Use of venues for events.

 

It has been brought to Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) attention that under the most recent regulations only sporting activities by recognized sporting bodies are allowed.

Thus venue may only be used for official league fixtures and/or championships, and for training for such purposes.

Unfortunately this means that social, that is, non official fixtures are not permitted for the time being from venues.

Please do not encourage, or permit, the use of the facilities for such purposes, and remain compliant with all regulations in regard to COVID-19.

Please read: 

• Disaster Management Act - Regulations: Live Streaming
• Disaster Management Act - Regulations: Gatherings

Gatherings related to sport to combat the spread of COVID - 19.

 On 5 January 2021, the Minister of Sport Arts, and Culture, Hon. Emmanuel Nkosinathi Mthethwa, signed the new amendment of directions issued in terms of Regulation 4(10) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 0f 2002).

The Regulations explain what may be done at all sporting events, and are applicable to all Board gaming, Esports, and wargames events.

Such Regulations deal with which places are closed to the public, sanitation and hygiene as well as stressing that provisions of the Safety at Sport and Recreational Events Act, 2010 (Act No. 2 of 2010) for venues that may have a capacity of 2,000 or more.

If you run a club and/or venue, please ensure that you have complied with the Regulations related to sport to combat the spread of COVID - 19.

Please read: 

• Disaster Management Act - Regulations: Live Streaming
• Disaster Management Act - Regulations: Gatherings

"Give him a gold coin and send him home. He has a story to tell." Beowulf

Charlize Seremak, with support structures, has made  it all the way to top international competition.

Every championship in which a Registered Player competes adds to the sum total of the players' experiences.

The championships help define the personal individual in terms of character, strength, perseverance, dedication, and endurance.

Not every tournament runs smoothly, not every umpire makes the right call, not everything goes the way that the player wants it to go.

It is the player who can rise above all the vagaries of competition that becomes a true champion. Not only a champion in the sense of winning, but also a champion in the sense of becoming a well-rounded individual who is able to take all obstacles in his/her stride.

It is therefore important for players to participate in as many championships as possible. The experience gained in a multitude of championships, under the correct guidance of a coach, will put the player in good stead for later life.

Without training and/or competing under proper guidance, the player will pick up bad habits and will rarely ever rise to his/her full potential. It is not practice that makes perfect, it is perfect practice that makes perfect.

With proper coaching within training sessions and competition, the player will be able to rise to his/her own personal bests, and go home with a story to tell, and a story that they can tell all their lives...

Also read:

• 2020 Calendar of Events
• MSSA's umpiring course - 25 January 2020.
• 28th OLD EDWARDIAN SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIPS - 1 & 2 February 2020
• 10th Online School Championships - 8 February 2020.
• The road to Eilat

Time to have your say.

MSSA was founded in 1985 and continues to promotes board gaming, card gaming, esports and wargames as accredited sports.

Every year during the month of August, Mind Sports South Africa  (MSSA) prepares a draft of its Calendar of Events for the next year.

The draft calendar of events, at first, only takes into account provincial and national events due to such events having precedence over all other events.

Member clubs are also able to 'book' the hosting of Regional Championships. Regional championships are designed to hel-p clubs gain extra exposure, earn income, and promote the games that they encourage within their clubs. Games can only be played at National and Provincial Championships if such are either played at World championship level, or if having first been tested at Regional Championships. The rules apropo hosting of a Regional Championship may be found here.

Thus if no changes are requested by member clubs, and approved by the general meeting of member clubs, it is likely that the Calendar of events for 2020 will not change from that of 2019, and will look something like the following:

Date	Event
JANUARY	Umpires’ Course - Gauteng
FEBRUARY	28th Old Edwardian Summer Championships
FEBRUARY	On-line Inter-school Provincial Championships
FEBRUARY	38th GAUTENG Provincial Championships
MARCH	Umpire’s Course – Western Cape
MARCH	24th WESTERN CAPE Championships
APRIL	Provincial Online Student Championships
APRIL	11th Provincial Online Championships
APRIL	Provincial School Championships for all provinces
MAY	Umpire’s Course – Mpumulanga
MAY	19th MPUMALANGA Championships
MAY	FINANCIAL AGM
MAY	Selection Committee convenes to select teams.
JUNE	SA School Championships
JULY	1st round of School League
JULY	Capricorn Regional Championships
JULY	26th KWAZULU NATAL Championships
AUGUST	17th FREE STATE Championships
AUGUST	25th WESTERN CAPE Championships
SEPTEMBER	16th EASTERN CAPE Championships
SEPTEMBER	8th LIMPOPO Championships
NOVEMBER	Submit nominations of office-bearers
DECEMBER	34th S A NATIONAL Championships
DECEMBER	37th NATIONAL CONVENTION

It is therefore vital that all Registered Players consider the draft calendar as proposed above and make their suggestions.

