Proposals for esports titles are rolling in.

Schools remain the foundation of growth and development.

On 16 October 2017, MSSA posted an article that it will be reviewing the esports titles at its Annual General Meeting.

Member clubs have already started to submit titles that they would like to see played at Provincial and National Championships.

Some of the proposals are for Overwatch, Rocket League and Quake Live.

The process that must be  followed to nominate esports titles is very simple, and is open to every fully-paid-up member club, being:

• Member clubs must submit their proposals to MSSA on or before 1 November 2017,
• All the proposals are then put on the agenda  which is sent out to the member clubs at least 21 days before MSSA's AGM on 3 December  2017, and
• All member clubs vote on the proposals.

Of course preference is always given to:

• Esports titles played at IeSF World Championships,
• Esports titles that are well supported by the membership during the previous year,
• Esports titles which have been proven to be popular at Regional Championship  level, and
• Esports titles which MSSA's Council believes will be beneficial to promote.

Of course there is always a cost associated to holding championships, and with MSSA being a non-profit association, MSSA is always aware that every rand counts. Thus the titles chosen also need to  be financially viable if not having a strong  development nature attached thereto.

Member clubs are therefore welcome to submit their proposals to mindsportssa@iafrica.com.

Understanding Regional Championships.

Registered Players participating in a previous City of Cape Town Regional Championship.

So far we have discussed where Regional Championships may be held (that is, in all 56 regions in South Africa), as well as how Regional Colours may be awarded.

However, there seems to be some confusion as to who may host such regional championships,  and how such regional  championship needs to be hosted.

To answer the  above, it should be noted that any member affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) may host a Regional Championship. Readers should note that members of MSSA are the clubs, not the Registered Players.

Thus any/all member clubs may apply to host, and this is where it gets  really interesting.

Regional Championships do not have to be held only for the titles which are played at National and/or Provincial Championships.

Regional Championships may be held  in ANY game title.

Thus Regional championships ,may be played in the esports titles of Minecraft, Overwatch, Rocket League, Quake, and so forth. This is so that MSSA can objectively evaluate the grass-roots support for the  various titles. The more that a title  is played at Regional Championship level, the more likely that the title will be included as a Provincial and National Championship title.

Also, unlike Provincial and National Championships, all the tit;les do not need to be played at the same time.

In other words, the host club, could, if it so desires, host a Regional Championship every single month per title.

So, as an example, Club X, could run the Namakwa Regional Championships for PES in January, FIFA in February, Call of Duty in March, CounterStrike: GO in April, Minecraft in May, and so forth.

In such  a manner, the club will build its own reputation and finances and  become  an active member of Mind Sports South Africa.

More about regions in South Africa.

Regional championships provide the perfect breeding ground for future stars.

South Africa is divided into nine provinces, and below that into Regions (which may consist of one or more municipalities).

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) conforms to all such political demarcations.

Thus MSSA holds, National, Provincial, and Regional Championships in order to ensure it has an effective footprint.

Regional Championships too give many gamers the opportunity to play in championships without incurring huge financial costs.

Such Regional Championships are hosted by member clubs, with the profits - if any - going to such member club. Also, it is important to note that any game title may be played at a Regional Championship. By hosting titles that are as yet, not selected to be played at Provincial and National Championships, MSSA is able to gauge the interest in other titles (like Overwatch, Call of Duty, Rocket League, and so forth) and thus apply its mind to whether or not such games should be included in official Provincial and National Championships.

Regional Championships thus allow grass-root development and for the gamers who make up MSSA's community to speak loud and clear to the clubs that propose, and vote on, which games are to be included.

The various regions are as follows:

