segura (Spain)

Sergei Platòv (Team IESF)

Asia:

Tiffani Lim (Malaysia)

Waleed Mohammad Balouch (Bahrain)

Americas:

Neyen Arjona Tennerini (Argentina)

Gabriel Pinheiro de Morais (Brazil)

Africa:

Hend Mohamed Hamed (Egypt)

Armand Pierre van der Colf (South Africa)

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Monday, 28 November 2022

IESF puts out call for nominations for IESF Athletes' Committee.

IESF's first Athlete's Commission as elected in 2016: Koen Schobbers (Netherlands), Young Ho Lee, Mr Jun (the then President of IeSF), Jason Batzofin (South Africa), and Leonardo Ribas (Brazil), absent Madelaine Leander (Sweden).

For five years Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) had one of its athletes on IESF's Athletes' Commission.

With the IESF launching its Athletes' Commission in the Hilton Hotel in Shangai in 2016, the Athletes' Commission was instrumental in ensuring the rights and interests of athletes were always taken into account at IESF's Board.

The first chairman of the Athletes' Commission, as elected in 2016, was none other than Koen Schobbers. At the same election, Jason Batzofin, who was a learner at St John's College, was elected on the committee and served with distinction.

In 2019 Jason Batzofin was elected as chairman and continued to serve with distinction until, due to unforeseen circumstances, felt the need to resign. Upon Jason's resignation, Tiffini Lim was appointed as Chairlady by IESF's Board

To stand for this important committee, National Federation’s Athletes Representative shall satisfy at least two of the points below: 

a) Shall have experience as an esports athlete; 

b) Shall have experience in esports; 

c) Have worked with their National Federation in the past three (3) years; 

d) Have represented their Member nation at an IESF-accredited event  

It must be noted that no nation may have more than one representative in the Athletes Committee.

Candidates for the Committee can register here.

Key Information:

• Registration Opens: 27 November 2022
• Registration Closes: 6 December 2022 (15:00 Bali Time)
• Voting Begins: 7 December 2022 (15:00 Bali Time)
• Voting Closes: 10 December 2022 (15:00 Bali Time)

You may find all the necessary information and regulations regarding the election here.

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Wednesday, 9 November 2022

Procedure to be followed by school clubs affiliating for the 2023 season.


Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), founded in 1985, is the national federation for Board games, Card games, Esports, and Wargames.

MSSA promotes all  the different disciplines equally, although each school may pick-and-choose which discipline it wishes to promote at its school. Some schools will promote the whole gambit, while others will concentrate on only one discipline, and/or even just concentrate on one specific title.

The choice is ultimately up to the school.

The various games offer unique opportunities to many South African learners. Many learners have been able to earn Regional, Provincial, and National Colours which have allowed them to earn bursaries and obtain first-class educations.

MSSA has sent teams with full Protea Colours to international events since 1991 for wargames, 1996 for Morabaraba, 1997 for Checkers, and 2005 for Esports. Many members of the national teams have been scholars, and all have benefited from their involvement in the national Protea Team. 

With the above in mind the MSSA has streamlined the process for schools to affiliate to the MSSA.

There is still the option open for a school to start a full-blown sub-club on its premises, but bearing in mind the tight regulatory conditions under which accredited schools have to operate in the Republic, the MSSA no longer deems it necessary for a school to start a sub-club.

As long as the school club has the approval of the school, and has an Educator-in-Charge, a school may affiliate by merely completing the Application for Affiliation Form and submitting such to MSSA.Any applicant needs to be aware of the following:
1.    MSSA’s Constitution, 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8LogUNBbPNtfjjjukwvBiSr1u9qHOodLXhvBzZqzIk/edit
2.    MSSA’s General Regulations, 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GcOB2rTjv9PjBHhgdRH824NahSI4SrmfjvecaQiLNyA/edit
3.    Application for Affiliation form,  
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yn9_za2JzVXTQXNsJfmWmiCD_VvxbZOW/edit
4.    Registration Forms for all players – including the teacher in charge and any/all coaches, 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12sS0BkXNT2rjVROicwYHOEhJcPj0WXtG/edit?rtpof=true
5.   Fee note – please note that the fees for school clubs are R104.00 affiliation fee and R10.00 per player (including the Educator-in-Charge) per annum, 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UyPFzb0Sf4jVQrN57GEtyJ1Av7iPZRB6/edit
6.    Letter of Undertaking, 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B1ma4A2XZaSiR2hJMThjMUxDdVE, and
7.    MSSA's brochure. 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZzfT280fxlzP5m22Z4wJAHWBGtNpkJAY
In order to affiliate, the completed Application for affiliation Form must be submitted to the MSSA.

