Advantages of affiliation

Dr. Janine Brandt is one of over a hundred MSSA's Registered Players who has been thrust onto the international stage.

MSSA has had number of schools and other interested people enquiring about the process and benefits associated with registering with Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA). MSSA is the controlling body for Board games, Esports, and historical figure games (or Wargames).  

There are many advantages of being a MSSA affiliated club, such as:

1. Being part of a community where your club has a real say in how things are done
2. Being able to apply for National Lottery Funding
3. Being able to get assistance from your local government
4. Experience increased media exposure of your events and your gamers
5. Become part of the international community through the MSSA Registered players are able to become internationally recognised umpires, etc.
6. Being able to put your club's news up on MSSA's blog page,
7. Enable your gamers to take part in MSSA events, which may qualify them for regional, provincial, and national colours, overseas trips, and even sports bursaries at university.

How to affiliate a club

To affiliate a club is quite an easy affair, all you have to do is follow these easy steps:

1. Gather the people together that want to form the club, and
2. Hold a meeting at which you agree to start a club, and at which meeting you agree to the Constitution as well as who are the elected office-bearers of the club (all such decisions must be by consensus), and
3. Write up the minutes of your inaugural meeting, and
4. Send in the club’s Constitution and Application Form for Affiliation to the MSSA.

Once the MSSA is in receipt of the Constitution and Application Form for Affiliation, the MSSA will go through the Constitution and (if acceptable) approve it at the next Management Board Meeting. Only once membership is approved, are fees due.

It is even easier to set up a school club. All a school has to do is have the Principal complete the Application for Affiliation form.

MSSA’s Constitution  

The Constitution forms the foundation of the MSSA. It guarantees members rights and governs the way that the MSSA operates. It can only be amended by a two-thirds majority at a Council Meeting. Please remember that Associations only have two (2) votes each, whereas member clubs have a representational vote, being: normal clubs: one vote per every five registered players, and school clubs: one vote per every ten registered players.

MSSA’s General Regulations  

The General Regulations comprises of decisions made by both Council and Executive Committee Meetings. The General Regulations deals with how sub-committees operate as well as to how teams are selected, development funding is distributed, and how MSSA is run by elected office-bearers on a day-to-day basis.

MSSA’s Discipline Specific Regulations  

The Discipline Specific Regulations deal with rules concerning the different disciplines. Some of the Disciplines that the MSSA caters for are; Board Gaming, Card gaming, Esports, and Figure Gaming.

Fees for the 2019/2020 year 

The fee note details the Affiliation Fees and Registration fees that are payable.

The fees for the 2019/2020 gaming year (1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020) are:

Affiliation fees per club		R104.00 per annum
Registration fees:	Registered with MSSA Players who are members of school clubs	R110.00 per player R  10.00 per player

In order for a club to be a legal entity, a club must have a Constitution and must have multiplicity of members (3 or more members). A club's Constitution tells how the club operates and must, to a certain extent mirror MSSA’s Constitution. The Constitution  of a club must have certain clauses in order to ensure that there are the necessary bonds between the MSSA and the club. Therefore, MSSA insists that the clauses, “Objectives”, “Title and Legal Personality”, “Dispute Resolution”, and “Dissolution” remain unchanged. However, the club may amend the other clauses.   Once the applicant club is satisfied with their Constitution, the elected Chairperson must initial each page, and sign and date the last page and submit a copy to the MSSA.

Facebook Page | Twitter | e-mail: mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com 

Anyone who would like to obtain more documentation, as well as the necessary application forms to register or affiliate with the MSSA please contact MSSA directly.

Also read:

• Entry fees for Provincial and National Championships for the period 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020.
• MSSA advises of its affiliation and registration fees for the 2019/2020 season.
• MSSA elections allow change and growth.
• Amanda Pakade is elected in for a 3 year term as MSSA President.
• Freedom of association.
• MSSA benefits all member clubs.
• MSSA's Elected Office-Bearers for 2019.
• Preventing dominance by any one club.

Advantages of affiliation

Console gamers in action in a MSSA event

MSSA has had number of schools and other interested people enquiring about the process and benefits associated with registering with Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA). MSSA is the controlling body for Board games, eSports, Robotics, and historical figure games (or Wargames).  

There are many advantages of having a MSSA affiliated club, such as:

1. Being part of a community where your club has a real say in how things are done
2. Being able to apply for National Lottery Funding – MSSA member clubs can apply for up to R200,000.00 in funding
3. Being able to get assistance from your local government
4. Experience increased media exposure of your events and your gamers
5. Become part of the international community through the MSSA Registered players are able to become internationally recognised umpires, etc.
6. Being able to put your club's news up on MSSA's blog,
7. Enable your gamers to take part in MSSA events, which may qualify them for colours, overseas trips, and even sports bursaries at university.

How to affiliate a club

To affiliate a club is quite an easy affair, all you have to do is follow these easy steps:

1. Gather the people together that want to form the club, and
2. Hold a meeting at which you agree to start a club, and at which meeting you agree to the Constitution as well as who are the elected office-bearers of the club (all such decisions must be by consensus), and
3. Write up the minutes of your inaugural meeting, and
4. Send in the club’s Constitution and Application Form for Affiliation to the MSSA.

Once the MSSA is in receipt of the Constitution and Application Form for Affiliation, the MSSA will go through the Constitution and (if acceptable) approve it at the next Management Board Meeting. Only once membership is approved, are fees due.