Province	District
EASTERN CAPE:	Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
	Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
	Alfred Nzo District
		Matatiele
		Umzimvubu
	Amatole District
		Amahlathi
		Great Kei
		Mbhashe
		Mnquma
		Ngqushwa
		Nkonkobe
		Nxuba
	Cacadu District
		Baviaans
		Blue Crane Route
		Camdeboo
		Ikwezi
		Kou-Kamma
		Kouga
		Makana
		Ndlambe
		Sunday's River Valley
	Chris Hani District
		Emalahleni
		Ngcobo
		Inkwanca
		Intsika
		Inxuba Yethemba
		Lukhanji
		Sakhisizwe
		Tsolwana
	O.R. Tambo District
		Ngquza Hill
		King Sabata Dalindyebo
		Mbizana
		Mhlontlo
		Ntabankulu
		Nyandeni
		Port St. Johns
	Joe Gqabi District
		Elundini
		Gariep
		Maletswai
		Senqu
FREE STATE:	Fezile Dabi District
		Moqhaka
		Ngwathe
		Metsimaholo
		Mafube
	Thabo Mofutsanyane District
		Maluti a Phofung
		Dihlabeng
		Setsoto
		Nektoana
		Phumelela
	Motheo District
		Mangaung
		Mantsopa
		Naledi
	Xhariep District
		Kopanong
		Letsemeng
		Mohokare
	Lejweleputswa District
		Matjhabeng
		Nala
		Masilonyana
		Tswelopele
		Tokologo
GAUTENG:	City of Johannesburg
	City of Tshwane
	Ekurhuleni
	Sedibeng
		Emfuleni
		Midvaal
		Lesedi
	West Rand
		Mogale City
		Randfontein
		Westonaria
		Merafong City
KWAZULU NATAL:	Amajuba (Newcastle)
	Zululand (Ulundi)
	Umkhanyakude (Mkuze)
	uThungulu (Richards Bay)
	Umzinyathi (Dundee)
	Uthukela (Ladysmith)
	Umgungundlovu (Pietermaritzburg)
	iLembe (kwaDukuza, formerly Stanger)
	eThekwini (Durban)
	Ugu (Port Shepstone)
	Sisonke (Ixopo)
LIMPOPO:	Capricorn District
		Aganang
		Blouberg
		Lepele-Nkumpi
		Molemole
		Polokwane
	Mopani District
		Ba-Phalaborwa
		Greater Giyani
		Greater Letaba
		Greater Tzaneen
		Maruleng
	Sekhukhune District
		Elias Motsoaledi
		Fetakgomo
		Ephraim Mogale
		Greater Tubatse
		Makhuduthamaga
	Vhembe District
		Makhado
		Musina
		Mutale
		Thulamela
	Waterberg District
		Bela-Bela
		Lephalale
		Modimolle
		Mogalakwena
		Mookgopong
		Thabazimbi
MPUMULANGA:	Gert Sibande District
		Albert Luthuli
		Msukaligwa
		Mkhondo
		Pixley Ka seme
		Lekwa
		Dipaleseng
		Govan Mbeki
	Nkangala District
		Delmas
		Emalahleni (Witbank)
		Steve Tshwete
		Highlands
		Thembisile
		Dr JS Moroka
	Ehlanzeni District
		Thaba Chweu
		Mbombela (Nelspruit)
		Umjindi
		Nkomazi
		Bushbruckridge
NORTHERN CAPE:	Namakwa District
		Richtersveld
		Nama Khoi
		Kamiesberg
		Hantam
		Karoo Hoogland
		Khâi-Ma
	Pixley ka Seme District
		Ubuntu
		Umsobomvu
		Emthanjeni
		Kareeberg
		Renosterberg
		Thembelihle
		Siyathemba
		Siyancuma
	Siyanda District
		Mier
		Kai !Garib
		//Khara Hais
		!Kheis
		Tsantsabane
		Kgatelopele
	Frances Baard District
		Sol Plaatje
		Dikgatlong
		Magareng
		Phokwane
	John Taolo Gaetsewe District
		Moshaweng
		Ga-Segonyana
		Gamagara
NORTH WEST:	Bojanala Platinum District
		Moretele
		Madibeng
		Rustenburg
		Kgetlengrivier
		Moses Kotane
	Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District
		Naledi
		Mamusa
		Greater Taung
		Kagisano-Molopo
		Lekwa-Teemane
	Ngaka Modiri Molema District
		Ratlou
		Tswaing
		Mafikeng Local Municipality
		Ditsobotla
		Ramotshere
	Dr Kenneth Kaunda District
		Ventersdorp
		Tlokwe
		Matlosana
		Maquassi Hills
WESTERN CAPE:	City of Cape Town
	West Coast District
		Matzikama
		Cederberg
		Bergrivier
		Saldanha Bay
		Swartland
	Cape Winelands District
		Witzenberg
		Drakenstein
		Stellenbosch
		Breede Valley
		Langeberg
	Overberg District
		Theewaterskloof
		Overstrand
		Cape Agulhas
		Swellendam
	Eden District
		Kannaland
		Hessequa
		Mossel Bay
		George
		Oudtshoorn
		Bitou
		Knysna
	Central Karoo District
		Laingsburg
		Prince Albert
		Beaufort West

Revised Calendar of Events

All member clubs affiliated to MSSA are entitled by the rules governing Mind Sports South  Africa to have their own events included in the official MSSA calendar.