Suggestions may be made through the member club's officials to MSSA via e-mail.

Important notice: Change of venue of MSSA's 25th KWAZULU NATAL Championships - Curro Mount Richmore

Scenes from MSSA's 2018 KwaZulu Natal Championships.

Championship Details:

• 
  Host Club: 

  Curro Mount Richmore

  , 1 New salt Rock, Dolphin Coast, 4392
• Date of Championships: 27 & 28 July 2019

Details are as follows:

• Board gaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2019/07/board-gaming-mssas-25th-kwazulu-natal.html
• Esports: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2019/07/esports-mssas-25th-kwazulu-natal.html
• Wargaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2019/07/wargames-mssas-25th-kwazulu-natal.html

Also read:

• R10,000.00 for the winner of DotA 2
• The winner of the 'Paladins' esports title shall receive R10,000.00
• NWU MSSA Online School League offers a R30,000.00 bursary for StreetFighter V.
• 2019 Calendar of Events
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Reminder: Closing date for entries for MSSA's Inter-School League.
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• How does a school join up for MSSA's 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships?

Regional Championships boost club participation.

Players at a recent Regional Championships.

When MSSA introduced Regional Championships into its line-up of types of championships, not only did MSSA improve its footprint in South Africa, but it also increased the opportunity for many gamers to:

• Participate in a local  championship,
• To earn the awards associated with a championship (that is medals and colours), and
• To qualify for National Team Trials.

Any affiliated club may host a Regional Championship.

With all the profits of a Regional Championship going to the host club, it is very easy to see why so many clubs are willing to host a Regional Championship.

A Regional Championship also does not have to have all the events that you will find at a MSSA Provincial Championship. The host club can 'pick-and-choose' which events it wishes to host. Theoretically a host club could host a Regional Championship every single month by just doing one title per event.

The flexibility of a Regional Championship does not stop there either.

There are many titles that do not form part of MSSA's provincial and national championships. It is through the Regional Championships that MSSA can also help quantify the development in any/all of MSSA's disciplines (board games, card games, esports, or wargames) in South Africa as any title may be played at a Regional Championship.

Thus a member club, through the Regional Championships, is more than able to cater for all members of its community by providing ongoing championships throughout the year.

The rules for hosting a Regional Championship are as follows:

10.12.3 HOSTING OF REGIONAL EVENTS

a. Members within a region may offer to host, through a bid, any such championship at least 90 days prior to the event.

b. The decision to which club the hosting of such event is awarded shall be made by the Management Board.

c. The host club shall sign an SLA.

d. The Management Board may decide to host such championship itself. Should such decision be made and bids have been received, the Management Board shall advise all members of the reasons therefore.

e. Every effort shall be made by the host to hold such championship in a venue that is easily accessible to both Players and members of the public.

f. A Regional Championship may be played to any periods currently offered at a Provincial Championship or approved of by the Management Board.

g. The different periods may be held at separate times and venues from other periods.

h. Only Regional Championship for each period shall be held in any one season.

i. Any person may enter, however only fully-paid-up Registered Players may qualify for National Team Trials in such event. Non registered Players shall be charged a surcharge, which shall be decided upon by the Management Board from time-to- time, and shall be remitted to MSSA by the host club within 5 days of such championship.

j. The host club acknowledges that the event/s is/are wholly owned by the MSSA and all rules are complied with.

k. The host club shall set the entrance fee. Such fee shall be included in the bid.

l. The host club shall supply suitable and qualified umpires.

m. The host club shall purchase the medals from MSSA. MSSA shall price the medals at cost + 20% and postage.

n. The host club shall be responsible for the venue and all other costs relating thereto.

o. The club shall keep the net profit for the event.

p. The club must submit all results to MSSA within 48 hours.

q. The club must send a statement of account to MSSA within 30 days to the VP in charge of events.

r. No results may be posted on any site until MSSA has announced the results.

s. The MANCOM shall invite the player who finished in first place, if a Registered Player, to attend the National Team Trials if the event has met with all the criteria.

t. The results may be vitiated by the VP in charge of umpiring if any of the above are not complied with.