MSSA’s Constitution  

The Constitution forms the foundation of the MSSA. It guarantees members rights and governs the way that the MSSA operates. It can only be amended by a two-thirds majority at a Council Meeting. Please remember that Associations only have two (2) votes each, whereas member clubs have a representational vote, being: normal clubs: one vote per every five registered players, and school clubs: one vote per every ten registered players.

MSSA’s General Regulations  

The General Regulations comprises of decisions made by both Council and Executive Committee Meetings. The General Regulations deals with how sub-committees operate as well as to how teams are selected and development funding is distributed.   Please refer to Schedule 10.12 in regard to the rights of clubs in hosting events.

MSSA’s Discipline Specific Regulations  

The Discipline Specific Regulations deal with rules concerning the different disciplines. The Disciplines that the MSSA caters for are; Board Gaming, eSports, and Figure Gaming.

Application for Affiliation form  

When a club applies for membership, the applicant club must complete such form and return the same to the MSSA.

Fee note for the 2016/2017 year 

The fee note details the Affiliation Fees and Registration fees that are payable.

The fees for the 2016/2017 gaming year (1 November 2016 to 31 October 2017) are:

Affiliation fees per club		R100.00 per annum
Registration fees:	Registered with MSSA Players who are members of school clubs	R95.00 per player R  5.00 per player

 Player Registration Form   

The Player Registration Form needs to be completed by every player that is a member of a club and intends to participate in MSSA affairs.

Proforma Constitution  

In order for a club to be a legal entity, a club must have a Constitution and must have multiplicity of members (3 or more members). The Constitution tells how the club operates and must, to a certain extent mirror MSSA’s Constitution. The Constitution  of a club must have certain clauses in order to ensure that there are the necessary bonds between the MSSA and the club. Therefore, MSSA insists that the clauses, “Objectives”, “Title and Legal Personality”, “Dispute Resolution”, and “Dissolution” remain unchanged. However, the club may amend the other clauses.   Once the applicant club is satisfied with their Constitution, the elected Chairperson must initial each page, and sign and date the last page and submit a copy to the MSSA.

MSSA’s Letter of Undertaking  

The Letter of Undertaking is for all registered players who sit on any MSSA committee.

Facebook Page | Twitter | e-mail: mindsportssa@iafrica.com 

Anyone who would like to obtain more documentation, as well as the necessary application forms to register or affiliate with the MSSA please contact MSSA directly.

Why MSSA governs itself the way it does

Back in July 2015 I wrote about the spat that SASCOC is having with MSSA over MSSA's lack of having a 'succession' plan.

In such article I looked at a  few of the reasons why SASCOC would want a succession plan.

However, it is far more important to note that according to the National Sports and Recreation Act, Number 110, of 1998 (as  amended) that National Federations are the sole authority in South Africa for the codes that they administer.

This ultimately means that no body (government or otherwise) may dictate to a National Federation on the form that they take.

It is purely up to the National Federation, and the National Federation alone.

Thus MSSA has constituted a form whereby member clubs are directly affiliated to the national structure.

The reason for  doing  such is as follows:

1. It is cheaper to administrate. Instead of having a number of associations, monies can be directly allocated to where such need to be spent, and
   
2. Member clubs are advised directly of all decisions. There is no playing 'broken telephone' whereby member  associations only advise member clubs on selected decisions, and
   
3.  All  member clubs can make a direct input into how MSSA is run, and
   
4. The form of MSSA mirrors  that of the South African Republic itself. Thus when Parliament changes the provinces  of South Africa, MSSA automatically adheres to such changes. Thus MSSA requires no tedious General  Meetings, and/or long debates to stay in line with the country's constitution, and
   
5. MSSA's  constitution allows freedom of thought and democracy unseen in any other sporting code. Any fully-paid-up Registered Player may be elected into any position whether it be on the Board, or as a provincial and/or Regional  Manager. Instead of people having to politic for years-and-years to get onto provincial and national structures,  and then to do so only when they are tired, cynical, and disillusioned, young passionate players can swiftly make an input. MSSA's structures are designed for the youth, and those that work. The system also is very unforgiving to committee members that do not perform, as there is no way to manipulate the system to protect the holding of any position.

Thus all MSSA member clubs truly support MSSA's structure. Only those with ulterior motives are opposed to the way in which MSSA governs itself.

A bit more about Mind Sports South Africa

The following two videos will give just a little more insight into Mind Sports South Africa.

Mbalula's latest outburst is good for TV, but in law it cannot be correct!

On 25 April 2016 Mr Fikile Mbalula announced that he was going to punish four of South Africa's National Federations for lack of transformation. See: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/other/2016/04/25/Mbalula-punishes-sporting-federations-for-lack-of-transformation

But can he do that?

Does any legislation currently enacted in South Africa give him such powers?

Did a single journalist investigate with which legal powers he is acting with his dramatic announcement on 25 April 2016?

Is it that the Sports Minister, like the rest of the government, just doesn't give a damn about the Constitution?

It would be nice if for once if journalists did their homework and asked the relevant questions.

One wonders how he can forbid these National federations from hosting events when the Minister has not yet issued Regulations for such in terms of section 14(jC) of the National Sport and Recreation Act?

The truth is that he can't 'ban' an event, he can just pull government support .