Once the Board has approved a school’s affiliation, the school then needs to complete the Google Registration Page allocated to the school for the players and make payment.

All school members may participate in all events for which it qualifies. Such events include meetings, championships, courses, and so forth. 

Advantages of having a MSSA affiliated club: 

There are many advantages of having a MSSA affiliated club, such as:
  1. Being part of a community where your club has a real say in how things are done
  2. Being able to apply for National Lottery Funding – MSSA member clubs can apply for up to R800,000.00 in funding
  3. Being able to get assistance from your local government
  4. Experience increased media exposure of your events and your gamers
  5. Become part of the international community through the MSSA Registered players are able to become internationally recognised umpires, etc.
  6. Enable your gamers to take part in MSSA events, which may qualify them for Regional, Provincial, and National colours, overseas trips, and even sports bursaries at university.
MSSA’s Constitution   

The Constitution forms the foundation of the MSSA. It guarantees members rights and governs the way that the MSSA operates. It can only be amended by a two-thirds majority at a Council Meeting. Please remember that Associations only have two (2) votes each, whereas member clubs have a representational vote, being: 
  • Private clubs: one vote per every five registered players, and 
  • School clubs: one vote per every ten registered players.
MSSA’s General Regulations   

The General Regulations comprises of decisions made by both Council and Executive Committee Meetings. The General Regulations deals with how sub-committees operate as well as to how teams are selected and development funding is distributed.   Please refer to Schedule 10.12 in regard to the rights of clubs in hosting events.

MSSA’s Discipline Specific Regulations   

The Discipline Specific Regulations deal with rules concerning the different disciplines. The Disciplines that the MSSA caters for are; Board Gaming, Card gaming, Esports, and Figure Gaming.

Application for Affiliation form   

When a club applies for membership, the applicant club must complete such form and return the same to the MSSA.

Fee note for 2023 

The fee note details the Affiliation Fees and Registration fees that are payable.

Player Registration Form   

The Player Registration Form needs to be completed by every player that is a member of a club and intends to participate in MSSA affairs.

MSSA’s Letter of Undertaking   

The Letter of Undertaking is for all registered players who sit on any MSSA committee.

Social Media

The MSSA makes use of the following:
Should you have any queries whatsoever, please contact mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

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Saturday, 5 November 2022

National Federation Colours on offer at MSSA's South African National Online Esports Championships - 3 December 2022.

Athletes that win all their matches at the SA National Esports Championships automatically earn themselves National Federation Colours.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) will thus be holding its South African National Online  Esports Championships on  3 December 2022.

MSSA's South African National Online Esports Championships, which will offer local players the opportunity to qualify for selection to the national squad and for the Protea Team.


In order to participate, players must be registered for the 2022/2023 season.


The championship shall be held on 3 December 2022.


Game titles to be played are:


Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
Call of DutyMobilePC/mobile185 v 5
CS GOPC165 v 5
PaladinsPC/console125 v 5
PUBG MobileMobile174 v 4
Sport
FIFA '22Console121 v 1
PES 2022Console121 v 1
MOBA
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
League of LegendsPC125 v 5
Mobile Legends: Bang BangMobile125 v 5
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:

  • Any team consisting of players who are Registered Players affiliated to a MSSA member club may enter.

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 recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized 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 recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized 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: 4 December 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 towards the National Ladder.

        Shout casting:

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