There are a few criteria for a member club to have such an event included.

Such criteria are not onerous, and have been carefully crafted by MSSA in order to ensure the success of events that meet the criteria.

FRAGCON's  esports LAN to be held on 19 & 20 May 2017 has thus been included on the calendar.

2017 Calendar of events

Date	Event	Discipline	Venue
11 FEBRUARY	On-line Inter-school Provincial Championships	CS:GO, DotA, FIFA, LOL, SC, TTT II, VainGlory	On-line
4 & 5 FEBRUARY	25th Old Edwardian Summer Championships	Ancients, Checkers, FIFA ‘17, Morabaraba	Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Ave., Lower Houghton
25 & 26 FEBRUARY	34th GAUTENG Championships	Board games, Card games, eSports, wargames	Jeppe High for Boys, Cnr Roberts Avenue & Good Hope Street, Kensington, Johannesburg
25 & 26 MARCH	21st NORTH WEST Championships	Board games, Card games, eSports, wargames	Curro Klerksdorp, 22 Elm St, Klerksdorp
22 APRIL	Provincial Online Championships	Dota 2, CounterStrike GO, League of Legends, Street Fighter V	On-line
29 & 30 APRIL	Free State Provincial School Championships	Board and Figure games	JCS Private Centre 2 Tafelberg Street Vaalpark
29 & 30 APRIL	Gauteng Provincial School Championships	Board and Figure games	Old Edwardian Society, 11 Ninth Avenue, Lower Houghton, Johannesburg
29 & 30 APRIL	Provincial School Championships for Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumulanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape	Board and Figure games	TBA
6 & 7 MAY	National Team Trials	Morabaraba and Wargames	HTS Witbank, Beyers Road, Witbank
19 & 20 MAY	FRAGCON LAN	CounterStrike: GO, DotA 2, League of Legends, StarCraft II, Overwatch	100 Jones Street, Entrance in Betz Street, Polkwane
27 & 28 MAY	16th MPUMALANGA Championships	Board games, Card games, eSports, wargames	HTS Witbank, Beyers Road, Witbank
27 MAY	FINANCIAL AGM	Meeting	HTS Witbank, Beyers Road, Witbank
3 & 4 JUNE	eSports National Team Trials	TBD	TBA
24 & 25 JUNE	14th FREE STATE Championships	All	Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
1 JULY	Fezile Dabi Regional Championships	Checkers, Morabaraba, Street Fighter V, MortalKombat X, Tekken and FIFA’17	JCS Private Centre 2 Tafelberg Street Vaalpark
29 & 30 JULY	SA School Championships	Board, Figure and eSports	TBA
5 & 6 AUGUST	23rd KWAZULU NATAL Championships	All	Maritzburg College 51 College Road, Pietermaritzburg
12 AUGUST	StarCraft II, Hearthstone	eSports (PC)	On-line
26 & 27 AUGUST	22nd WESTERN CAPE Championships	All	TBA
TBA	Indigenous Games	Morabaraba	To be determined by SRSA
9 & 10 SEPTEMBER	City of Johannesburg Championships	Sat. Morabaraba & StarCraft II Sun. Ancients & FIFA	Blue Room Old Edwardian Society 11 Ninth Ave Lower Houghton
23 & 24 SEPTEMBER	16th EASTERN CAPE Championships	All	TBA
1 TO 16 OCTOBER	FMJD’s International Women's Checkers World Championship	Checkers	Hotel Euroopa, Tallinn, Estonia
28 & 29 OCTOBER	6th LIMPOPO Championships	All	TBA
1 NOVEMBER	Submit nominations of office-bearers	Admin	mindsportssa@iafrica.com
8 TO 12 NOVEMBER	IeSF’s 9th World Championships - Busan	TBA	Busan Port Authority Convention Center, Busan, South Korea
2 & 3 DECEMBER	30th S A NATIONAL Championships	All	Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
3 DECEMBER	33rd NATIONAL CONVENTION	Annual General Meeting	Fakkel School, 20 Jan Smuts Ave., Sasolburg
TBA	SRSA's S A Schools Championships	Morabaraba	To be determined by SRSA

Notes:

1. International events still need to be included.
2. Inter-Provincial events need to be included
3. Inter-Regional events need to be included
4. Club events need to be included
5. Regional Championships need to be included.
6. Free State is moved to earlier in the year.
7. National Team Trials still need to be included