From club to national federation to international federation

South Africa's Sport and Recreation Act defines a National Federation.

Although I will be writing in general terms, the basics apply to practically every national federation.

It all starts with the individual!

All you need is one individual who wants to play with other individuals. Eventually through a sense of community, the individuals playing together form a society to reflect their common interest in the game, and as such a club is born!

Then the newly formed club looks for other clubs to play against. Should they not find any, the club either stagnates and eventually dies, or it boldly, and unabashedly, promotes the growth of other clubs.

Once the clubs have created a framework for competition, the clubs generally come together to form the federation.

As such, the club always precedes the federation.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) (https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa) is no different. Some of the member clubs date back as far as the 1970's (Wits Wargames Club which was founded in 1979) whereas MSSA was only founded in 1985. 

This is true for swimming as well where clubs in what was known as the Transvaal were founded as early as 1884, but Swimming South Africa (SSA) was only founded in 1899. FINA, the international federation, was then founded in 1908.

Even in football, a British club like Cambridge was founded in 1846, the Football Association (English) was only founded in 1863 whereas the international federation (FIFA) was only constituted in 1904.

However, what is important to note is that at no time does government become involved in the creation of these national sport bodies.

In fact government involvement is decidedly frowned upon and discouraged by the international controlling bodies.

So, just like any other sport, esports has done its time in developing the national federation with the first clubs being formed in the 1970's, the national federation being formed in 1985, and International Esports Federation (IESF) being formally constituted in 2008.

Few gamers will understand the amount of work that it has taken a small group of dedicated people to get esports to this level, and many of those who have poured their hearts and efforts into this project may very well be forgotten over time. However, the legacy of having a non-profit structure that is dedicated to the promotion of the games and a structure that is dedicated to serving the gamer will endure for many decades to come!

Also read:

• The road to Eilat
• IESF announces first three titles for 12th World Championships
• The transition of eSports from a recreational game to a structured sport
• Mind Sports are indeed a sport!

Swimming South Africa may be about to lose its SASCOC membership

On reviewing Swimming  South Africa's Constitution dated 12 April 2015, it is clear  that  there are a number of omissions and irregularities that put such constitution at odds with not only SASCOC's Constitution, but the South  African Constitution as well.

No South African organisation may allow its constitution to conflict with the Constitution of South Africa as the Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the country of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government.

One can only wonder what FINA and the IOC think about it.

Generally in the world of sport, a national federation has to get approval from the international body before such changes may be  implemented.

Has FINA then also lost the plot?

At one stage Swimming South africa had, without doubt, the best constitution out of  all  the sporting bodies, but  it  seems as though the officials and  administrators of Swimming South Africa would rather run the risk of having their  membership of  SASCOC terminated than maintain good governance.

What is the role of MSSA's President?

Simphiwe Maphumulo - president of MSSA

Even SASCOC seems to battle with this as a concept.

The role of the  president is a purely constitutional one.

The  president is the  public  officer, he is the mouth-piece of  MSSA, he represents MSSA at official functions,  and he chairs  the Management Board Meetings, executive Committee  and Annual General Meetings.

Thus the President  is only able to give the official view as decided upon by the various committees.

Of course some would  have it another way.

In some organisations, like the  Old Edwardian Society, the President only has to look after the dignity of the  organisation -  like the  British  Monarchy - where  the Queen does not interfere in  the sordid matter of  politics,  but instead maintains the dignity of the state.

Similarly, in the  Old  Edwardian Society, it is the  Chairman who gets  down to the everyday business.

However, no matter what form an association takes, whether  it be SASCOC, IOC, FINA, SARFU, ASA, the president may only exercise the powers accorded to him/her by the body's constitution, and may only represent the agreed will of such body.