How clubs offer to host official mind sports events.

Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club has hosted more MSSA events than any other affiliated club.

On 1 August 2020 Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) invited all members to suggest which events they want to see retained in the article "Getting ready for 2021".

Of course a number of member clubs have submitted their views, all of which are being collated and will be discussed by MSSA's Management Committee and the Board Gaming, Card Gaming, Esports and Wargames Boards of Control.

However, it is important to know how MSSA decides where each championship is held.

Regional Championships:

Regional Championships may be hosted by any member club. Even a club based in a different region may host a Regional Championship in an entirely different region should MSSA's Management Committee approve. Such was the case when the Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club hosted the eThekwini Regional Championship at the Durban Gaming Expo in July 2018. 

The rules for hosting an official Regional Championship may be found here.

Provincial Championships:

Provincial Championships rotate among the member clubs within any such province. Thus only clubs within KwaZulu Natal may host the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Championships. Through actively pursuing this policy, provincial championships are held in various venues which allow clubs to grow their support base and obtain media coverage. 

All online events are directly hosted by MSSA itself.

National Championships:

National Championships rotate among all interested member clubs based within South Africa.

As such the prestigious SA National Championships may be held in any city in South Africa. While some gamers may consider such to be inconvenient, it must be remembered that hosting the SA National Championships or the SA Schools' National Championships gives a huge boost to the host club. Such boost to the host club may be felt for many years afterwards in terms of increased membership, participation and media coverage.

However, to host any Regional, Provincial, and/or National Championship, the applicant member club must submit its application to host to the General Secretary by 1 November 2020.

Also read:

• Calendar of  Events: 2020
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's School Championships.
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Student Championships
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Premier Championships.
• Selecting esports titles to be played in MSSA Provincial and National Championships.
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Further increasing MSSA's footprint. (All about hosting Regional Championships)
• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Selecting the national Protea teams for Mind Sports South Africa.

Regional Championships - development at its best.

Much has already been written about Mind Sports South Africa's Regional Championships, however, few truly understand the true value of the championships.

Not only does MSSA's Regional Championships allow the winner to earn a berth at MSSA's much coveted National Team Trials, but it also promotes development of a 'breeding-ground' for the games that fall under MSSA's custodianship.

Due to  the fact that you do not need to be a Registered Player to play in a Regional Championship, players are offered the opportunity of experiencing official competition in their own 'home-town'. Through Regional championships, MSSA has  been able to hold official championships in towns that have never before seen such type pf championship before.

Through such programme, MSSA has been able to extend its footprint and find new talent. The new talent has. in many cases, shaken the status quo, and promises fresh new competition and challenges in the coming year.

Game titles that are not played at Provincial  and National Championships may also be played at such Regional Championships.

Thus growth and development starts at grass-root level and such Regional Championships allow MSSA the opportunity to truly see the support given to, and popularity of, game titles that may otherwise overlooked.

The Regional Championships thus allow MSSA to move forward and remain relevant among the gaming community, and keep it as SA's gaming leader.

Thus the inclusion of 'Injustice 2' in the schedule of the 2017 Polokwane Regional Championships (30 September 2017 and 1 October 2017) is part of this dynamic policy.

For more information about the 2017 Polokwane Regional Championships please go to: http://esportscommentator.blogspot.co.za/2017/09/the-polokwane-regional-championship-30.html

Three exciting Regional Championships to take place in September 2017.

South Africa has 56 regions within the nine provinces. The districts are the municipal districts as defined by the South African government. The South African Confederation of South African Sport (SASCOC) and the Minister of Sport and Recreation considers growth at the Regions as vital to the growth of sport in South Africa as a whole.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) totally subscribes to the above.

Thus MSSA has implemented the policy of holding Regional Championships. It is hoped that the Regional Championships will be expanded to each and every region in the country, as the championships will undoubtedly help:

1. Strengthen clubs that are in each region,
2. Encourage clubs to grow in regions that as yet do not have member clubs, and
3. Allow a greater base of players to participate in official MSSA championships without having to travel vast distances.