Also read: 

• North-West University becomes the headline sponsor for MSSA's Online School League.
• 2019 Calendar of Events
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Reminder: Closing date for entries for MSSA's Inter-School League.
• How does a school join up for MSSA's 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships?

MSSA's 25th KWAZULU NATAL Championships - 27 & 28 July 2019

Scenes from MSSA's 2018 KwaZulu Natal Championships.

Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) 25th KWAZULU NATAL Championships is the first provincial championship that allows players to qualify for selection to the 2020 Protea Team.

Many of South Africa's top players who have represented South African Protea teams in international competition have taken advantage of the early championships in order to qualify for selection so that in the later championships the Registered Players can hone their skills to even higher levels. The general consensus is that in order for a Registered Player to do well in international competition, such player should play at least 30 games in provincial or national championships within a season.

MSSA is proud of its reputation of promoting youth in its national teams, and as a result, most of MSSA's teams that have represented South Africa have had a component of players that were learners who were still in High School.

Thus it should be noted that such KwaZulu Natal Championships not only counts towards players earning Provincial Colours, but also counts towards MSSA's selection process.

All gamers are reminded that MSSA'sKwaZulu Natal Championships are an open championship. In other words any registered player, who is currently a registered learner, is entitled to enter the championship – no matter where they live.

For additional information, please contact MSSA at mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

Details are as follows:

• Board gaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2019/07/board-gaming-mssas-25th-kwazulu-natal.html
• Esports: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2019/07/esports-mssas-25th-kwazulu-natal.html
• Wargaming: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2019/07/wargames-mssas-25th-kwazulu-natal.html

Championship Details:

• 
  Host Club: Curro Hillcrest, cnr Inanda Road & JF Bailes Drive, Hillcrest, 3610, KwaZulu Natal
• Entry date: 17 July 2019. 
• Date of Championships: 27 & 28 July 2019

The entry form can be found on https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184. The entry form must be downloaded completed and e-mailed to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

In keeping with Mind Sport South Africa's policies re development programmes, entries are free and gratis to registered players who are unable to afford to enter such championships should the member club formally request assistance. Such applications must be directed to the MSSA at: e-mail: mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com 

Also read:

• R10,000.00 for the winner of DotA 2
• The winner of the 'Paladins' esports title shall receive R10,000.00
• NWU MSSA Online School League offers a R30,000.00 bursary for StreetFighter V.
• 2019 Calendar of Events
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Reminder: Closing date for entries for MSSA's Inter-School League.
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• How does a school join up for MSSA's 9th Online Inter-School Provincial Championships?

Board gaming: MSSA's 25th KWAZULU NATAL Championships - 27 July 2019

A 'friendly' game of morabaraba.

MSSA's 25^th KWAZULU NATAL Board Gaming Championships shall be held at Curro Hillcrest, cnr Inanda Road & JF Bailes Drive, Hillcrest, 3610, KwaZulu Natal, on 27 July 2019.

The championships shall start at 10H00. Players need to register at least 30 minutes before the start of play. 

The following periods have qualified to be played, and shall be, should sufficient entries be received:

Board gaming Period CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE PLAYED Saturday ROUND 1 ROUND 2 ROUND 3 ROUND 4 ROUND 5 Backgammon 10H00-10H45 11H00 - 11H45 14H00 -14H45 15H00 - 15H45 16H00 - 16H45 Checkers 10H00-10H45 11H00 - 11H45 14H00 -14H45 15H00 - 15H45 16H00 - 16H45 Draughts (Brazilian) 10H00-10H45 11H00 - 11H45 14H00 -14H45 15H00 - 15H45 16H00 - 16H45 Draughts (International) 10H00-10H45 11H00 - 11H45 14H00 -14H45 15H00 - 15H45 16H00 - 16H45 Draughts (Russian) 10H00-10H45 11H00 - 11H45 14H00 -14H45 15H00 - 15H45 16H00 - 16H45 Morabaraba 10H00-10H45 11H00 - 11H45 14H00 -14H45 15H00 - 15H45 16H00 - 16H45 SesothoMorabaraba 10H00-10H45 11H00 - 11H45 14H00 -14H45 15H00 - 15H45 16H00 - 16H45

In keeping with Mind Sport South Africa's policies re development programmes, entries are free and gratis to registered players who are unable to afford to enter such championships should the member club formally request assistance. Such applications must be directed to the MSSA at: email: mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

Entry fees are:              R34.00 for board gamers.

