The importance of completing a championships.

Being a member of the Protea Esports Team requires the highest levels of sportsmanship.

While umpiring at Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) 4th Gauteng Online Championships I had the  misfortune to see five players withdraw from the championships after taking a loss. It should be noted that MSSA does not look kindly on such poor behaviour and such action counts against the player during any and all team selection.

While in any competition, winning is always the ultimate goal. However, it is important to remember that losing is also a part of the game. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we may find ourselves falling behind or facing tough opponents that seem unbeatable. In such situations, it can be tempting to give up and abandon the competition altogether. However, finishing a competition, even when you are losing, is crucial for several reasons.

Firstly, finishing a competition shows resilience and perseverance. It demonstrates that you are not someone who gives up easily and that you are willing to see things through to the end. This is an important quality to have not just in sports, but also in life. Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but it is our ability to overcome them that sets us apart.

Secondly, finishing a competition allows you to learn from your mistakes. Losing is an opportunity to evaluate your performance, identify areas for improvement, and come up with a plan to do better next time. If you walk away from a competition without finishing it, you miss out on this opportunity to learn and grow.

Thirdly, finishing a competition sets a good example for others. Whether it is your teammates, children, or even strangers watching from the sidelines, seeing you continue to play and give it your best effort, even when things are not going well, can be inspiring. It shows them that it is possible to face adversity with dignity and grace.

Lastly, finishing a competition is a sign of respect for your opponents, organisers, and sponsors. By staying in the game until the end, you are acknowledging that your opponents are worthy adversaries and that you respect their skills and abilities. It is important to remember that winning is not the only measure of success. Playing with sportsmanship and respect for others is equally important.

While winning is always the desired outcome, losing is also a part of any competition. When faced with the prospect of losing, it is important to remember the benefits of finishing the competition. Not only does it show resilience and perseverance, but it also allows for learning and growth, sets a good example for others, and demonstrates respect for opponents. So, the next time you find yourself falling behind, stay in the game and give it your best effort until the very end.

Additional reading:

• 2023 Calendar of Events
• Affiliation: Private Clubs
• Affiliation - School
• Events: 12th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships - 4 March 2023
• Event: 2023 Gauteng Online Championships to be held on 11 March 2023.
• GEF - The Road to Riyadh
• IESF: IESF has announced the slots for 15th World Championships to be held  in Lasi, Romania.
• IESF: Titles entered
• IESF: National Team Trials - 25 March 2023
• Phygital Gaming: Kazan to host Phygital Games
• Results: 2023 Northern Cape Online Championships
• Results: 2023 Western Cape Online Championships held on 25 February 2023.
• Results: 12th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships - 4 March 2023
• Results: 2023 Gauteng Online Championships held on 11 March 2023.
• Selection: Calling all female esports athletes.
• Selection: Passports are required.
• Titles - esports: Premier Championships
• Titles - esports: Student Championships
• Umpire Course - 18 February 2023

Esports athletes break stereotypes.

Science News reported that esports players are up to 21 per cent healthier weight than the general population, hardly smoke and drink less too, finds a new QUT (Queensland University of Technology) study.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, were based on 1400 survey participants from 65 countries.

• First study to investigate the BMI (Body Mass Index) status of a global sample of esports players.
• Esports players were between 9 and 21 per cent more likely to be a healthy weight than the general population.
• Esports players drank and smoked less than the general population.
• The top 10 per cent of esports players were significantly more physically active than lower level players, showing that physical activity could influence esports expertise.

QUT eSports researcher Michael Trotter said the results were surprising considering global obesity levels.

"The findings challenge the stereotype of the morbidly obese gamer," he said.

Mr Trotter said the animated satire South Park poked fun at the unfit gamer but the link between video gaming and obesity had not been strongly established.

"When you think of esports, there are often concerns raised regarding sedentary behaviour and poor health as a result, and the study revealed some interesting and mixed results," he said.

"As part of their training regime, elite esports athletes spend more than an hour per day engaging in physical exercise as a strategy to enhance gameplay and manage stress," he said.

The World Health Organisation guidelines for time that should be spent being physically active weekly is a minimum of 150 minutes.

"Only top-level players surveyed met physical activity guidelines, with the best players exercising on average four days a week," the PhD student said.

However, the study found 4.03 per cent of esports players were more likely to be morbidly obese compared to the global population.

Mr Trotter said strategies should be developed to support players classed at the higher end of BMI categories.

"Exercise and physical activity play a role in success in esports and should be a focus for players and organisations training esports players," Mr Trotter said.

"This will mean that in the future, young gamers will have more reason and motivation to be physically active.

"Grassroots esports pathways, such as growing university and high school esports are likely to be the best place for young esports players to develop good health habits for gamers."

The research also found esports players are 7.8 per cent more likely to abstain from drinking daily, and of those players that do drink, only 0.5 per cent reported drinking daily.

The survey showed only 3.7 per cent of esports players smoked daily, with player smoking frequency lower compared to global data at 18.7 per cent.

Future research will investigate how high-school and university esports programs can improve health outcomes and increase physical activity for gaming students.

The study was led by QUT's Faculty of Health School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Umeå University in Sweden.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Queensland University of Technology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Michael G Trotter, Tristan J. Coulter, Paul A Davis, Dylan R Poulus, Remco Polman. The Association between Esports Participation, Health and Physical Activity Behaviour. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020; 17 (19): 7329 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17197329