However, the MSSA is aware that many of the clubs do not have the financial resources and 'know-how' to host a full provincial championship. Thus the Regional championships are designed to be much smaller affairs. 

Host clubs may host only the period that such club has an active interest in promoting. Thus there could be a Regional event held for each period within a Region at a different time – as long as the host clubs within the Region have met with all the criteria for such.

As an example, a member club like St John's may very well host the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Regional Championships, while the Old Edwardian Wargames Club could hosts the CoJ Ancients Regional Championships, while Wits University could host the CoJ Regional Championships for Board games and Starcraft II, and Northcliff High School could host the CoJ Regional Championships for CounterStrike:  GO and DotA 2.

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.

Through Regional Championships, MSSA is creating a larger pool of clubs that are able to host championships, as well as creating a larger pool of athletes who qualify for National Team Trials.

The three Regional Championships earmarked for September are:

Date	Event	Discipline	Venue
2 SEPTEMBER	Sedibeng Regional Championships	FIFA ‘17, Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat X, TEKKEN TAG II, StarCraft II, Checkers, Morabaraba	NWU Mind Sports Club, Vaal Triangle Campus
9 & 10 SEPTEMBER	City of Johannesburg Championships	Sat. Morabaraba & StarCraft II Sun. Ancients & FIFA	Blue Room Old Edwardian Society 11 Ninth Ave Lower Houghton
30 SEPTEMBER	Polokwane Regional Championships	CounterStrike: GO League of Legends	HTS Tom Naudé~ Polokwane

MSSA's MWEB Nkangala Regional Championships at Generaal Hertzog Hoerskool, Witbank on Saturday, 6 September 2014

The Generaal Hertzog Hoerskool, Witbank shall be holding the MSSA's Nkangala Regional Championships at Generaal Hertzog Hoerskool, Witbank on Saturday, 6 September 2014.

Like all of the MSSA championships that count towards team selection, the championship has as its main sponsor MWEB. MWEB is also a sponsor of the national Protea Teams for eSports.

The winners of the Nkangala Regional Championships also qualify for National Team Trials should trials be held.

Registrations will close on the on the day of the championships.

Players who wish  to compete in any of MSSA's Championships are advised to complete their annual registration forms so that they may registered as Registered Players as soon as possible.

All gamers are reminded that the Nkangala Regional Championships are an open championship. In other words any registered player is entitled to enter the championship – no matter where they live, or their category of membership. If you have any queries, please contact the MSSA.

Championship Details:

Hosting Club: Generaal Hertzog Hoerskool, Witbank

• Venue: Generaal Hertzog Hoerskool, Witbank
• Date: 6 September 2014
• Entry Fees: R40.00 per Registered Player per Period
• Computers: Bring your own if you are playing OSU. Please ensure that all game updates are done prior to arrival. 
• Contact: Louis Brown at 0845146367 or at louisbrown23@gmail.com
• Schedule: The LAN Schedule is:
  

  SATURDAY
  	Morabaraba	FIFA	TEKKEN TAG	OSU
  Starts	10H00	10H00	10H00	10H00
  Finishes	18H00	18H00	18H00	18H00
  Prize giving	Directly after the end of play.

• Rules and Regulations: All Rules and Regulations pertaining to eSports are available from the MSSA. Players are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the LAN League Bylaws and all Period Specific Rules. If any Player wishes to provide advice regarding the drafting of the Period Specific Rules they are encouraged to contact the eSBoC who will take all comments into account.

The following Medals may be awarded at the MSSA's Nkangala Regional Championships:

• MEN: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are registered players.
• WOMEN: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are registered players.

Colours and National Team Trials:

• Regional Colours: All Players that win the Premier section in a specific Period at a Regional Championship shall be awarded Regional Colours, and shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials. National Team Trials shall be held in the event that a National Team must be selected to represent South Africa when competing in such Period in an International Championship.

Please note that the MSSA does not carry stock of shirts that are awarded. Registered Players who are awarded colours will thus be awarded at an event that they attend after being so awarded.