Only players who are registered with fully-paid-up members may participate.

Players are reminded that the majority choice of rules as at the closing date for entries shall be used.

Entry fees can be deposited directly into Mind Sports South Africa's account, held at ABSA Bank, account number, 90 4766 7676.

All entries must be entered before or on 17 July 2019. The entry form can be found on https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184. The entry form must be downloaded completed and e-mailed to mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com

The following Medals may be awarded at MSSA's 2018 South African National LAN Championships:

• PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are registered players.
• UNIVERSITY: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are currently registered at any officially recognised University, provided the players have not received any Premier Medals.
• SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three high school scholars, provided they have not received any Premier medals.
• WOMEN: Women will be awarded medals as per the same basis as above, that is in all three categories.

Colours and National Team Trials:

• 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.
• National Team Trials: All Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship will 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. 

The next provincial event is: MSSA's 16th FREE STATE Championships that shall be held on 3 & 4 August 2019.

Also read:

• 2019 Calendar of Events
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Important notice: MSSA drops the esports title 'Fortnite' from its provincial and national events.
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Esports: MSSA's 25th KWAZULU NATAL Championships - 27 & 28 July 2019
• Wargames: MSSA's 25th KWAZULU NATAL Championships - 27 & 28 July 2019

Board gaming: MSSA's 18th MPUMALANGA Board Gaming Championships - 25 & 26 May 2019

A 'friendly' game of morabaraba.

MSSA's 18^th MPUMALANGA Board Gaming Championships shall be held at Curro Secunda, Cnr of Nelson Mandela and Coen Brits St., Secunda, 2302, on 25 & 26 May 2019.

The championships shall start on both days at 9H00. Players need to register at least 30 minutes before the start of play. 

The following periods have qualified to be played, and shall be, should sufficient entries be received:

Board gaming
Period	CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE PLAYED
	Saturday
	ROUND 1	ROUND 2	ROUND 3	ROUND 4	ROUND 5
Backgammon	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Checkers	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Draughts (Brazilian)	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Draughts (International)	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Morabaraba	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
SesothoMorabaraba	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45

In keeping with Mind Sport South Africa's policies re development programmes, entries are free and gratis to registered players who are unable to afford to enter such championships should the member club formally request assistance. Such applications must be directed to the MSSA at: email: mindsportscorrespoondence@gmail.com

Entry fees are:              R34.00 for board gamers.

Only players who are registered with fully-paid-up members may participate.

Players are reminded that the majority choice of rules as at the closing date for entries shall be used.

Entry fees can be deposited directly into Mind Sports South Africa's account, held at ABSA Bank, account number, 90 4766 7676.

All entries must be entered onto the club's Google  Drive before or on 17 May 2019.

The following Medals may be awarded at MSSA's 2018 South African National LAN Championships:

• PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are registered players.
• UNIVERSITY: Medals shall be awarded to the first three players who are currently registered at any officially recognised University, provided the players have not received any Premier Medals.
• SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three high school scholars, provided they have not received any Premier medals.
• WOMEN: Women will be awarded medals as per the same basis as above, that is in all three categories.

Colours and National Team Trials:

• 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.
• National Team Trials: All Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship will 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. 

The next provincial event is: MSSA's SA School Championships that shall be held on 15 and 16 June 2019.

Also read:

• 2019 Calendar of Events
• Why schools and universities should invest in esports.
• Important notice: MSSA drops the esports title 'Fortnite' from its provincial and national events.
• New National Team Selection Criteria
• Esports: MSSA's 18th MPUMALANGA Championships - 25 & 26 May 2019
• Wargames: MSSA's 18th MPUMALANGA Championships - 25 & 26 May 2019